Rosalyn Henderson loved her brother and mother and that why she hated how she felt trapped by responsibilities that someone her age shouldn't have. Because of those responsibilities, she was going to be trapped in this feeling of misery forever. It...
Steve had two nervous Henderson in the car. "Thanks for the ride, Steve. It's too kid-ish to show up to school on my bike. I don't think I'm going to be popular but it would be nice to be invisible." Dustin had been going on and on since he woke up this morning. Lee couldn't keep still. She is bouncing her legs while reading a textbook. "Rosalyn, you're shaking the car." Dustin felt his hair to make sure it wasn't messed up.
"Okay, sorry." She willed her legs to stop. She tapped her fingers against the door.
"Alright, I know this is a big day. The first day at a new school, but you guys are great. People are going to love you." Steve wants the tense air gone.
"I don't care if people like me. I need to do well. When I get home today, I'm going to get all the syllabuses to plan my semester out, then I'll feel better." She hoped the feel of impending doom would be lifted off her chest when she got it all organized.
"I don't need people to like me. I just want the douchebag jocks to leave me alone." Dustin had a girlfriend and friends. He didn't care if anyone less liked him.
"Okay, then what are we nervous about?" Steve asks.
"Failing." Lyn shut the textbook.
"Being bullied." Dustin didn't see why people had to go out of their way to be rude to him for liking different things than them.
"If someone bullies you, let me know I'll kick their ass." Steve looks in the rearview mirror at Dustin before looking at Lyn. "I'll help you study."
"You can't kick a teen's ass. You're not in high school anymore. You're not going to be suspended, you'll get arrested." She scoffs.
"How can you help her study, you barely passed high school." He snorted.
"Okay, I'm trying to be helpful here. Aren't you the one that was beating up middle school kids when you were in high school?" He remembers Dustin telling him about that.
"There were two of them and they weren't that much smaller than me." She defends herself. She let out a big sigh. "Maybe, it wouldn't hurt to make friends. We could make a study group and help each other with our homework."
"Yeah, friends make school worthwhile." He nods.
"Thanks." She leaned over to kiss his cheek.
"She feels better, what about me?" Dustin piped.
"Learn how to throw a punch." He parked in front of the high school.
"What shitty advice!" He got out of the car to slam the door.
"Have a good day, Sweetie!" She rolled down the window to yell.
"You got this, big guy!" Steve joined the fun. Dustin was mortified. He flipped them off as he ran over to Mike and Lucas.
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Steve came home from work to find Dustin happily chatting with his mom about a senior who took him under his wing. "That's good for you, bud." He pats his shoulder. He bent down to pet Zoey who was begging for his attention.
