Photograph [on hold]

Ms. Sorenson

I sat criss cross on my bed, book in hand as I hummed the tune of pieces of songs, like those quilts made up of different fabrics but sewn all together. I was developing good friendships with the boys, though I have yet to meet Silas. I wonder what color- "Sang!" My mother calls, breaking my train of thought. I rush to her room, watching as she curls her hair in the mirror. "Yes?" "There will be another dinner meeting here tonight. Put on a dress, do your hair. This will be a very important meeting, so don't screw up, understand?" I nod my head frantically. "How many people are coming?" "Just two." "Would you like me to fix something up?" "Yes. The usual." I nod and run downstairs, quickly staring preparations. I make sure the stove is set at the right temperature and set the table as I wait for it to boil. I quickly gather garlic bread and place it in the oven before collecting the necessary salad items and quickly making a salad. I place the salad in the fridge and pour the noodles into the boiling water. I quickly create a fruit salad and set that in the fridge as well. When I feel it's done, I drain the noodles before placing them back into the pot and placing the lid on top. I hear up some sauce and do the same thing, without the draining part. With my mother's reminder there is a half hour left, I rush upstairs to my closet. Here we go again. I quickly put on a black dress with one sleeve, sequins at the bottom, ruffles on the top. I also slip on some black flats and but my hair in a bun with two stands framing my face. I slide two silver bracelets around my wrist and silver hoops in my ears. Then I apply light blue eyeshadow and a little mascara. Rushing downstairs I quickly finish food preparations right as the doorbell rings. Out of habit and how I was raised, I head to the door, but my mother stops me. "I answer on meeting nights, remember?" I give a small nod and lower my head. The door opens and I straighten my spine. I must make a good impression. For my mother. For the sake of her business. My mother, in a sleeveless black dress and white shrug, holds the door open. "Please come in." I watch as the two figures enter the house. The door shuts close and I zone out, going through the motions. "Can I take your coat?" I ask politely, my words bitterly sweet. As I look up to take their coat, my eyes widen. Because holding out their coat to me, is Dr. Green. I quickly unfreeze and take his coat, hanging it up. But I can't believe my eyes when they meet the cold ones of Mr. Blackbourne and stumble over my lines that I've rehearsed. "Yo-urs as well?" He nods, handing it to me. My mother clears her throat and she gives me a short, pointed glance. "I am Ms. Melissa Sorenson, and this is my daughter Sang." I give a small curtsy, bowing my head as my mom shakes hands. "Please, let me guide you to the table." My voice says, as if by memory. So involuntary I need not tell it to speak. We head for the table though my mother holds me back for a moment. She speaks through gritted teeth. "No mistakes, remember? This is important, don't ruin it." I nod, swallowing before retreating to the kitchen. Mistake one. I bring the spaghetti out and place it on the table, watching as my mother gives a pleasant smile. "We have wine and water, which would you like?" I am surprised as both choose water but know my mother wants wine. I bring both out and pour them steadily into the cups. "Excuse me, mother." I say. She nods and I escape hurriedly to my room. I sit on the corner of my bed, careful not to mess up my hair by laying down. Letting out a heavy sigh, I wished I didn't have to do this. I hate dinner meetings. I am forced to say every one of my rehearsed lines politely and correctly. To be graceful. To not spill, break, or drop anything. And even though my mind hates it, my body does it almost involuntarily. Like as if it betrays my thoughts. "Sang darling!" My mother calls sweetly. I hurry downstairs, rushing to get to her side. But in my hurry, also comes my recklessness. Her glass of wine tumbles to the ground. It spills on the tile. Mistake two. The glass shatters. Mistake three. I let out a gasp in realization. My mother forces a smile, controlling her calm expression as she pinches the bridge of her nose and breathes out a sigh. You'd have to live with her to know that's what she does when she's mad and utterly disappointed. When something is a failure. Me. "It's okay, sweetie. There's more glasses and paper towels." The endearment means, "if you ruined this