BRIGHT

Chapter 12- Peyton POV- The Question

A month has passed since our venture to the movies. Cheer had started and I loved it! Coach Quinn was tough but good, and our team was all kinds of fun. We were so close, and I loved every minute of it.  And Grey and I were still going strong. He was just perfect, and I could just be myself around him. But the thing was, we still had not kissed. I was nervous to because I had never kissed a guy, and I could tell Grey wanted the timing to be perfect when it happened.

On Thursday night, my parents were home for once. The phone started to ring, and my mom went to pick it up. 

"It's your school," my mom said to me, confused.

"Put it on speaker," I offered. She nodded and put the phone on speaker.

"Hello?" she said in a monotone voice.

"Hi, is this Mrs. Emerson, Peyton Emerson's mom?" the person on the line questioned.

"Speaking," my mom replied. It annoying me how professional she always was.

"This is Mr. Johnson, principal of Peyton's school. I am pleased to ask you if she would like to move up a grade. She has been excelling in our programs, even the more rigorous ones, with high A's in every class. In fact, her lowest scored is a 97%. We would love to invite Peyton to graduate early and join the junior class. She will be able to take classes more her level, and enjoy school more," Mr. Johnson explained. My mom glared at me. Oh no, I was not supposed to stand out, and now I was being recognized for my intelligence.

"She will stay in her classes she is in now," my mother instructed.

"But Mrs. Emerson, I would really like to see Peyton excel and be in classes that are more her style, please just think about it," Mr. Johnson pleaded.

"No, she is fine where she is, good night," my mother said harshly, hanging up the phone. 

"Peyton Marie Emerson, are you insane?" my mother screeched. My father came racing into the room.

"What's wrong?" my dad asked.

"This idiot has not been hiding her smarts well enough. The principle just phoned to see if she wanted to move up a grade!" my mom screamed.

"Peyton, are you kidding me?" my dad reprimanded.

"Look, I'm sorry. I try to hide it, but it's just harder than you think!" I tried to see.

"Peyton, if someone finds out, that means serious jail time for your mother and I, and you would be taken by the government. Do you really want that?" my dad yelled.

"Maybe you should be arrested! You know what you did was wrong!" I shot back.

"Peyton, that's enough," my mom scolded.

"No! You are never here anyway, who cares if I am gone! All you are doing it trying to save yourselves, you could not care less if I was taken!" I screamed. 

"Peyton Marie, go to your room," my father yelled. I let out a short yelp and stormed upstairs to my bedroom. I cried on my bed, angry at myself for who I was. I refused to go downstairs to speak to my parents, I was just so angry. My parents never talked to me anymore, and I was so irate, I could not even control myself.

After about twenty minutes, I heard a soft knock on the door.

"Peyton, sweetheart?" I heard my mom say gently.

"Get out of here," I said back, still half crying. My mom softly opened the door. She and my dad came into the room. She sat down next to me on the bed.

"Listen, Honey, I understand this is hard. I know you used to always see your dad and me, but now it is not as much. Just know, we care so much about you, and the power you have is a beautiful thing, and one day you will be happy to have it," my mom said. I nodded, and she hugged me, kissing my head. She walked out of the room, and I went to sleep, still crying.

I fell into a deep sleep, still upset over what had happened. I did not know what to do. If I was found out about, my life would become awful. I did not know what to do.

The next morning, I changed into one of Greyson's sweatshirts he had given me with his last name on the back and a pair of athletic shorts. I straightened my hair and scampered down the stairs. Again, no parents and I groaned. I knew my mom had not meant what she had said.

"Ready to go, P?" Meredith asked me. I nodded and we hopped in the car. I stared out the window, still depressed over what had happened.

"I heard what happened last night," Meredith said softly.

"I don't want to talk about it, okay?" I said.

"Just know if you need to talk, I'm here, okay? If anything happens, you can talk to me," she explained. I smiled at her but did not say anything. 

I walked into the school and met Erin and the girls where I usually did. I was just too upset to say much, along with the fact that I was worried out of my mind over everything that had happened.

In Mrs. Karson's class, I heard my name over the loudspeaker.

"Peyton Emerson, to the principal's office," the voice reported. I took the pass and walked glumly to the office. Mr. Johnson was expecting me.

"Peyton! Good to see you! Come on into my office," he exclaimed when he saw me. I nodded. He took a seat at his desk and I sat in the chair across from it.

"Am I in trouble?" I asked.

"No, of course not! I just wanted to confirm with you personally that you do not want to move up a grade. It seemed like your mother had decided for you, and I really encourage my students to choose for themselves. This is your choice, Peyton. Just realize the excellent opportunity I have given you," he explained. I felt like crying, but I knew I had to keep it together.

"Listen, I love the friends I have made, and everything is just perfect right now. I don't want to change that," I explained.

"Peyton, you would still see them, and you can meet new people in the older grades," Mr. Johnson said.

"I just really do not want to, okay?" I explained, unsure of what else to say.

"Peyton, when you start applying for college, you will be so happy you did this. I am confident your grades will still be high. This will really help you stand out to colleges!" Mr. Johnson persuaded.

"For the last time, no thank you. I really do appreciate the offer, but I am not interested," I said, somewhat firmly. Without hearing what he had to say, I left his office. I heard the bell ring, and I walked to my locker to meet Greyson. 

He was waiting for me, talking to Erin. 

"Hey P, I heard your name on announcements, whats up?" he said. Crap, he asked me about it.

"I have to get to class, I'll see you both later," Erin said and walked off to class. I grabbed Grey's arm and pulled him into the nearest janitor's closet.

"I was asked to move up a grade," I explained to him.

"Oh my god, that's awesome!" Greyson exclaimed, grabbing my hands.

"But, Grey, I said no."

Sorry for the cliffhanger! Literally so pumped about this book! Thank you all so much for reading!