Charlie glanced at me with wide eyes. "What happened?" She whispered.
"Nothing."
I stepped into the kitchen, and saw my mother and father staring me down. My Dad motioned for me to sit down at the counter.
"What the hell were you thinking?!" My mother spat. "At church the other day, people were talking about it. They put our family to shame, talking about about how we were 'tainted'." When she said the word tainted, I thought of the talk with the principal.
My Dad started yelling now.
"Not to mention the call we got from your school principal," he screamed, clenching his fists. "He said you had shouted at him today over some tweet!! Can't you restrain yourself?!"
"I—"
"AND WHATS THIS 'ASEXUAL' BULLSHIT?! YOU WILL LIKE BOYS, AND IF YOU DON'T, YOU'RE NO DAUGHTER OF MINE!!!!" My mother slammed her hands on the granite countertop.
"Explain yourself. NOW." My Dad growled.
I stayed quiet and looked away, tears welling in my eyes.
"Well?!"
I stood up.
I ran to my room and slammed the door as loud as possible.
William had heard the loud noises and retreated to his small nook in my closet.
I got my school bag and emptied it.
My laptop, headphones, pencil pouch, and my un-eaten lunch lay on my bed.
I put my laptop, portable charger, spare batteries, my lunch, a change of clothes, and my forest green hoodie in there. I picked up my two-tone green and purple water bottle from my nightstand and filled it to the brim.
I took my phone and plugged in my headphones. I turned on Spotify and let my playlist shuffle. I picked up William and held him for a while. Tears ran down my face and dripped onto his calico coat. I pet his head, and stood up. I opened my bedroom door and Charlie was there. I adjusted my backpack and simply walked past her.
Charlie and William both followed me toward the front door.
They stared at me while I slammed the front door, knowing they wouldn't see me for a long time.
