Wait... What?

Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Forced Interaction

So bonding with mom.... Not sure how this will go, I haven't spent any time alone with her since she left or longer, not including the 12 hour drive from home to here, and shopping? Really mom? I have no sense of style and I refuse to change what little I have. Jeans and T-shirts for me thank you very much!

Sometimes I wonder if she even knows who I am, I'm not he buddy, I'm not her pal, I'm her daughter. You can try and get along with me all you want mom but no matter what you do the distrust will remain!

I dress quickly not bothering to shower, I didn't sleep more than an hour anyway. I drag the comb through my hair and stare at the zombie in the mirror, I always wear an angry expression, my lips stretched into a hard line, eyebrows sloping downward, everything about me looks un inviting and aggressive.

I've tried my entire life to smile and be happy, pretend that I don't feel the emptiness eating away at my heart. I'm an angry person, always have been. My dad blames my mom and my mom blames my dad. I blame them both, as well as myself.

I splash my face with the cold sink water to clear my thoughts, it stings my eyes and jolts me awake in an instant. There's no point dwelling on the past, today I am going to the mall with mom, best to focus my small amount if energy on my mother. This will be no easy task, I am known for my short temper and my inability to hold my tongue.

My mother knocks on the bathroom door as I'm brushing my teeth, I open the door without looking at her or acknowledging her in any way. She stands awkwardly in the door way waiting for me to say something. I don't.

"You've grown so big..." she says hesitantly.

"Mmhm"

"Are you excited to go shopping? I already got you enrolled in Gaylord." she laughs mentioning the stupid towns name.

"Thanks." I say through the thick lather of toothpaste. I spit, rinse and turn to her, resting my elbows on the sink.

"So how far away is this mall of yours?" I grumble, irritation clear in my voice.

"Oh only two hours away... It gives us a chance to talk!" she says cheerfully, her smile is turned up slightly too much her arms are crossed across her chest and her shoulders drawn in. I know her and this means she's nervous, and intimidated. This should be interesting.