for me, you're in deeper trouble than you already are". She turns back to the other two. "If it's okay with you, I'd like to move this to my office." They nod and stand, leaving. I catch a look of concern from Dr. Green as he leaves but I can't find the strength to smile. My cheeks heat and tears form in my eyes as I drop to my knees with a broom and dustpan. Minutes later, the mess is cleaned up and my mascara is touched up as well as I sit dreading on my bed. My door opens and a upset woman quietly tells me to come say goodbye to our guests. I follow her with my gaze glued to the floor. I quickly hand them back their coats and do a curtsy. I watch and wait for the door to close as we stand there in silence. I make the first move. "Mom, I'm so sorry. I really didn't mean to... it was an accident." "I understand that accidents happen, I honestly do. But when they happen, somebody's got to pay. And if somebody has to pay, it's going to be you." She says, tone sharp, cutting into my soul like a blade. Tears form as my head hangs down. We stand there for a moment before her impatient voice rings through the air. "Just go to your room already I don't want to see you right now!" I quickly scurry up the stairs and slam the door, flipping onto the bed as I let my hair down and the tears flow. I pay no attention to the fact that my mascara is running down my cheeks and I look horrible. I just reach for my phone that says I have a call. I take a breath before hitting the answer button. "Sang?" "Gabe?" "Can I come over? And Kota too?" "Hold on." I press hold on the phone before calling out. "Mom!" That's when I hear the garage door. My mother's car pulls out and I just sob harder. I reconnect, choke out a yes, and hang up.
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Moments later the doorbell rings but I know that they'll get in. I don't want to get up. Mom probably left the door open. I know I'm right when the next thing I hear are footsteps on the stairs and a soft knock on my door. "Come in!" I whisper, still sobbing. "Trouble I'm coming in." I don't say anything, but rather let him come in as my sobs take over my body. Gabe stops in his tracks. "Kota!" He calls before running to me, pulling me into a hug. I don't feel like moving and don't fight back, just cry. Kota joins us soon after and joins our hug. They let me cry but whisper sweet things into my ear. After a while I just sit there, tears gone, shaking. "Do you want to talk about it?" In my unstable mental condition, I pour everything out. "I'm a failure. My mother is going to make me pay and I know she wishes I never existed because all I do is break thi-" "Woah! Slow down! Why don't you start from the beginning." I take a deep breath and start slowly. "Well, my mother was having another dinner meeting, so I got everything ready. Fixed my hair, cooked the food, everything. I was just, you know, going through the motions when BAM! Dr. Green and Mr. Perfect walked in-" Kota raised an eyebrow but Have asked the question. "Who's Mr. Perfect?" My hand covered my mouth as I remembered his steel eyes. My gaze lowered as my cheeks heated. "Mr. Blackbourne." Kota nodded so I continued. "It was going okay but I stumbled over one of my lines." "You rehearsed lines?" I give a sad nod and resume. "That was mistake one. I was excused to my room and when I was called, I rushed down stairs. I knocked over her glass and it spilled. That was mistake two. Then it broke. That was mistake three. I could tell she was mad, because she pinches the bridge of her nose and sighed. I knew she was really mad when the next sentence she spoke had an endearment." Kota frowned and pushed his glasses up on his nose. "After they left, I told my mom it was an accident." "And what did your mom say?" "She said, 'I understand that accidents happen, I honestly do. But when they happen, somebody's got to pay. And if somebody has to pay, it's going to be you.'. " "Oh Kota, what am I going to do? I'm just one big mistake that can't stop causing problems. Gabriel's right. All I am is trouble." Gabriel flinched when he hears this before asking Kota to leave the room. He does, shutting the door behind him. "Sang, I need you to hear me out, okay?"

And that's all folks! Fyi, chapter coming next should be posted soon, sorry it took so long to update. Anyhow, I want you to know that even though I don't reply to comments much, I really appreciate them and read them. Question of the chapter is... what are you looking forward to most this Christmas? See you next chapter guys!