Susceptible to Suggestion

paycheck to paycheck

*buzzzz* Shit... 7:30 already? I get up and start to get dressed in my favorite gray H&M crop top and light wash American Eagle mom jeans. Today is the most dreaded day of the week, Monday. Although I don't dread it much until I get a text from my best friend Reign saying that my ex, Xavier, is now "sexually involved" with my ex-best friend Sabrina (more commonly known as Sebi). Or at least that's what they want everyone at Saddle Back High School to think. It's probably just more of a revenge publicity stunt on the people they hate, one of them being me. I respond back to Reign as soon as I see her text. I write back to her, questioning what public stunt they are going to pull today. Make out in the cafeteria, antagonize poor freshman, or light a joint at lunch, just outside the main office doors shouting at the top of their lungs, "fuck this piece of shit school, and fuck everyone in it!" Believe it or not, Sebi and Xavier are the kind of people who do those kind of things regularly.

Once I'm done getting ready, I head downstairs to see my little brother and my parents eating breakfast at the island in our kitchen. I quickly grab a piece of toast off the counter and my car keys. I hurried out the door, before anyone can say good morning to me. 8:00 AM the time reads on the digital clock in my car. Great, I'm going to be late to school again. I get to my first class halfway through the lesson. "Oh, late again are we Laina?" my history teacher Mr. Henderson scolds. "My alarm wasn't working this morning," I lie. "Might wanna get a new alarm that isn't from centuries ago," Sebi exclaims. Not funny. I hate when she brings up my personal life just for her enjoyment. My family is on the verge of poor. We are living paycheck to paycheck with my dad working two jobs and my mom looking after my 4 year old brother full time. I just turned 16 a couple of months ago and with the summer coming up, I plan on getting a job to help with our finances. I put in my airpods to drown out Sebi's bullshit. I hide them behind my long, dark brown, wavy hair and blast Lost by Frank Ocean. Hands down the best. song. ever. I do this the rest of the morning until lunch. When I get in the line to pick up my food I take a glance ahead of me to see what they are serving. It looks like some kind of slop that you'd eat in a prison. My high school is notoriously known for their bad lunch. So instead of grabbing a plate of slop, I text Reign and our other close friend Briana to see if they want to meet up at Sal's Diner, just down the street.