Senior Slump Or Comeback Of The Year

Looking Good

Pete stared at himself in the mirror. He looked good. He wasn't one of those guys who was self conscious about his appearance. If it was one thing his sorry excuse for parents did for him, it was give him good genes. And the money to be able to afford good looking clothes.

He flipped his bangs out of his face just to watch the hair settle back onto his forehead seconds later. He didn't have anything else left to do. He was showered, dressed and his hair was styled. But it was only 7:36 pm. The school dance technically started at 7:00. But only the losers would be rushing to the doors as soon as they opened. Sarah explained to him that they probably wouldn't be showing up until after 8:00 or maybe even around 9:00. And they definitely weren't going to stay until it ended at 11:00. No, the longest they were going to stay in there was an hour and a half. And then they were going to blow it off and go to a party one of Mikey's college friends was throwing in the next town.

"Pete?" his name was followed by a shallow knock on the already opened door. He glanced over to see his mother walking in to his room. She paused. Dramatically placing her opened hand over her chest. "Oh my gosh! You look a-amazing." Her words tripped over each other. She inhaled loudly. Bringing her free hand up to her dry eyes.

"Forever the actress, mother." Pete rolled his eyes.

"It's what I do." She dropped the act as she entered the room fully. Sitting on the edge of the king sized bed.

She didn't have to remind Pete of what she did. He knew what she did. It was the reason he'd barely saw her as a child. Always on location out of town or out of the country for some B or C list film. Her and his father leaving him with random nannies or distance relatives. It was still the reason he barely saw her now. It wasn't as if he didn't want his parents to follow their dreams and be successful. He was happy for their limited success. It was the reason he could live as well as he did now. But he would rather they get normal jobs and be home a little more. He would rather have real fucking parents. Not strangers who stopped by every few months to make him dress up for dinners or give him money.

"What do you want?"

"What are you getting all dressed up for? Do you have a date?"

He met her eyes in the mirror. Glaring his disapproval at her. "No. Tonight is the night of the school dance. You would know that if you were an actual mother."

She easily ignored the jab. "I just heard the most disturbing news."

"You can't call one of your barely famous friends to gossip?"

Again, she ignored him. "Do you remember your aunt Marsha?"

"No."

"Well I just heard that her daughter, your cousin, is pregnant. And she hasn't even finished high school yet!" She placed her hand on her forehead. "Can you believe how irresponsible she is? How irresponsible your aunt was for not watching out for her more? How stupid could she be to allow herself to get pregnant in school?"

"Mother." Pete tried to stop her.

"I mean her life is ruined now."

"Mother."

"And the father is barely involved in her life."

"Mother."

As his mother droned on about the idiocy of some cousin he'd never met, Pete's thoughts drifted to Patrick. If his mother could talk about her own niece like this, he couldn't even imagine what people would end up saying about Patrick. Especially in school. The very people he hung around everyday would give him the worst of it. While Pete himself would get none of the backlash. He was just as responsible for making that baby as Patrick was. But he wouldn't have to suffer.

And now Patrick was probably sitting at home alone, thinking the same things Pete was thinking about now. Beating himself up. Preparing himself for the worst that was yet to come. While Pete was getting all dressed up in his mirror. Getting ready to go out and have fun with his friends. It wasn't fair.

"And you know they're just going to end up coming to us for the abortion money if needed-"

Pete's heart jumped at the sound of the word abortion. He spun around to face his mother. Anger boiling inside of him. "Mother would you just shut up already?"

"Excuse me, young man?" She stood up in shock.

"Just- Just leave me alone." He grabbed the car keys from his desk. "I have to go."

"Go where? Are you late for the dance?"

"No. Yes. Leave me alone." He rushed out of the room. Knowing she wasn't enough of a concerned parent to follow after him.