Unshadowing Pan

The Year After pt 1

I stated quietly at the ground knowing very well I was in trouble. I looked up, squinting at my mother who looked like she was going to kill me.

"Thank you officer. I'll make sure she gets the grounding she deserves," Mom said holding her authority as she escorted the cop out our apartment condo.

I went over to the fridge and grabbed an apple quickly. My mom, Emma, looking very disappointed, met me in the kitchen after letting the cop leave.

"Seriously that was the second time this month. Look kid I did some pretty bad choices growing up, that's why I'm telling you to not do the same," she explained as she went through her bills.

"In my defense," I said. "I did nothing wrong."

"You slammed a girl on the ground at your school. How is that not something wrong?" She asked, angrily.

"She was picking on someone. That girl deserved it! She has been picking on poor Judy all year! I'm sick and tired of people pushing down others!"

She was always like this as I grew up, disappointed by my action. She had adopted me when I was ten, Henry had been eight at the time.

"Look...I'm seventeen," I concluded jumping onto the sofa next to Henry. He was playing Mortal Kombat. I joined in and began pushing on the different buttons as our avatars fought.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Mom asked from behind.

"You called me a kid, I just turned seventeen. I'm technically almost an adult," I replied. "I know what I'm doing. I just wanted to help someone out."

"Yeah, but not by hurting others, Aria. And if you want to be treated like an adult you have to act like one."

She got me there. I sighed, in defeat, by both my mother and the game.

"I'm sorry, okay? I'll do better next time."

"So how was your date?" Asked Henry as he continued to play his game. Knowing him he was just changing the subject.

"It was going great until I got a call that your rebel sister was caught fighting some girl at a yogurt shop with her friends" she complained.

"And by friends she means my boyfriend," I clarified turning back to look at Mom who glared at me. My mom wasn't too fond of my boyfriend yet so she liked to call him my friend.

Henry furrowed his brows. "You mean that guy who came over the other day while mom went out with Walsh?"

Walsh was my mom's boyfriend whom she had been dating for some time now. She went out with him the other day so I decided to bring my boyfriend over to hang out, innocently I mad add. She looked angry once she discovered what I did.

"Wait what? You brought over-"

"Ty, yes I did." I admitted. "But only to hang out. We played video games most of the time with Henry. It was fine."

"No it was not fine. Aria if you want me to keep trusting you, you have to be honest with me!"

This was how it usually went. We would bicker for awhile then one of us would give in and we'd be happy again. This time wasn't one of those cases. She actually looked very angry.

"Aria. Give me your cell phone," she demanded, holding out her hand.

"What?" I asked slightly shocked. It wasn't like her to punish me this way.

"Phone, now!" She ordered.

It was no use arguing. I pulled out my phone from my back pocket and handed it to her. She stomped off to her room leaving me alone with Henry.