Vulnerable

Chappy Ten

Chapter Ten of Vulnerable

[ Darian's POV ]

The next day came as worst as I expected. My mom was mad at me because the Dean had called her to come with me to the school today. I was grounded for two months, not allowed to go out with the girls and the girls weren't allowed to see me either. Dammit. My French teacher begged the Dean to drop me out of her subject. So I was going to be in a community service for a week. Plus, I'll have my summer class not in French sub but with Spanish. Curse that French teacher, by the way. She was the first to start it all and I was still the mean one? Heck this school who only accepts dropped-out-from-school bastards just because of moneys. 

"Mom seriously, you don't need to drag me out of this school, I can walk!" I protested. Dammit. I was so pissed. My mom just stared at me sternly so I just shut my mouth up and let her drag me out of this hell. We sat on her car and she started the engine.

"Let's go have a snack first before we head home, mom," I demanded as I fastened my seat-belt.

"You shan't talk to me until we get home, Darian. You hear me?" she called harshly. She opened the radio and  the Pumped Up Kicks came on. Ace (I'm not really sure but in England, Ace means Awesome). I started to sing along when mom looked at me.

"What? I'm not free to sing?" I asked with annoyance. Gosh. Why does it feel like I wasn't good to do anything?!

"I don't want someone loud in the car except for the radio songs," she said coldly. "Fine by me then," I agreed and hummed instead.

I swear, if she-- "Stop humming. It's annoying," she snapped. I stopped automatically because when this side of mom comes on, you'd better be listening or you're sorry.

We pulled in to the mall's parking lot. "Where are we going?" I asked. "Sbarro," she said simply.

We walked out of the area and entered the mall and headed right to Sbarro. We ate in silence and headed back home. I guess this was the first time I ever went to the mall just to eat =___=.

I went inside the house. "Wow, the family's complete! Should I get the camera now?" I exclaimed. My brethren and dad were seated on our long brown sofa in the living room with no expressions at all.

Their gazes drifted off from me. "So how's your day, Dash?" my dad asked while standing up. "How's it being dropped out in your French class?" Reid asked. "How's it being grounded for two months?" Nikolai wanted to know.

Wait, I didn't make a crime, did I? I just stood up for myself, that's it.

"Guys let's not pressure her. Maybe we could talk about this tomorrow," Ryll defended me. "No one's going to sleep without us clearing things off," Mom ordered.

I did nothing of a big deal, dammit. I hate it when they make me feel like I've done a crime. What the buzz is their problem?!

"Does that count changing clothes?" I asked and mom just glared at me. I went to sit on the love seat across the long sofa one.

"Tell me Darian, how many times do I have to tell you to act like a fine young lady? How many times do I have to be called by the Dean to come in your school just because my daughter had done some ballcrop things?!" Great thing about mom is that, she doesn't curse, she doesn't cuss. So she replaces bad words with strange ones (that does rhyme, doesn't it!?).

I kicked off my sneakers and crossed my legs. "But mom this is me. You told me to be myself rather than be someone else. I'm happy with what I am; I'm happy with what I'm doing," I defended myself.

"Happy with what you're doing?!" mom asked disbelievingly. "Are you happy that you're making me -- us down? Are you happy that you've got dropped out of your French class? Are you happy with what you've done with your French teacher? Are you happy with what you've caused your Math teacher?! Darian, I told you to be yourself. But with this one, you're being someone else. You're being a monster. You know how it feels being put down by words. You know how it feels being put into shame. You know how it feels being verbally bullied. Your past isn't enough for you to verbally bully someone--anyone.I missed the sweet Darian I used to prepare pancakes with. I missed the sweet Darian who makes me brush her hair every night. I missed my princess," mom said dramatically. 

I was so close to tearing up but I looked heavenwards, causing the tear not to fall. I managed to smile. "But this is me, this is who I want to be. No more hiding what I really am. You taught me to be strong, now I am building up my strong tall tower. I'm not going to let them step on me, mom, not again. I'm titanium, I am invulnerable," I declared. "If you don't mind please excuse me," I said but before I could finally land my feet on the ground, Reid sternly said the words I'm afraid  to hear.

"You think you're invulnerable?! Huh. You must think twice." And like a bullet, it strike on my heart deeply and was nailed to my head.

It hurts. Of course, hearing it from my brother, from my own beloved brother. I swallowed the lump forming on my throat and without turning back, I said, "Thanks. You've made me stronger a hundred times than I should be. But I won't change for whoever saint it is." Then I went up the stairs directly to my bedroom.

I have felt worthless already, why make it more complicated?