Scorned til I founded me

Chapter 2: College & Cursed

Months had passed and It was August 12, 2021, a few days before Miles had to start his college courses online even though he was unhappy doing it he decided to go ahead, so therefore he would not catch the hell from Ms. Nelson. That morning Miles was in his room scrolling through social media when he heard a sudden loud noise come from the living room. He paused before getting up, but as he got up Ms. Nelson stormed into the room saying
"Son I am very proud that you decided to go off to college to make something of yourself. I know things may be hard for our family right now, but I am letting you know I am proud of you". Miles looked at his mother up and down because he knew she wanted something from him. Ever since he was a child his mother would compliment him or butter him up with all types of loving words just so she can get something out of him, but as Miles being Miles, of course, he would do it just to see his mother happy. Miles began to look at his mom with a slight smile and replied
"Yeah I'm happy you're proud of me! I know if Vanessa was here she probably would have told me to skip college". Ms. Nelson looked at miles and began to have a mug on her face. She look as if she was in disgust and disappointment that Miles had said Vanessa's name. Ms. Nelson later crossed her arms and said
"Well, I am sure you do not wanna end up like your sister. She did not want anything for herself and sometimes when you do not want things in life God will take you out of here. So good thing you went to college because losing a child is not easy for any mother". Miles's heart had dropped to his stomach because he never heard his mother speak so poorly of his sister. When she passed Ms. Nelson would not come out of her room for a whole week, so when Miles heard her words he did not how to feel or what to think. How could you walk around like a mother who is so hurt, but talk so low of your child and then mix religion into it? Miles sat speechlessly and is distraught as Ms. Nelson began to say
"Miles why are you looking like that? I am sure you are fine, but anyways I need for you to be home early tonight so Major can finish that homework you know how your brother is. I left 40 dollars on the counter so you guys can order something to eat. One of my students lost one of the parents today, so I will be with them supporting". Before Miles could say anything she closed the door and left out.

Miles sat in his room on the side of his bed just thinking of the words Ms. Nelson had said about Vanessa, for a minute he thought he was overthinking and that he knew his mother did not mean harm by it. It was so much going through his head at once he could not do anything, but just cry. He felt as everyone counted on him, but who could he lean on or turn to. He continued to just sit there and realize how parents can always shout "I know my child", but do they? He was going through depression, grief and feeling alone all at once, but did his mother notice him? No. He found it crazy how his mother can run to another child's rescue, but what about him? Miles respected the fact her student lost a parent, but he felt as if he was hurting just as much as them because his parents are alive, but where are they? where is the love? where is the support? where is the genuine "I am proud of you"? where is the "Son, are you mentally okay"? but he decided to keep it all in because he knew his mother would blow up about him expressing himself.

Later that night, Miles had finished preparing dinner he was sitting at the dining room table and came across a letter in the mail with this mother's name on it. He normally didn't go through his mother's mail, but this letter had "past due" stamped in red on top of the letter, so he began to open it and read it. The letter was regarding how Ms. Nelson was 5 months passed due to the mortgage note on the home. He began thinking about how could this possibly be. Ms. Nelson was never the type to not have her bills paid so he was in shock. As he was holding the letter Ms. Nelson walked in and saw Miles reading the letter. They both stared at each other for a good 30 seconds and she rushed over and snatched the letter from miles and began to say
"Why the hell are you going through my stuff with my name on it? My nigga if you can't help pay a bill you shouldn't be opening up anything." Miles's eyes began to tear up as he watched his mother yell furious at him, but he looked down and said
"Mom if you needed help why didn't you just say that? What happened to all the money we got from Vanessa's death?" Ms. Nelson slammed her hands on the table and began pointing her finger in Miles's face and replied
"Look don't ever question me about what I do with my money. I'm the parent! If you can't respect me you can leave. Vanessa is not here we need to learn to live without bringing her up every second". Major came out his room as he heard miles and they mother going back and forth. He tried to avoid coming out of his room, but it seemed as they got louder and louder he began to say
"What's going on?" They both looked at him and Ms. Nelson said
"Nothing baby. I'm just talking with your brother. go back to your room everything is good." Major went back to his room and Ms. Nelson turned back towards miles with an evil look on her face and said
"You just mind your business and leave mines alone. What's going on with these college courses when are you starting?" Miles sat down at the table with his head in his hands and said.
"I start tomorrow morning online. I got everything I need, so I should be fine." Ms. Nelson started grabbing her mail and purse to walk into her room but before she walked off she said.
"Okay good. So I shouldn't hear any complaining from you. I'm going to bed." She walked into her room and slammed the door and locked it. Miles stood up and walked outside and began walking down the street just in his thoughts thinking about everything at once. Miles began to sing one of his grandmother's favorite songs that she used to sing to him and Vanessa when they were younger. He was saddened that she also passed on because she seems to be the only one who understood miles. As he continued to walk he began to pass a house where this 18-year-old dark skin girl with curly hair was standing on the porch she heard miles singing and began to say
"Damn boy you trying to get a contract singing out here like that." Miles turned towards the house and smirked and began to say
"No, I'm just singing something my grandmother used to sing to me all the time when I was younger." She began to walk off the porch and walk up to miles and replied
"Hey, I'm Ariana you live over here?" Miles stared at her because he was just amazed at her looks so he began to smile, but said
"I'm miles and yeah I live down the street. I've never seen you around here". She smirked and replied
"Yeah, my folks and I  just moved here like a couple of weeks ago. It's nice here or whatever, but I'm tryna peep the scene to see what's it's about." Miles completely began crushing on Ariana immediately. It was her outgoing and down-to-earth spirit that attracted him. Miles began to say
"Well I have class tomorrow online in the morning, but I'm sure later tomorrow I can like show you around." Ariana smiles and replied
"I appreciate that, but I don't want you to think I'm some creep or anything. You just seemed cool plus I'm outgoing I'll speak to anyone." Miles looked at her and replied with a smirk
"Yeah I understand and you're fine. You seem cool, but we can just walk through the park tomorrow afternoon." Ariana began to reply and say
"Sound like a plan, I'll see you tomorrow Miles, but wait let me save my number on your phone." As Ariana took miles phone and began to save her number miles forgot everything that was going on and felt like he was the man for the night. He knew tonight he was about to go to bed smiling. She gave him his phone and went inside her home and as miles walked back home he smiled the whole way.

