Anger Issues

sixty

Jessica

My alarm woke me up, sadly. Saturday's were my favorite days to sleep in. Apparently not for the next month, though.

The only thing motivating me to get through the day was getting to the party tonight. Kayla and Sofia agreed to go and I was so excited. Maybe I'd feel relieved for once in what felt like forever.

I barely even "got ready," and just freshened up. All I had was my student ID, and my phone which I put in my pocket.

Noah and Mom knew what happened. Mom thought I did it because of everything happening at home, so she wasn't as mad. While that wasn't the reason, I accepted it anyway.

Noah knew the truth, and was upset, but not much. He already knew I skipped so it wasn't much of a shock.

I wasn't even sure if Dad knew what was happening. He avoided all of us these past couple of days. Mom and Dad barely acknowledged each other as it was.

During dinner, nothing even happened. We'd try to talk, but the conversation immediately died out. Even Mom wasn't talking to us a lot. She was so stressed that she started working more just to get her mind off of shit. She asked for longer hours and that was what she was getting.

It seemed like Dad was always home, but never at the same time. He was always either in the office or the basement. Never anywhere else.

It was funny to me that I couldn't pay attention to anything any more than I did all of this. I unwillingly prioritized it and hated it.

In today's case of detention, though, it might be helpful. Maybe I'd zone out long enough to pass the hours. Who knew?

Austin picked me up a few minutes early. When we got to school, nothing was said. We went to the class labeled on our pink papers, and walked in.

Two or three other students were there, too. I didn't know them, but they filled up the room.

The Assistant Principal was holding detention, sadly. One fuck up would make everything worse.

He gave us assigned seats and collected our phones, and sat at the desk using his laptop.

It was horrible, and boring. We had nothing to do, nothing to even look at. I probably memorized everything that was in the room because of how limited my choices were.

—

"Alright, you're dismissed," he spoke up. We all immediately shot up, rushing out the door. Austin was the first out.

"That shit took forever," I complained, sitting in his car. "I know. My parents are deadass so mad at me because I didn't even have an excuse," he explained.

Honestly, I'd rather have that than what I was getting.

"I'm sorry," I softly said. He shook his head. "They grounded me for just as long," he said.

"Starting Monday, I won't have my phone," he informed me. I slowly nodded, unsure of how to respond.

When he dropped me off at home, I walked in to an argument.

Noah was standing between Mom and Dad in the living room, as they shouted across to each other.

Once the door shut behind me, they stopped. All their attention turned to me, but I didn't want it.

I completely ignored all of them and went upstairs to my room. I listened in on to what I could, but all I picked up was Dad leaving, once again.

Austin

Mom and Dad were still mad at me, but I still had to go to Dads work dinner. I didn't want to do anything, especially not this.

Apparently this was extremely important, so like Dad, Caleb and I had to wear suits. I didn't mind, but it wasn't the best thing to wear.

Becca and Mom were taking long to get ready, so we waited in the car. Dad explained that we had to talk professionally and with manners and all that, because apparently, this would determine his promotion.

I was ready for it. I knew how to lie if necessary, and knew that I would need to.

Caleb and I convinced Dad to let him, Becca and me take our car for the sake of space in his. His work car was nice, but with all of us filling up the space, it was uncomfortable.

He agreed, so we did. Becca sat in the back while Caleb was driving and I sat in the passengers seat, ready to follow Dads car. Finally, the long drive started.