Freaks of Nature

2. Mean is good.

I decided to drive around town after class so I can memorize every corner and every street because that's what anyone should do when they moved to a new place. We just moved two weeks ago so I still don't know much around. I didn't loiter at school and I don't have much anything to do at home anyway. So yeah, I drive alone and try not to panic if I get lost because my sense of direction is shit.

It's almost dinner time when I get home.I swear the dog has a serious issue with me. I think he fell in love with me because his bark never fails when he sees me walking to my house. He's got the crescendo thing going on.

I call for my Mom and hear her voice in the kitchen. "Hi sweetie! How's your day?" she asks busy mixing something on a bowl.

I know it's the first question she's going to ask me. I was thinking about it in the car as I was driving home. She really wants to know about those things. That's what mothers do. Everything is big deal to them. How should I describe my day? There's nothing much to tell except that "It was fun." I shrug.

My classmates are nice, I guess. I don't know about Dean. He's grumpy and I guess he wasn't in the mood. I mean, it's just the first day so I don't really know yet. They totally abandoned Park and I until the last class so what do I know. We didn't all have a proper conversation.

She stops mixing and stares at me. I try to show my I-had-fun face. She doesn't buy it but she says nothing about it. "Can you call your father? He's been a pain in the butt lately. He wants ice cream," she winks at me.

I know where to find my father. I've been staying in the guest room for now since dad is painting my room. I hear the sound of Dad singing Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi and then I open the door. Horror slams through me. "What the hell dad!"

He stops on his brush and his face is epic. He looks like he's caught on murdering a wall with a brush. I really want to laugh but my face is stuck in horror. "You shouldn't curse woman! What did I do?" he asks innocently when he's already caught. Evidence is literally everywhere.

"What did you do?" I ask still wide-eyed as I stare at my room.

"I'm painting," he says deadpan.

"I know that. But why is it not black?"

"Honey, your room will look haunted," he says laughing and when he's laughing, wrinkles form on his forehead.

There's nothing wrong with black. I just like the color because it looks cool and classy. I'm not an emotional brat who likes Gothic things. There doesn't have to be a deep reason to it but people think anyway. Just because people like black, others think it means they're into emotional shit like sad songs and metal rock.

"Of all the colors! Why neon orange?"

More than half of my room is already painted neon orange. It's bad that I'm being put into prison called college and it'll get worse because I'm going to be stuck in a room painted with neon freaking orange! I hate neon freaking goddamn orange. I'd rather die.

He knows I hate it and does anyway. My mind starts to think of payback. "Dad!" I complain.

He puts his hands up but he's still laughing. "Okay okay, I'm just messing with you honey. I'll change it but it's not going to be black. Ever."

I cross my arms on my chest. I huff. "Fine. Blue then."

He approaches me grinning and kisses my temple. "I'm so going to be the 'Best Dad of the Year'," he says and I roll my eyes. Dad is really such a pain in the butt of mom.

"Mom's looking for you in the kitchen!" I call to him.

"I know and I'm going to kiss the hell out of her!"