The Rebel

III

Shoving open the front door with more force than intended, my mood instantly deflates to the same level as before from despising being here again already. Home always feels like a prison: clothes, opinions, rules, behaviour and food is all arranged and kept to a strict mean. There's a curfew, expectations and demands that must always be followed without complaints. I wouldn't have as much of a problem if it wasn't for the fact that the majority of these laws apply to me only, Ray's completely excluded.

Ripping off my boots to ease the ache of still needing to soften the leather, I am unexpectedly ambushed by a fluffy pillow knocking me to the floor from the run up. Smothering my face with kisses, my stomach is used as a trampoline - nothing new really.

When Ray and I each passed our GCSE's, our Mum and Dad bought us both our own dog as a reward for working hard - they almost backed out of giving me one because I didn't get the top grades like they wanted. Even still, I got the highest grade in Music and Textiles; even if my parents weren't impressed, my School gave me an award for the outstanding accomplishment. I'd gotten full marks throughout the exams and coursework, something they'd never witnessed before.

Rabia took me with her when selecting her puppy. She wanted something strong that she could train to help her out with things. In the end, she fell in love with Tobey who is a Bull Terrier. The shelter was immensely confused since most teen girls would have picked one of the popular 'feminine' dogs such as Pugs or Labradors, not Rabia, she went for the dog that seemed to roll his eyes at all of the excitable pups. Recently, the well behaved darling, Tobey, reached nine years.

I myself went against their assumptions also by choosing Fifi. They repeatedly pointed out the American Staffordshire Terriers or the Boxers. However, I fell in love at first sight with my Fi, a gorgeous pure white Samoyed. She's a major contrast to Tobes, he often looks disgusted with her energetic nature. She isn't trained other than the basics, she's more of my comfort pillow, always providing kisses and cuddles when I'm mentally suffering.

"Hiya, Princess! Did you have a good day? I hope so." My vocals always hop up an octave when it comes to animals. She's my baby girl, I see the behaviour as completely reasonable. "Hello to you too, Tobey. Has she been difficult today?" I ask the boy, scratching his head to be answered with a lick on my palm.

"I'm glad you're finally home. We need to talk about today." Rolling my head to the side, eyes glaring deeply at the woman leaning against the wall, every opinion on the matter is conveyed. She steps into the living room, expecting me to follow which I do so reluctantly with Fi balled up in my arms. Meanwhile, Tobes marches up the stairs to see my sister.

"Why must we do this? I said everything I wanted to earlier. I don't want to be getting into this right now." I flop backwards onto the cushions, making her grimace at Fifi sitting on the couch too. They may have bought us them, that doesn't mean they actually like them being in their pristine household - especially Fi, she's also a rule breaker.

"You know damn well that I don't tolerate being disrespected in my own household. I am your Mother and you will not speak to me like that." She's speaking to me as though I'm still five, I think it's default at this point. "And you know I don't tolerate people spouting shit at me for half an hour. I've told you countless times that I hate hearing the same crap screeched at me for half an hour, I'm not in the mood." I move my weight onto my feet to leave, her hand reaches out before that can happen to yank me back down onto the chair. "Why are you being like this? Ever since College, you've been impossible to deal with. You're constantly glaring at me, do you even know how that feels?"

"Of course I do, you're always judging me with those beady little eyes. You don't accept me, I'm always on edge because of it. Every time I try doing something, you tell me to stop and change who I am. I am not going to pretend to be a different person just because you don't approve, I'm done hiding myself just because you don't like it." She jumps back at the accusation, "We do accept you. We told you that we don't mind what you are when you were fourteen. I don't know what else you could mean."