Too Much, Too Soon

Six

~3 WEEKS LATER~
When I woke, I couldn't tell if it was morning or afternoon; the sun was covered by low sitting clouds, snow clouds.

"Hey! How'd you sleep?" I looked to my mother as I slowly made my way into the kitchen and replied, "well. I slept well." I checked the clock; noon. "I slept in," I remarked. My mom laughed as she gathered her car keys, "you did! We're having some friends over tomorrow, so we are going shopping later to find you a dress." I glanced to her, confused, "I don't remember being told about this gathering." She explained, "my friends Kim and Marie and their families will be her. Kim's son just got home and he'll be there." I rolled my eyes, "her ugly son with the bucked teeth? No thanks; I don't mean that rude but come on mom. I..."

I was going to say that I was in love with someone a few states over, but I remembered I told her that we were 'on a break.' That was anything but the truth. Me moving temporarily back actually has made me--and from what he as conveyed, him too--realize that I was madly fucking in love with that dork. She hates him (probably because he is nice) but I wish I knew her real motive. Maybe it's because he is just laid back and not uptight. She, however, only likes guys for me that are 'religious' and come from 'wealthy families;' I could care less. All I cared was whether or not that person was an asshole.

She challenged me, "he is a rather handsome young man. And when you clean yourself up, you are beautiful." "What do you mean 'clean yourself up?'" "Well, you always kind of dress like a burner...a stoner or skater...You always have those damn flannels and band t-shirts on. When you wear your good, quality clothes, you look like a princess." I smiled and sarcastically remarked, "oh yes, because every girl wants to be a princess." Her lack of a brain made it impossible for her to catch the bitchy, sardonic tone in my voice.

As she was gathering her keys, she changed the subject, "well, I'm going to lunch with some friends. I'll be back in two hours. When we get back, we'll go shopping." I smiled, "funn!" She returned my smiled (once again not noticing the hostility and sarcasm I meant), turned around and walked out the door.

I watched covertly out the front windows until her car was out of sight. I made a dash towards the phone. Everyday I possibly could, I'd call him.

The line rang, and rang, and rang. The answering machine picked up. I left a simple, cliché message and ran to get ready.

I spent nearly 20 minutes looking through the boxes in my room for my copy of "How Could Hell Be Any Worse?" Once I found it, I made my way to the living room to play it.

"What the fuck is this?" I said taking the record my mom or dad had been playing. "Some religious music or something," I said with a scoff and replaced it with the Bad Religion record.

After I showered and picked out some "stoner" apparel, and I settled into a spot on the couch; I was bored.

The sound of the phone ringing broke the silence that had fallen over the room. I ran as if I were an Olympian to answer. We didn't have caller ID (I wouldn't put his number in anyways), but I dialed that number so many times, I knew who it was.

"Heyy!" His voice rang through, "hey! How's it going?" I shrugged and replied, "alright. You?" "I'm good! Got any interesting plans for today?" I sighed, "my mom wants me to buy a dress for me because of some stupid bitch fest she's having. I don't want to go. It'll be the same stupid shit as always. Them all trying to one-up each other." He chuckled, "just go to make her happy. She sounds like she's trying to include you in things. But don't take shit from people; put them in their place." I lightly laughed, "yeah I will. Do you have any plans?" He answered, "yeah. Some stuff with Mike and Trè. Which reminds me, I've gotta run. I'll talk to you later. I love you." "I love you too. Bye!" The line closed and I hung the phone up. Just hearing his voice made me happier.

I sat on the couch. "I don't have time to go anywhere," I said to my dog as I glanced at the clock. He wagged his tail and rested his head on my leg. "Let's go for a walk." He immediately perked his head up and began running around the house like a lunatic. "Hey, calm down," I said to him and I clipped his leash on. I adjusted my navy blue beanie and opened the front door.

As I was walking, I realized just exactly why I wanted to leave in the first place; everything was the same. The houses were all the same size, people only drove luxury SUVs or Italian sports cars. "It disgusts me how everyone in the neighborhood tries so hard to be different then their neighbors, how they try to one-up each other. They're all the same, annoying, braggy, narcissistic assholes," I ranted to myself as I trudged along the road. This walk wasn't such of a good idea.

I passed Christina's house; she was a great friend of mine. She promised to talk to me as much as she possibly could when I moved. I never got a call, a letter, anything. I'd call, but she never returned them. I harbored no hate, but I was just done with that incessant bullshit I seemed surrounded by here. "Everyone makes promises they can't keep and says things they've never done," I grunted to myself.

Suddenly, something cold hit my hand. I looked up to see sparse snowflakes falling from the sky. "Fan-fucking-tastic. I love snow." I turned around and went home.

My mom was waiting for me, "ready?" I nodded, "yeah." She smiled, "how does it feel to be home instead of with those weirdos?" I smiled, "just great. I love being surrounded by close-minded, conceited snot-nosed jerks." She straightened up, "don't be such a pessimist. I heard Christina will be here, her mom told me! Won't that be great?! You haven't seen each other in forever. She said you'd talk all the time on the phone." I laughed, "oh yeah, for hours." My mom smiled (once again ignoring the sarcasm I cleverly employed). I walked towards the door, "come on mommy! Let's go dress shopping! I cannot wait!" She smiled; I don't think she's ever going to catch on.