The next morning Miles woke up got dressed and walked into the dining room about to start his online classes. The house was empty with Ms. Nelson going to work and Major in school so he knew his first day would be peaceful. As he opened the lab top and tried signing on the internet wouldn't work. He tried unplugging the WiFi box and even refreshing his page, but the internet still wouldn't work for him to log on. Miles began to get frustrated, but he knew the only reason he couldn't log on is that his mother didn't pay that bill either. Miles began to think this is why he wanted to go in person so things like that wouldn't happen. He was paying for school out of his pocket he took out student loans in his name to please his mother, but she couldn't even keep the WiFi on. Miles was so furious he grabbed his car keys and went up to Ms. Nelson high school. Miles was starting to reach his breaking point with his mother and he was starting to feel as if his mother hated him.
30 minutes had gone by and Miles walked into his mother's high school feeling and looking furious. He walked into the office passing staff members and other administrators as he stormed into Ms. Nelson's office and slammed the door behind him. Ms. Nelson was typing on her computer and looked up at miles and said
"Miles what is your problem and what are you doing here?" Miles didn't waste any time and replied
"Mom you begged and got on me about going to college. You didn't want me in person, so I did online to please you! I couldn't even start my classes today because the WiFi is off. What is going on? I am paying for these classes out of pocket these student loans are in my name and it's like you don't care." Ms. Nelson stood up from her desk and said
"You didn't do anything for me. I pushed you so you can have a better life in the future. What can't you understand I'm trying to help you out and you standing here ungrateful as hell. Nothing is going on. I didn't pay the bill this month you could have gone to the library downtown and did your online classes." Miles began to look confused and said
"Are you serious? If that's the case I could have done classes in person. I'm 18 I want the college experience if you're going to make me go. I'm already behind from not going today the professor sent me an email saying I'm failing how can I be successful in college with this going on." Ms. Nelson walked from behind her desk and got in Miles's face and said
"Miles you heard what I said go downtown and do the work. Don't blame me because you didn't sign into your class today. You wanna be grown but couldn't even think to go use the library wifi. You still a kid in the mind seem like. I will see you when I get home tonight I'm at work and not about to go back and forth with you." Miles stormed out of the school and began walking fast to his car. As he pulled off and start driving he just felt as he couldn't win with his mother. It felt as if he didn't have anybody to turn to. The only person who listened to him had passed. As Miles was driving he saw Ariana at the bus stop, he politely pulled over and let her in and she said
"Hey, miles thanks for the ride". Miles began to say
"You welcome. Sorry if I didn't text you I'm having personal issues going on." She looked at miles and said
"Look you don't have to apologize to anyone for having a bad day or forgetting something. We are all human we not perfect. You look stressed, but do you mind if I smoke?" Miles looked at her and was shocked but replied and said
"Umm yeah, I don't mind. You smoke cigarettes or something?" Ariana look at Miles and laughed hard and said
"Boy no! It's weed. I rolled it up already. I'm going to let you his this blunt because it seems like you need it." Miles didn't say anything he just went with the flow. He didn't wanna mess up the vibe he and Ariana had going on. He hadn't smoked before so he was a bit nervous. As Ariana lit the blunt Miles had pulled up in front of her house. They were just listening to music and passing the blunt back and forth. Miles was shocked at himself that he was pulling off that he knew what he was doing when it came to smoking. The weed made Miles numb to his feelings and thoughts. He began to stare into Ariana's eyes and she glanced over and began to stare back. She smirked and said
"Miles why are you looking at me like that?" He was stuck but replied
"I don't know. Just chilling." As Ariana put the blunt out they both looked at each other one more time before she got out of the car and as they looked at each other they both leaned in and kissed. They both paused for a second and Ariana suddenly said
"Thanks for the ride Miles I'm going to text you, but I have to go." As she got out of the car Miles felt that the feeling was mutual when it came to them liking each other, but then again he didn't know because why did she rush out of the car? Why didn't she acknowledge what happened? And what happened to the walk in the park? Miles pulled off from her house hoping that she will text him.