Patience

Chapter 1

The wind blew past my face into my car window as I was driving home from school. I'm normally not driving home so late but today, I decided to be my own kind of rebel. I was in the West Side of Seattle. I live on the East side. I'm not supposed to be driving on this side of Seattle because "it's a bad place". Words of my mother, not me. It's really not that bad though. I've been over on this side of town before and nothing ever happened to me. Knock on wood. The kids from the west side of Seattle are the middle and lower class families. Mostly criminals live there, as well. As for me, I live in the east side were the upper class families live. Unfortunately, I am one of those families. Everyone is so stuck up over here, though. My two best friends, Hailey and Lindsay are the only two people I know who aren't stuck up. The only bad part of living on Seattle is that the kids from the west side and the kids from the east sode are all crammed in one big school. It's not a pretty picture either.. My parents are the ones who pick me up from school but since they both were working late this whole week, I got to drive myself. Why do they pick me up? Well, I got a B- on my last chemistry test and to my parents, that was the worse grade ever so they took away my licence. But to my luck of them working late, I got it back.

I stopped at a red light and someone caught my eye. He was being pushed onto the roof of a police car. As I drove past, our eyes met and he winked at me. You're probably wondering who I'm talking about. Well, let me just say, I knew that face from a mile away it was Justin. Justin Bieber.

Justin Bieber is known as West Seattle's "bad boy". Which is hard to believe because he is so stupid! He claims to be "cooler" than everyone else and thinks that since he wears leather, he's a big shot. But he's really not. We've gone to the same school together since before Pre-K. Even back then, he was an ass. He still doesn't know my name! We have all of classes together and not ONCE has he tried to get my name right. He'll be like, "Hey, Patricia. What's the answer for number 4?" or "Nice ass , Promise" Promise? Really, Promise? My name is NOT Promise! It's Patience. Which is crazy due to the fact that my patience for him has gone off the roof! I am Patience Joan Alderson. Ignore my horrible middle name. I prefer no nicknames. Just Patience Alderson. Not Promise or Patricia. Damn, I might as well staple my name to his head.

I had gotten home at 6:30, which is late for me but I suspected that since my parents were out late every other night, why would tonight be any different? I was in for it deep when I saw both of their cars parked outside of our house.

I tried my best to be as quiet as possible when I entered my house. Slowly making my way to the stairs, I was startled to see my mother and father standing by me. "Patience, it is way past time you were supposed to be home." My father sternly said as my mother stood by him with her arms crossed. "I uh-" Think of something, Patience! I looked blankly at them as they starred at me. "Well.." My mother continued on. "I uh, I had to tutor someone for Chemistry.. I was helping them." Nice save. "Surprised your teacher suggested you to tutor someone after that horrible grade you had just received." My mother said as my father put his rubbed his head. "Patience, you need to be aware of how late you are out. Especially on school nights." "Sorry.." My father sighed and went up the stairs, leaving me and my mother down stairs. "So tell me, who are you tutoring?" Oh great. If I don't come up with a legitimate answer, she'll know I'm lying and tell my father and then I'll be in even more trouble. "Oh, just this one boy.." "Really? Who?" She asked curiously. I walked past her and into the kitchen to get water. Opening the refrigerator, I pulled out a bottle of water and sat down at the island. "His name's Justin.. Justin Bieber" "Are you serious? Patience Joan, that boy is bad news! He's been to prison so many times. I even heard from Mrs. Wallace that he killed somebody!" I opened my water and took a big sip, preparing myself for the rest of my lecture. "Mom, Mrs. Wallace talks out of her butt. Nothing she says is ever true." "Now, Patience I just am telling you this so you're safe." My mother kissed my forehead before leaving the kitchen and going upstairs. I love my parents, don't get me wrong but sometimes they can be too much. I remember being 8 years old and not allowed to play with the other kids on the block because "it wasn't safe". I was practically isolated from the outside world unless I had school. Any other time, I'd be stuck inside with our housecleaner, Sarina. I wasn't able to to much as a child, I'm not able to do much as a 17 year old, either.. 

My parents don't work at the same place. My father is the owner of the FBI agency of Seattle. As for my mother, she is the President of a fashion company and they're both always up to something new. I know everything about my mother's job because when I was 10, my mother took me to work with her and I just happen to have a really good memory span due to the point that I remembered everything about it. I don't know much about what they do at the FBI agency because "everything is "confidential". Which I don't believe. I try persuading my father to let me shadow his job, but he refuses. He says that I'm "not ready". But I am. I've been ready for a long time now especially for an opportunity like that.

I sat at the island for a while, just thinking about life as Patience. My time of thinking was over when my phone started to ring. Unknown Number came up on the screen. Who is calling me? "Hello?" I slowly said into the speaker of my phone. "I saw you earlier" Oh great... "Justin?" "This is Patricia, right?" I sighed, "No. My name is not Patricia. It's Patience. I don't know how many times I have to remind you.." I said back a little snappy and then I heard a small chuckle come from the other end of the line. "Sorry, Patience. Like what you saw earlier?" "What? Do you mean when you were getting arrested by the police for probably the 5th time in the past week?" "Ha-Ha. Funny. And I didn't get arrested for your information. I just refused to cooperate." I rolled my eyes, "Obviously.. Look, I don't know how you got my number, nor do I care but what the hell do you want?" "Feisty.. I like it.. Believe it or not, I was told to call you for some.. help." What could he possibly need help with? Besides some mental care.. "Me? Help with what?" "Mrs. Morrison says that if I don't pass Chemistry with at least a 70, I'll have to redo the school year and I can't have that. I mean, I have a life.." Yeah, sure you have a life.. "Okay.. And? What do I have to do with it?" "Well, I know that you're a straight A student and you're the top of our class, so why not tutor me?" Is he serious? This means that my lie is actually paying off. "Okay." I flatly said back. "But.." "But under ONE condition" "Ugh, what?" "You will take this seriously because if you don't, then you can't come crying to me when you flunk the 11th grade. Got it?" "Sure thing, Patience" I liked the way my name sounded coming out of his mouth. It just rolled off his tongue. Before I could respond, the line went dead. I put my phone in my pocket, grabbed my water bottle, walked out of the kitchen and to my books on the coffee table. Picking up my books, I went upstairs and into my room to start my homework.

Plopping down on my bed with my Calculus book, I got my notebook and pen and began to take notes on how "x" divides. Honestly, I don't even know what I reading about. I zoned out during the process and can't seem to get back on track. My Calculus homework wasn't due until Wednesday and since it was Monday, I figured that I could just do it later. I put my stuff back into my bag and went over to my closet, pulled out underwear, a bra, tank top and some shorts and made my way to my bathroom for a shower.

After I got out of the shower, got dressed into my pajamas and got all of my night care things done, I put my phone on the charger and hopped into bed. I saw that it was only 8:45. I'm normally not in bed this early but for some odd reason, I am exhausted.

Can't wait for what tomorrow will bring..