The Struggles of Growing Up-Completed

Chapter 11

I'm drowning in self pity.

And I'm tired of it! I'm tired of feeling sorry for myself and feeling like such a failure, a loser. So I need to get off my butt and do something about my problems! Although, I don't think there's any fixing my situation with Maia. I think that was a train wreck waiting to happen, sadly. But, I mean, from day one she was totally against me, and I don't know how she is with everyone else, well, she wasn't really like that with Zach So, Yeah, I took it kind of personal. There was no way either of us could last a whole summer like that though, we barely lasted two weeks.

The good thing was I was able to get a refund from the Art Institute, they kicked her out anyway, so they were nice enough to give me the money back. I am now going to use that for her ticket to New York. How ironic. The one thing that was supposed to get us some understanding and it's actually her ticket back to her mom.

I think her mom is just like my mom though. Sisters alike. They both abandon their kids at unusual times without even realizing it. I guess that's one thing we'll ever have in common, but sadly I think it's too late on both our parts to really make amends. I'm still upset with her and I did yell at her pretty badly. What? I was caught up in the moment and just let it all out.

I'm still cowering from the world in my room though. Ive been in here all night and yet it feels like a minute. No, this has to end. If I want to be an adult, heck I am one, then I need to stop throwing a fit. If I want something changed, I need to change it myself. Except for Zach, Im too scared to do anything about it right now. Yeah, I'm a baby, so I'll take baby steps.

I go into the bathroom and roughly wash away the grief and stress from my face. Ok Emma Rembrandt, CEO of Remlor Tech Inc., You got this.

It's barely morning, and I don't have to show up until 8 but I decide I want to head to work early, to get myself back on track. It was a bad day, a really bad day, you can do this.

I'm almost ready to go, then I remember Maia's still asleep, if she hasn't left this house already. I wouldn't be surprised.

I still instinctively knock on the door before I walk in. Ok, maybe I would be surprised. She's still heavily asleep.

I walk over to her and gently shake her so she's awake.

She shuffles a bit and opens her eyes. When she notices it's me, she sits up and gives me her full attention. What just happened?

"I'm going to work. I'll be back at five. Just stay home." I mutter and then turn to walk out. I'm not in the mood to talk to her, she really made me mad.

"Wait, I'm not going to the Art Institute?" She asks carefully. I suppress the urge to scoff and try to not let my irritation rise.

"No, you got kicked out for ditching the first day. It didn't seem like you wanted to be there anyway." I say bitterly. She falters a little.

"Oh." I nod.

"Just stay here. Or don't. I'm not sure I care enough to enforce that, you don't listen anyways. I'll be back at five." I say halfheartedly before walking out. She doesn't say anything else, which Im glad for. Maybe after I've cooked down some more at work I'll apologize for yelling.

As soon as I pull into the Remlor parking lot, I notice about ten reporters, no doubt trying to get the scoop on the latest on me and Zach and why I left so early yesterday. I decide my hair down is not working, so I swiftly pull it into a ponytail and prepare myself to sever the Herd.

"Excuse me, excuse me" I mutter as I push through the throng of reporters. They seemed surprised to see me entering this way, but I figured if I valued my dignity, I wouldn't let them take over my company entrance. As soon as they saw me, the bustle of questions and photo snaps began. It took all my will power to effectively ignore them. I smiled to myself, for the first time in a long time I didn't let anyone else influence my actions or mood. Yeah!