Monochrome beat (boyxboy)✔

Beat 28

Orlando's POV

It was rare for breakfast to be silent at the Lewis house. Mom always had something to say about the weather, the neighbors, church and all the people she didn't like. Kenzie and I had a habit of teasing each other. That morning though, all you could hear were the sounds of forks hitting plates.

I wasn't hungry so I played with my food. Mom had made me extra bacon that morning to congratulate me. Despite my love for bacon, I couldn't eat it. My appetite was gone. What wasn't gone though was the guilt I felt.

I'd told Jax that I'd be there whenever he needed me. Instead I was leaving, leaving Jax to deal with the trials and tribulations of being a Johan Gilbert high school student alone. Him storming out, the tears in his eyes, they all told me he wasn't dealing with it well.

He ignored my calls and didn't even read my texts. I spent the whole night tossing and turning, wondering if he was at least physically okay. He'd walked away from me before I could tell him what was on my mind.

The last thing I wanted him to think was that I was abandoning him. I could never do that. He had to know that even though I wouldn't be at the same school as him, I would be there for him. We could still hang out and watch movies, play songs and make some more music. He was a part of my life I didn't want to give up. I wasn't giving up on him.

If the only way he'd believe me was if I stayed, then screw the private school.

"I don't wanna go to this new school," I mumbled, not looking at either of my parents.

"Excuse me?" my mom's voice was akin to thunder. I had no doubt she thought I was crazy.

"I don't wanna go. I am fine at that school you call trash," I said clearly, stopping my fork's movements.

"I am not entertaining this," mom said firmly.

"Well you can't drag me," I said.

Kenzie stopped eating. Usually when she did that, she anticipated a fight. She wanted to get a good unhindered view of it.

"I will fucking drag you there. Trust me!" Mom said. You knew it was bad when she cussed.

"Natasha!" Dad reprimanded.

Mom stood up. "Please talk to this brat of yours before I whoop his ass!" Her hand gestures looked liked someone who was having a mild seizure. "I did not spend money for this brat to tell me he won't go."

"You can get a refund," I said defiantly and shrugged.

"Oh, so you think I can just walk into the school and ask for my bribe money?" she said.

My mouth opened involuntarily.

"Don't look at me like that! There are only a few weeks before summer break. What private school in their right mind would take you so late? And especially after that terrible interview you gave?! I paid for you to go there and you are going there!" she informed me.

"I didn't ask you to do it!" I yelled.

"We didn't ask for the upheavals in our lives, did we? And yet you took it upon yourself to decide everything for us. What I did, I did for you! What college do you think you're going to get into when you graduate from a school like Johan Gilbert?!"

I took a deep breath. I had been about to yell again, but reined myself in.

"Orlando, what we did, we did for you. Right now, all you can think about is the present. As your parents, it's our responsibility to think of your future. If you graduate from a good school, you have a good chance of getting into a good college. Moving here has delayed you enough as it is. At this moment you are already forced to take a gap year because your application couldn't be finished in time. We are avoiding another setback," dad said calmly.