Play the Game Boy (BWWM)

chapter 2

Faith

Home was as miserable as the chance Chad might one day like me back. Home was this crazy small apartment in the middle of nowhere, far away from all of my friends' houses. Home wasn't located in this fancy neighbourhood like Meghan's, Brendan's or Nadine's. No, home was in this medium to low-income region of the city. Home was supposed to be crap, a motivation for you to want to get the hell out away from there. And it worked. When I'd become older and have more money, I was moving the farthest away from this place.

I opened the door to the apartment, opening the lights of the living room on my way in. I automatically noticed my parents sitting down at the table, as calm as ever. My mother's eyes were bloodshot red and puffy, while my father struggled to keep his composure.

"Mom? Dad? What's going on," I asked approaching them.

"Take a seat sweetie, your mother and I have to talk to you," my father answered, solemnly.

I did as he said and took the seat beside my mother's. She instantly took my hand in hers, squeezing it as if she was about to lose me. What was happening? I felt sick, as if I could distinctly discern my heart constrict inside my rib cage.

"Honey, it's about money... Or the lack of it."

"What do you mean mom? I don't understand..."

My father decided to speak up for her :

"Faith, you know how this past year has been really difficult for your mom and I with it being that I lost my job in January..."

"Which you got back," I interjected, confused and still not seeing the point of their exuberating sad glances. "Right?"

"Well, yes, I did, but the thing is, we still can't afford to pay for your last year at Ridgewind Academy. We arranged a deal with the administration that we could pay off our debt if you worked full time at the school for about a year starting next September."

"But... If it's next year, that means that... I can't attend college," I murmured, realizing the reason behind their grave attitude. Tears spilled out from my mother's eyes as she knew how much the news hurt me. I knew that if she could, she'd quit her own job to work at the school for me, but that'd require our family to lose its largest part of its income.

Taken aback, I just got up from my chair and walked up to the door. Tears were threatening to slide down my face at any given moment when I sprung open the door at the same time that Brendan was about to knock down on it.

"Don't you have some girl to screw?" I screamed out, too overwhelmed to care if my parents overheard me or not.

"Yes, you."

I stared blankly at him and he understood that now wasn't the right timing to mess with me. He looked down into my eyes and genuinely shared concern for me. His deep blue stare searched inside of me to find an ounce of happiness, but was left empty-handed.

"I'm here because you forgot your sweater at Meghan's place. I really only meant to return it to you, but, now I can't stop myself from asking the obvious. What's wrong?"

"It's none of your business," I said, trying to close the door on him which he stopped with his foot.

"I want it to be," he responded.

"You're the last person I'd want to discuss this with right now. What would a rich kid even think of my parents' financial issues?"

"I'd say talking to someone who can't relate is better than bottling everything in and faking a smile at the next party."

You can be real cruel when you want to. I remembered Nadine's words from earlier and his and conceded into joining him outside the apartment. He stared at my white tank top a tad too long and I ripped my yellow sweater off of his hands and put it on over it.

We walked down the flight of stairs and stepped outside of the building where his car was parked. We hopped right in, although we had no intention in driving off anywhere else.

"So, mind telling me what's bugging you now?"

I took in a deep breath before exhaling out :

"My parents don't have enough money so, I have to pay off my last year at Ridgewind by working there for a whole year next September. Meaning that I can't go to college. Man, why do private schools have to be so damn expensive?"

The car remained silent for a few moments before Brendan let out, decidedly :

"I'll pay it."

My heart sank into my chest. I didn't want him to pity me like this. I didn't exactly need his help —it wouldn't hurt, but it wasn't essential. I was, in no way, shape or form begging him to help me out. I wasn't a charity case he needed to fund.

"You will not."

"C'mon Tristens, there's so many things you don't want me to do to you, I mean for you, let me at least redeem myself and do you this tiny favor," he pleaded, twisting around in the driver's seat to look at me.

I did the same and sighed.

"Look, I've already told you. I don't need your help with anything. Plus, I'm positive you'd make sure I never forget that I owe you one. I prefer living being debt-free."

"But you don't mind missing out on college for a year and living solely to pay off a debt the school assigned to your parents' names?" he countered with, turning around again to fix the line of cars parked in front of his. "Trading one debt for one that's less harsh seems like a great deal to me."

I rolled my eyes at his audacity.

"Because you have ten thousand dollars to spare and spend on me?" I heaved out, ironically.

"You're not just anyone Faith. Trust me. I wouldn't do the same thing for anyone else."

"How many girls have you said this to? Fifteen I bet?" I joked.

"One."

He looked serious as he said this, and he spun around to face me again, his chiseled face naked from the usual cocky sly smile I had witnessed on him for years and suddenly, for some reason, it felt like there wasn't enough air or space in the car for the two of us.

I opened the door and let out, as a goodbye message :

"Don't tell anyone about this or I'll punch your head out, clear?"

"I could file you to the police for harassment, you know?" he laughed as I stepped out of the vehicle.

"And they'd probably believe the white guy over the black girl who can't afford her school's tuition," I retorted, slamming the door shut with all my strenght —which was still pretty weak.

Oh, Brendan, why'd you always have to get involved in my life?