Rough Ryder

Chapter 2

I woke around eleven the next morning. It felt good to sleep in my own bed after a month away. I could use some more down time I am rested enough from my traveling yesterday. I waste no time in my room before heading downstairs. I'm in need of coffee and food. I grin as I scamper down the wide staircase.

The fresh aroma of coffee and bacon frying assault my senses as I near the kitchen. Cook is at the stove were bacon sizzles in a pan. I make my way to the black coffee pot sitting on the chrome counter top. The kitchen is nothing but chrome and black. It's stark but it fits my mom. Cook has everything she needs to prepare a feast for any number of guests.

My mom sits on a bar stool at the counter sipping on coffee while flipping through one of many fashion magazines she studies daily. After pouting my cup of coffee I join my mom at the counter.

"Morning" she smiles as she greets me.

"mmm morning" I return while inhaling the coffee in my cup.

"Did you sleep good?"

"I did... it was fabulous sleeping in my own bed."

We fall silent. Mom usually wouldn't be home this time of morning but she had taken today off to spend with me. She knew I wasn't the perkiest person in the mornings so she was giving me the space I require. Cook soon puts plates of bacon and scrambled eggs with english muffins in from of my mom and I. The sounds of silverware scraping plates is all that is heard the first few moments.

"What do we want to do today?" my mom asks me.

"Relax, watch TV together, I need to practice music and talk" I let out in one breath.

"Well it sounds like you have a plan for us." She gives a small laugh. "Any particular order?"

"How about after we eat, we change into swimsuits and go sit by the pool and talk?"

"Excellent idea"

We head off in our separate directions. I pick up my phone as I prepare to change into one of my bikinis and see that Ryder has sent me a text. I decide to ignore him the only way I know how. I'm not ready to see him yet. I have to take care of talking to my mom first.

Ryder: You home yet?

Me: I'll be back tomorrow

I quickly text Sara and tell her not to tell her sons that I am home yet. She agrees not to say anything to them letting them believe I will be home tomorrow. I'm just not ready to deal with the Hudson Boys yet. For more than one reason.

My mom is already sitting out by the pool when I walk outside she is set up in a spot where the dun is shining bright. There wasn't much sun, pool or beach on Broadway. I'm not sure my mom understands how important she is to me. After losing my dad she literally became my everything. I tried hard not to make life hard for her but I know some of my antics drive her crazy.

Once I'm settled in my chair I turn to my mom, "I want to talk to you about my school options."

"Options?" she questions. "There is something besides the Academy of Arts?" I don't say anything right away. "Mia?"

"Sorry, yea after my time on Broadway I realize as much as music is my life I want to have some normalcy for the rest of my high school life. It doesn't mean I stop playing" I pause to gauge her reaction. She's quietly staring at me but her face is not showing signs of being upset so that's a good sign.

"Go on...' she encourages me to finish.

"I want to continue lessons after school with Madame Silvia. But I want to attend Louden High School." Whew! There I got it out. I've never attended a public school. I'm not sure how my mom is going to react to this. I attended a small private school until my dad got me in at the Academy of Arts.