Reputation Is Everything (On Hold)

Chapter 2

Willow kicked the rocks on the road she was walking on. She didn't want to change herself, after all, she was comfortable the way she was. But if she did, and Finn really actually talked to her, wouldn't it be worth it in the end? She wasn't sure.

Ugh, high school is so overrated!

She sighed, attempting to kick another rock across the ground, but when she missed, she tripped over her own feet, and ended up on her back. She blew her red hair from her face, groaning.

My life sucks!

Standing up, and gently brushing herself off, she continued on her way to home. She usually was the optimistic one, but for some reason she just couldn't help being a little down. She'd been obsessed with Finn since the sixth grade. Everything she thought about involved him, and every time she saw him, she found herself mixed up in a daydream about them together. She'd always wanted to be with him, if not together, together, then just together as friends. But he was popular, and she was... well... this...

She pulled out her keys when she reached her house, and shoved them into the lock of her door. Opening it, she stepped in, and kicked her shoes off.

"I'm home!" She announced to her dad. She put her keys back in her bag for the next day, and walked towards the kitchen, where she knew she would find her father.

"How was your day?" He asked her, as she opened the refrigerator door and grabbed a water bottle.

"Fine."

"That's all I get? One syllable?" Sitting next to him at the table, she smiled at him.

"It was school, Dad. Even if I say its fine, its not true. School days for me always suck." He raised his eyebrows at her.

"Okay, so I take it you had a bad day?" She nodded.

"Well... mine hasn't been so well either, I'm afraid." She took a gulp of water before looking at him again.

"Why?"

"Honey... I'm so sorry..." And then she knew what he was about to say.

No, please no...

"They had to let go dozens of people, and unfortunately, I was one of them." Her head was spinning. How could this have happened? They were doing fine!

"I know how much you wanted to go to USC, but-" Willow cut him off by slamming her hands on the table, and hastily standing up.

"No! This isn't fair! Can't you find another job!? Can't we do anything!?" She felt like crying.

"I'm sorry, but it'll take months, and even if I do, I'll have to pay off all the loans I'm going to have to borrow, and we just won't have enough money." She could tell he really was sorry, but sorry wouldn't help anything. It had always been her dream to go to USC, ever since she was little. Her mom had gone there, and she had really wanted to follow in her footsteps.

"Dad..." Her lip was trembling, and before he could try to comfort her, she had ran to her room, slamming the door behind her.

She flung herself on the twin sized bed, and cried. They had always been poorer than everyone else, but they had always had enough money to get by, and still put a little in Willows bank account so she could go to college. But not now. Now she was going to have to settle for a instate college, and she didn't want that. What she wanted was to go to USC. To follow her mother, and become a professional pianist. When she was younger -when her mother was still alive - she had taught Willow to play, and Willow - just like her mother - was amazing. But ever since then, she hadn't dared touch a piano.