It'll Be Okay

Spontaneous Decisions

Mrs. Martin had been babbling on about our homework when Bryce passed me a small piece of paper. I gave him a confused look and slowly slid the note under my desk so my teacher couldn't see. Careful not to make the crinkling sound, I open the letter and read what was inside:

Hey Brynn, the gang was thinking we take a well deserved camping trip after this last week of school is over. Let me know what you think and we'll talk later?

Never in a million years would my mother let me go on any type of trip, much less without a chaperone, with my beautiful mess of friends. Yeah, we were 16, but my mom still treated me like I was 11. Ever since my parents got a divorce, mom has been nicer and more generous when it came to getting what I wanted. Maybe, just maybe, my mom would let me take this opportunity.

Coincidentally, while I was in the clouds with my thoughts, Mrs. Martin called on me to answer a question. I looked up, her bat-like voice bringing me back into reality.
"Oh, sorry. What was the question?" I asked, embarrassed.
Mrs. Martin let out a deep sigh, "What did you get for number 12? Gosh Miss Barnes, could you been any more out of it today?"
"Right, um, I got...17?"
"Correct, thank you."

*Bell rings*

I practically shot out of that classroom. Bryce and Melissa weren't too far behind me. The three of us met up with Coby and Zachary at my locker.
My phone buzzed and I looked down to see a text from my father:
Dad💀: Hey Sweetheart, how are you?

With no intentions on talking to him, I turned my phone off and smiled at my friends. Melissa had slammed her locker shut when we began to make our way out of the double doors.
Melissa brought it up first. "So Brynn, you think you'll be able to come on that trip with us? I know it's last minute but it'd be an awesome thing to do!"
"Yeah," I replied. "I'd love to go! You guys know my mom though, I'd have to get on my knees and beg her to let me go...."
"Oh c'mon Bry!" Coby pleaded with the most innocent-looking puppy dog eyes.
"Yeah, Brrrrrrrynnnnnnn," Zachary exclaimed, "ask Mama Barnes."
"Oh, alright." I said, doubting my abilities to actually get my mom to say yes.
I continued my walk home with my friends in silence. I nodded in agreement to some comments they made to each other, but otherwise, my thoughts were elsewhere.

About a year ago, my mother and father had gotten into a massive fight. One of those ones where you run to your room and plug your ears, hoping it'll all be over soon. It lasted for about an hour, arguing back and forth. Then suddenly, it all went quiet. Of course, I instantly thought the fight was my fault. My mom had come to my room later that night, her face crusty with dried tears. She explained to me that things were going to be different from then on. She told me my father was going to find a place of his own. That he'd found a new lady he loved.
I interpreted this as my dad didn't love my mother anymore. He saw her as garbage and threw her out to start fresh. I was hysterical, I was mad and had so many mixed emotions.
Everything settled out after about a month. My mom and dad had made arrangements to switch off days they got to have me. Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays with mom, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays with dad. This year though, my dad had gotten sloppy at being able to take care of me on those days. He'd come up with an excuse as to why he couldn't see me. He's been doing that for about a month.
I waved my friends goodbye and walked into my door and saw my mother reading a magazine at the kitchen counter.

"Hey, Mom." I said.
"Hey Honey, how was school?" She asked, smiling.
"It was good. Dad texted me, I didn't answer though."
"Oh."
I made my way around the counter and to the fridge. I grabbed some strawberries and walked to the couch.
Here went nothing, "So, um, Mom I have a question."
"Sure." She replied, still reading her magazine.
"Well, Melissa wanted to know if I could go camping with her the week after school ends." I technically wasn't lying. I just didn't mention the fact that all my friends had asked me.
"Just Melissa?" She said skeptically, "or will you guys have a chaperone?"
It was either the truth now or never. "Well, Byrce," I said Bryce's name first because she trusts him, "Coby, and Zachary will be going too."
"Hmm."
"Pleeeeeeeaseeee?" I begged.
"I'll have to ask your father...."
WHAT???? There was NO way she was going to bring my father into this. He'd say no! Plus, weren't my parents on no speaking terms?
I sighed deeply before responding, "Why should he have anything to do with this? He is just stuck up and doesn't care about anyone but himself! He shouldn't have ANY opinion in my decisions!"
"Brynn Tori Barnes! Don't you ever say that again!" She snapped.
"It's true!"
She gave a sly nod. "I know."
With tension thick in the air, I turned my phone on and looked at the screen. I had a text from Melissa in the group message:
Melissa👑: Sooo did u ask ur mom yet Bry??
Me: Yea she says she has to ask my DAD!!
Bryce😝: What? Why?!
Me: I have no clue! It's so stupid!
Zachary👻: Well good lick Bry Bry
Me: Lick??
Melissa👑: Lick? 😂
Zachary👻: Luck* lol whoops

I smiled and got up from the couch.
"Well, Mom, you think it over. Ask Dad if you feel like you need to.... I'm going to my room."