Beating The Game

Chapter Two

It's morning, or is it? I'm not sure. But it's quiet. No yelling, no arguing. It looks like I'm home alone. I sit up from my bed and get up to peak out the window just to double check.
"Woohoo!" I yell throwing my hands in the air and doing a little dance. Both mom and dad's cars are gone and I remembered that Ben is spending the day at Jamie's house.

I can't believe it has already been an entire month since I graduated from high school! I have been counting down the days until I leave for college and the days are going by quicker than I imagined.

I climb out of bed and take a big stretch before deciding what I'm going to wear for the day. I walk over to my closet, pick out a red T-shirt and try it on. Then I throw on my favorite pair of jeans. I walk over and stand in front of the mirror on the back of my door and take a look. What will people think? I like this shirt, but will they? Is it too childish? Too dressed down for public? It does make me look a little fat. I should change. I walk back to my closet, and pick out a black shirt this time. Black will hide the rolls of my stomach better. I try it on but it makes my boobs look too big. People will stare and think I'm trying to hard. I don't want to draw attention to myself. So once more I pick out a new shirt. I finally decided on a loose fitted grey shirt.

I head downstairs to find something to eat. I figured I should eat something healthy like a banana. I think I've gained a few pounds over these last few weeks. As I'm eating my breakfast, I check my phone. No messages. Then I check Facebook to see what everyone is up to today. I see that two of my friends, Natalie and Sam, are going shopping today. I wonder if they considered inviting me. Maybe they don't like me. I wonder if they ever talk about me. No, they must like me! We hangout all of the time! I'm sure they just forgot. Oh well.

I really want to do something today. But it seems like everyone is busy. I figured since I had nothing to do, I'd take some time to paint. I love to paint but hardly ever have time to do it. I get all of my supplies out and lay down some newspaper on the table so I don't get it dirty. As I'm halfway done my painting, I decided that I didn't like it and that it would be easier to throw it out rather than try to fix it.

In the beginning, I had so many ideas of what to do this Summer but it seems like none are going to happen. I chose not to find a job for the summer because I have worked every summer since I was twelve years old! I had not had a single summer off since I was younger so I wanted a break. I wanted to enjoy it, but it looks like that isn't happening either.

My parents were so mad when I told them I wasn't going to get a job. They tried to make me apply for jobs and my dad knows a lot of business people so he was asking around. Just to keep them happy I applied to a bunch of places so that they knew I was at least trying. I even got a phone call from two places but I just lied and told them I had already found another job. I just wanted one summer off. A summer to relax before college. They didn't get that.

I can't wait until September. I will be moving to New York to attend NYU for my business degree and finally get a fresh start. Who would have thought a small town Canadian girl like me would be heading to the big city. Although I am excited I am also nervous. I have never travelled that far before and New York is loud. And in my experience, I don't do so well with loud. Speaking of loud..
The doorbell rings and I jump out of my chair. My heart is racing a mile a minute and im not moving a muscle. I slowly lean over to see if I can see anybody out the window. I see a tall blonde haired man, most likely in his 40's or so. He rings the door bell again but still I don't move hoping that he will give up and leave. I can feel my hands getting sweaty as I clench my fists so tight that my fingers go numb. I close my eyes for one second and when I open them he finally returns to his car and drives away.

I let out a huge sigh of relief and sit back in my chair. Why do I do that? Freak out when someone's at the door? He was most likely harmless and just looking for my dad. But yet I still had a panic attack. Now that I'm all wound up I should probably call mom and find out when they'll be home.

"Hello?" She answers.
"Hey mom! It's Les, I was just wondering what time you and dad will be home."
"We should be home in about an hour or so."
"Okay, see you then!" I replied.
"Yup, bye." She says.
"Love..." and she's gone. "You."

I should probably tidy up any mess that I made before they get home. I grab the newspaper that I used when I was painting and I walk over to the trash can to throw it out. As I open the lid, I notice there is a large brown envelope under the fruit bowl on the counter next to it. Because I'm nosey sometimes, I lift the bowl and take out the envelope to see what's inside. I slowly pull out a think stack of what look like important papers until I begin to read what they say. They're divorce papers.

What? My parents can't be getting divorced. They have been together for 22 years! How can you end something that has lasted so long!? I mean they argue a lot, but don't all couples? Is this my fault? Most of the time when they argue, it is often about me or something I've done wrong. As much as I hate my parents sometimes I can't help but shed a few tears. They're my parents. Of course I don't want them to separate. I can already imagine what things will be like from now on if they get divorced. Nothing will be the same. Dad will leave and live far away, mom will stay home with Ben. There will be two Christmas', two Thanksgivings, two Easter's... Well have to share birthday's. Mom could get a new boyfriend and dad might remarry.

Overwhelmed by the possibility of change, my eyes fill with tears. A few tears land on the papers and distort some of the black ink so I put them back quickly before I ruin them. Even though I really want to rip and burn them as if that could make the problem go away. Were they planning on telling me about this? Or were they just going to wait until I'm gone? Should I ask them about it? No. That's an awkward conversation waiting to happen and I don't do well in awkward situations either. So I'll just pretend like I don't know. Go on about my life pretending as if my parents are still happily married and we're one big happy family. Because that is totally believable right? It's going to have to be for now anyway.

Just as I sit down on the couch, I hear the front door open and my parents come in. I turn so I can look at their faces and they to appear to be pretending that all is well in the lives of the Brennan's.