Redemption Chapters

chapter 1 : for my Beth

"I'm a relatively good student and I've almost completed high school at home. What's the use in sending me to school at this time? The most important year of my academic career is the year you want to replace my very familiar environment with a place I know absolutely nothing about!"

My mother rolls her eyes at me and continues to make breakfast. She flips the flapjack and hot butter spatters onto her arm. Ouch.

"Fuck." She spits in an almost inaudible whisper. Almost.

"Mother, language." I try to hide a smile by looking down at my phone but I feel her eyes piercing through my skull so I look up. Yup, she's glaring at me.

"You good?" I ask through a chuckle.

"Fuck you, bro." she says through clenched teeth.

"Fuck you, bro." I mimick in a mocking tone.

"I am not your 'bro'. I brought you into this world which means I can take you out."
I can't help but laugh.

We have what others have called an 'unorthodox parent-child dynamic' which means to say that dinosaur level old people are always really pissed off when they witness our interactions and are dissatisfied by the fact that I'm doing really well in many aspects of my life. Oh well.

"Beth, please." I plea in hopes that it'll keep me in my house for another year.

"Eat the flapjacks, have some fruit and get out of this house by 7. No negotiations. Marcel will be taking you to school."

Oh my shit. School.

~~~~~

"There's still time for you to change your mind and spare me the wrath of the high-school experience." I continue my streak of annoyance. Marcel is patient and accommodating to a fault. I usually find it admirable. Today I find it heartless.

After a long sigh he crushes the last bit of hope I have left with his reply.
"Nope. We'll be there in less than 15 minutes if this idiot decides to move."

He hoots. The volume nor tone of his voice ever changing. How is someone this calm when people drive this terribly?

The car in front of us finally realizes the light is green and moves forward, allowing us to be on our merry way. Maybe not too "merry". I don't want to go to that shithole.

Or any school for that matter. I've tried to be optimistic about the concept of meeting people my age and experiencing a new environment but I fucking despise both those things. Do you know how fucking terrible people can be? How they don't leave you alone despite your own protests? How shitty some teachers are at their jobs? I have very little first-hand experience but I have read many articles. And the students are always the ones who suffer. Absolutely not. Not me. No, I refuse.

"Marcel please." I plead for the umpteenth time, this attempt as futile as the last.
"Taylor, give it a chance. For your Beth's sake?" He takes a quick glance at me before shifting his gaze back onto the congested road. A sign from God that I shouldn't be going to school, I'm sure.

He has a point. My mother wants me to have friends so badly. I can't think of a valid reason for it. Which is funny because my Beth is one of the most reasonable people I know. And this here situation is far from reasonable. I let out a sigh of surrender and  slump back into my seat to re-evaluate. My mother loves me. She wants the best for me. So for her, the best person on planet Earth, I will give this a chance.

"Okay." I say after a long pause.

Marcel seems to understand what I mean with the one worded response.

"Okay." He responds with a fraction of a smile that I manage to get a glimpse of through the rearview mirror.

I'll give it a chance.
I'll give it a month.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Okay, we're here." Marcel announces as the car comes to a halt.

"Already?" I question with a reluctant expression.

"With time to spare too." He adds proudly, checking his watch. How are we early? Weren't we just in unmoving traffic?

I sigh a loud, defeated sigh before turning my head to face the large building that I manage to make out through the heavily tinted window. Staring at the outline of the structure, I am suddenly overcome with newfound anxiety.

Shit. What if I do or say something stupid? What if I say something "not worth listening to"?

"Could you shut up? Nothing you say is worth listening to?"

I shake my head in attempts to discard the memory from my brain. It's still there. But I put it on pause for now.

Marcel's voice rescues me from my thoughts.

"Today is only so long. You'll be fine. Now be good, don't swear out loud and you. will be. fine." He offers me an assuring shoulder squeeze and half of a hopeful smile. I take it.

I'm a smart bitch, I can do this. I unclip my seatbelt, open the car door and get a clear picture of where I have to spend the next several hours of my day.

I am an intelligent bitch who is doing this for my Beth.

For my Beth and only for so long.