Falice 2

Money

Forsythe Pendleton Jones is a rich novelist, devoted husband, and father to his one and only son. He and his wife named the boy after him because he was so prideful of who he has become, considering his upbringing in the southside.

Hence, FP Jones is and has always been expected to live up to his father's legacy. The issue was: FP doesn't want to follow in his footsteps the way his father wants him to. That doesn't stop the man from interfering with his choices. The biggest obstacle in Forsythe's eyes for accomplishing what he wants for his son is the girl his son has fallen in love with so young. Too young, Forsythe would say.

Unknown to FP, the man takes matters into his own hands.

Alice knocks on the Jones's front door. She had come over for a reason. She needed to talk to FP, so when it's his father who opens up, she tenses up.

"Hi, is FP here?"

"No, he's out with Fred." Forsythe answers shortly.

It's clear that he isn't her biggest fan, but she tries her best to not let it get to her. His mother, on the other hand, was more keen to the girl.

"Oh, I'll get going then. I'll just call him later." Alice turns on her heels.

"Actually, since you're here. I did want to have a word with you." Forsythe stops her from leaving. "Care to come in?"

"What's this about?" She asks as she follows him into the house.

He gestures to the living room for her to take a seat. "It's about you and junior." He decides to be straight forward with it. "I would like to ask you to stop seeing him."

"What?" Alice has no idea what to do or say to that. "Sir, with all do respect, you can't just ask me to stop seeing your son."

"What will it take for you to leave him?" Forsythe is not going to take no for an answer.

Alice shakes her head. "I'm not going to break up with FP just because I'm not the kind of girl you probably wish I was for him. I'm well aware of your lack of approval of me, but I have done nothing to deserve to be treated this way. I love your son."

"You're both young. You don't know anything about love. This will blow over," He says. "I know what is best for my son and it is not you. He has to start thinking about his future and you are only going to hold him back. Is that really what you want for him? If you truly love my son, you would listen to me and end it."

"You don't know what you're talking about," Alice argues. "I'm not doing anything to interfere with his future. I'm the one urging him to go to college. We both know he has a bright future. Yes, maybe I don't have the same opportunities he has to go to a good university, but it doesn't mean I'm not putting in the effort to get there, too."

"I'm transferring him to Stonewall Prep; my alma mater, where he will be ensured the best education and be away from people like you."

"People like me? What's that supposed to mean?" Alice furrows her eyebrows. "Need I remind you that we both share the same southside roots? You can't hide who you are. Snakes don't shed their skin so easily."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Forsythe denies her accusation.

"I've spoken to some of the Serpents. They're not so crazy about a traitor." Alice scoffs. "You may have made something of yourself, but bashing where you come from is so low. Northside or southside, you can't treat us like less just because we don't get to have the same privileges."

"Fifty grand," Forsythe offers. "Take it or leave it."

"Huh?"

"I suggest you take it. It's probably the only time you'll be seeing that kind of money. It's not like bastard babies like yourself amount to much."