The Art of Balancing » work in progress

CH. 5 : "To be fair, I am student body president."

So it's Sunday afternoon, and I'm sitting in the backseat of Reid's (might I add very tiny) Mini Cooper as we pull into what appears to be "Pearwyn Shores Country Club".

I've managed to do absolutely nothing all weekend so far, so I figure I can amuse Reid and Sasha by attending their friend's dinner party.

After the whole laundry room incident with Graham Bryant, I walked my pissed off little ass home. Nothing good came out of that night.

(1) I had left my dad's sweatshirt there - which he hasn't even asked me about, (2) screwed my relationship with one of my Photographic Studies partners - which is not my fault in the least, and (3) had to endure my phone blowing up with texts from Marina, all asking me why I ditched - which I did not reply to.

I have a solution to at least one of my problems. I am going to march into Mr. Swinley's room Monday morning and demand to be placed in a new group, even if it means begging and crying. I'm willing.

I also have made the decision to avoid Graham at all costs. Him being the stupid boy he is, he's going to want to talk about it, and I don't want any part in that. His little act basically tattooed "I'M A DOUCHE" on his forehead. There is nothing left to say.

So, I make an attempt to get the mail when I see his car's gone, and I shut my curtains in my room which unfortunately is directly across from Graham's room in his house. I'm feeling good about it, too. Removing any traces of him has been surprisingly easy. Almost too easy.

"I knew you'd love those shoes." Sasha, my step-mother, says while linking her arm with mine as we go for the entrance. "They're one of Ebony's new designs and we just got some in at the shop in Seattle. They screamed your name." She says whole heartedly, and I glance down at my new, black leather ballet pointe shoe styled flats.

Apparently Reid hadn't told her the full story. This is okay, though. Even though wearing them feels like a raw slap in the face, I can still appreciate the gesture.

Sasha's the co-owner of E&S Couture. It's a Washington based clothing line that Sasha and her sister Ebony started when their parents left them a large sum of money behind. As far as business goes, they do well, the only main problem is that Sasha lives in Pearwyn, so taking weekly trips to the city can get kind of tedious. I'm surprised Reid and Sasha haven't already left Pearwyn yet to be honest.

As far as step-moms go, Sasha is incredible. We aren't too terribly close by any means; she's more of a semi distant sister or a friend, and I am perfectly okay with that. If it means she's going to continually surprise me with her new pieces that no one else has, then that's cool. If only she knew my "style" a bit better.. But I'm not complaining.

Sasha had tried to get me to borrow one of her dresses, but the thing is, I'd rather eat my own finger than wear something that's hot pink and so tight I can't breathe.

I did cave, though, and agreed to wear one of her new blouses. I guess because I haven't seen neither Sasha nor Reid in the past 4 months I feel like I owe them. Normally, I'm not this.. persuasive. Once my mind is made, they can't change it. In fact, they're lucky they didn't have to drag me kicking and screaming to their high class friends' dinner party. A giver, that's what I am.

(Joking.)

Anyway, when we get inside of Pearwyn Shores Country Club and the first thing I see is some old hag going to town on a grand piano, I kind of wish I took Sasha up on her previous offer, because maybe I am a bit under-dressed. At least I'm wearing black jeans, when they could be regular denim. Whatever.

I excuse myself to the bathroom and Reid and Sasha tell me they'll save me a seat at their table before their hands clasp together. I cringe, because ew, who wants to see middle aged people give each other romantic gestures?