Hard Times

10

"Mom, have you seen my song book?" Stacie asked as she made her way into the kitchen. She'd been searching her room all morning trying to find it.

"I thought I saw it on the kitchen table earlier." Angie said softly.

Stacie instantly moved to the table and sighed in relief upon seeing her notebook. "Thanks mom." She said softly before turning to look at her mother. "Can I go to Lucas' until I have to go to my appointments?" She asked softly, she had an ultrasound and then her first therapy appointment.

"Honey, I'd rather you stayed here." Angie said softly.

Frowning, Stacie looked down. "He was going to go to the ultrasound with us."

"He can meet us there." Angie said softly.

"Why can't I go to his house?" Stacie asked, not looking up. Instead she was fidgeting with the bracelet Lucas had made for her.

"Because I want to drive you." Stacie's mother said calmly.

"But you can still drive me." Stacie mumbled, fighting back tears of frustration.

"Stacie, you're not going to Lucas's house." Angie said calmly.

Stacie looked up at her mother, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Why not?"

"Because, I said no." Angie said calmly. "I'm still your mother."

"You're controlling me!" Stacie yelled before running out of the kitchen and up to her room.

Angie frowned. She didn't understand why her daughter was acting this way.

"Hey mom, I'm going to the river court with Nathan and some of the group." Taylor said as he entered the kitchen. "Is that okay?"

"To play basketball? I didn't think you liked basketball." Angie said, frowning.

Taylor shrugged and ran a hand through his hair. "They're going to show me how to play."

"Take your sister with you. She's angry at me for not letting her go to Lucas' house. When did you guys stop just accepting when I said no." Angie said, running her fingers through her hair.

"She won't go, Aubrey will be there." Taylor said with a shrug.

"Just take her." Angie said. "Don't tell her Aubrey will be there."

Taylor sighed and made his way upstairs. "Stacie. Mom said you have to come to the river court with me."

"I don't want to." Stacie mumbled, rolling onto her side to face away from Taylor.

"Come on Stacie." Taylor said, moving into the room. "Come hang out with our friends."

Stacie shook her head, she didn't want to go to the river court.

"Come on." Taylor took his sister's arm and tried to pull her up.

"I don't want to go." Stacie snapped out, pulling her arm away.

Taylor sighed and shook his head. "Fine." He turned to leave.

Stacie rolled back onto her side and stared at the wall. She just wanted to go see Lucas. She didn't understand why she couldn't go see him, but Taylor could go to the river court. Stacie sighed. She felt like her mother was ruining her life. Part of her wished she'd had Hayley and Benji's parents just so that she could have the freedom to do what she wanted and go where she wished without being told she couldn't. But just thinking that made her feel like a horrible friend.

Stacie shook her head. Why did she have to be such a bad friend? It was no wonder nobody really wanted to hang out with her. She hadn't been there for Benji and Hayley when their parents died and now she wasn't there for them again after finding out they had other family. She was kissing Beca, ruining that friendship if they fell out and pulling away from her brother.