Hidden Melodies

Chapter Five

Copyright Joelle Blue ©

Ellie/Ozzie

The day before graduation, Scarlet and I spent way too much time in my closet. We donated almost half of my wardrobe, then she took me shopping at her favorite spots and we filled that sucker right back up.

I mean, it was kind of fun, mainly because I got to spend a whole truck load of my parents' money. I think I've earned it for putting up with their shit.

Oselda, don't be too loud, that's annoying when children do that.

Seriously John, you're leaving her with me by myself?

Winnie, put her in something else, I didn't know an eight-year-old could look so frumpy. It's embarrassing.

I don't look frumpy now, do I? No, but I can't wait to see their reactions to this current outfit. A form fitting green and black checkered skirt that goes a little past my knees, a flowy short sleeve black shirt with tiny kitty cats all over it, bright pink earrings, and my white vans to balance it out. I love it. Mommy and daddy? Not so much.

Scarlet and I make our way downstairs to go out to dinner and catch my parents having the same exact idea. My dad is grabbing his keys when he looks up as I'm coming down the stairs.

"Well, hello dear father, going to eat the souls of puppies this evening?"

"Watch your mouth. What the hell are you wearing? You look ridiculous!" He shouts.

"I look ridiculous to you. Do you realize how ridiculous you both look? You're both a Prada and Balenciaga ad. And I don't give a fuck. I'm so tired of giving any fucks. You guys don't, so why should I?" I can see my mother literally turning red as Scarlet giggles behind me.

"Everything we've done for you, and you speak to us like that? You've always been an ungrateful bitch."

I sigh. Nothing will ever change, and I'm done expecting them to. "Yes, mother, I'm so ungrateful. You are the best parents in the world ever. Have a nice dinner." I finger wave as they huff and head to the garage.

I'm not worried about being cut off or anything like that because the thought of their daughter living in squalor is abhorrent. But, just in case, I applied to rent a duplex closer to Scarlet and living on my own sounds incredible. It has a space to move my studio and even a little fenced off yard. I saw the pictures of the yard and immediately wanted a puppy. We'd be best friends.

We hop into Scarlet's car, an older station wagon, and head to the ramen place that she loves. I hear her phone go off multiple times and look down to see 'Papa D' on her phone.

"Uh, who is Papa D and why are they texting you?" I laugh, and for the first time ever, Scarlet blushes.

"Well, uh, he's kinda thisguyivebeenhangingoutwith." She tried, but she failed. I understood every word.

"So, how long have you been hanging out with Papa D? How old is Papa D? Do you have a picture of Papa D? Does Papa D have a Dadd –" she cuts me off and I laugh.

"Okay, okay. It's only been like a week, we met a few weeks ago at that party I went to, do you remember?" I nod. "Well at first, I wasn't really interested. He's in a motorcycle club and everything I've heard about those made me not excited to pursue anything, but he won't stop. He's very persistent."

"A motorcycle club? Those are actually a thing? I thought those were just in romance books. And what do you mean what you've heard?" I spew off quickly.