Bionic Chaos [Leo Dooley]

Chapter Twenty Two

"What do you say?" I ask hesitantly, staring at my parents. They both of their eyes trained on my laptop that is sitting in front of them, showing them the performing arts school I found last night while searching for another camera. "I've read all about this school, and it sounds great. I can work on my craft while also getting a great education."

I can't believe that I actually put together a pitch for this performing arts school that quickly. I also can't believe that my parents are taking this seriously. I've talked to them before about a performing arts school, but they always shoot me down because they want me to go into something more stable and guaranteed to get money. However, they're actually reading about this school. I am cautiously optimistic about this, which is saying something.

"We'll have to think about it, Maggie," Dad says. That means that it's a no. I know it. I can see it on their faces that they're trying to let me down gently, and I hate it. "You've been rebelling lately, and we're not sure this will be the right fit for you."

"Right." I swallow hard as tears prick my eyes. I should have listened to my gut when I first came up with the idea. Besides, I don't deserve going to this school because of how horrible I am as a person. "Sorry for bothering you."

Before I can walk away from them to hide in my room, Mom says, "Wait, Maggie. We need to talk to you."

Well, that sounds ominous. It probably won't be as bad as the awful turndown I just witnessed from them, but I still don't want to have something else bad happen to me today because of them. I guess whatever they want to talk to me about can happen now; I don't have a life anymore anyway.

"Yeah?" I ask them, sitting back down at our dining table across from them. The distance between us is far enough that I don't feel stifled. "About what?"

"You rarely ever spend time with us," Dad says suddenly. I glance between him and Mom, wondering where this side of them is coming from. They're always the ones who have barely been home because of their work. Shouldn't I be asking them that question? "Ever since your brother came home, you've been so distant, especially hanging out with that kid."

I frown slightly at them. "What kid?"

"The one who brought you home when you twisted your ankle," Mom clarifies. I can feel my face heat up at the mention of that day, the day we kissed for the first and probably last time. "He's also the one who came over when your dad and I were chasing Kian through Los Angeles."

I sit there, thoroughly embarrassed that they know about Leo. I guess it's okay for them to know about him now because they will never see him again. "Yeah," I say softly. However, a frown appears on my face again. "How do you know that he came here that day that you two were in Los Angeles?"

Mom looks at me like I'm absolutely crazy. "We have cameras, Maggie," she says, laughing. "I saw when he came here and when he left a couple of hours later. That's a long time for a boy to be in our house with our youngest daughter alone."

"I have no recollection of this instance," Dad says with a quick glance at Mom. "How did I not know about this?"

"I never mentioned it to anyone."

I hate how Mom can guess exactly what I wanted to do that day. "We were working on a school project," I tell her quickly. "That's it."

"But he's also the kid who brought you home after you snuck out."

"Yeah." I sigh and rub my hand along my forehead. Dad shoots Mom a worried look, but she continues watching me. "You don't have to worry about him, though. Whatever we were is over."

"Relationships are hard when you have all those hormones racing through you," Dad says with a laugh. Mom smacks his arm. "Relationships are always hard, no matter if you have a lot of hormones or not."