“Alright class, today we will be going over last night’s homework on World War II. I hope you all at least read the chapter like you were supposed to.” My loud mouth teacher said, looking directly at me. Fuck I forgot to do it. Mom is not going to be happy. Whatever. I slouch back in my desk chair and skim the chapter. Good thing I had a photographic memory or I would have been screwed since the beginning of middle school. I drowned out my teacher’s voice while I read. I hate school. I hate everything it stood for, I hate that dumb wall that shows everyone’s “good” work in the front of the classroom. I hate that I have to wear a stupid uniform. And I hate that I’m away from my best friend in the whole wide world, my brother.
When my mom told me that she was leaving me here in Australia while she went on tour with my brother’s band, I could have killed her. She made me stay here with my dad and older brothers. Don’t get me wrong I love them, but I am closest with Luke and my mom. My dad tries to change me, tries to tell me that I need to be like other 15 year olds instead of being myself. Just because I’m different. I mean, he doesn’t treat Luke this way, but granted he dropped out of high school and started his band regardless of what anyone said. I remember the day he dropped out, and I gave him a high five and watched him practice with his band while I sat in the back doing who knows what. Then the single came out, and then the One Direction tour and it was like I just saw him turn into this person that he always wanted to be, what I aspire to be one day.
“PIPER! Are you going to make me repeat the question for a third time?” Fuck off Mrs. Rathbone
“Well, I obviously didn’t hear you, so yeah can you repeat it?” The class started to laugh but I just looked her straight in the face and was totally serious.
“Go to the principal’s office right now. Tell Mr. Lincoln that I sent you. Do I need to repeat that?” God I hated this women.
“Nope I heard you loud and clear, as I’m sure the entire country that we live in heard too.” Well that didn’t come out the way I wanted, but I just rolled my eyes and walked out. Checked my phone and there was a text from Luke:
“Mom says that if you get into any more trouble she is cancelling the tour and sending us home because you are out of control. Then she yelled at a bunch of other stuff that Michael did and it was hilarious. But please don’t get into any more trouble, okay?” DAMN IT.
“TOO LATE” I texted him back and sat in the office fuming. I want out of this hell hole, and I want out fast. The principle called me in and I got the usual lecture that I always get before he sent me home with a note and I heard him calling my mom when I walked out. Any minute my phone would be ringing from both Luke and my mom. I was just so done with it all. I went to my locker, grabbed my skateboard and backpack and skated down the halls and out into the sunshine. It was hot as hell outside, but I still loved it. I skated all the way to my secret place at the beach and sat there for a good few hours, smoking a few cigarettes before finally checking my phone to see 6 voicemails from mom, 4 calls from Luke, and only one from my dad. Time to face reality. It took me only 10 minutes to skate from my secret beach place to my house. I kicked my board into my hands and walked through the door. My brothers looked at me with disgust, as they always do, and my dad was found pacing in my room.
“Hey dad” I said and he just looked at me.
“I just don’t know what to do with you Harper. I give you every opportunity to follow the rules and do what is right but you always seem to get yourself back into the same hole. I just don’t know how I can deal with it anymore.” He shook his head at me, disappointment written all over his face. “And your mother isn’t happy either, of course. She’s calmed down now, but she’s taking the next flight home after the boys’ show tonight. And no, Luke is not coming with her.” I hate him so much.
“Fine dad. I’m done trying to make you see my point of view. It won’t work and you won’t understand so I’m just done trying now.”
“Piper…” he dragged out while I turned my back to him and took my backpack off.
“I’m gonna do my homework now, okay? Can you just leave me alone, please?” I hated begging him to do things but it was the only way he ever do anything that I wanted. He looked at me and then walked out of my room, closing my door behind him. That’s when I broke down. I hated crying, it made me feel weak and small. But I just cried. Pretty sure I fell asleep because when I woke up my older brother woke me up telling me that he was taking me to get food. I refused, told him to just bring me something here at home. He left and I got out of bed and put on sweats and did my homework.
It was morning, and my dad said that I was staying home because my mom would be home in like an hour. I only had an hour left before my mom tore apart any hope of me even going on tour with her and the boys. I can’t cry. I went out to our back deck and just sat there, watching the morning surfers fall off of their boards and people doing yoga and other crap outside. People actually living and not being miserable. I heard my mom’s voice but dreaded getting up from the deck. I finally made myself do it before too long, and greeted my mom with a hug. I started crying right there and she just held me.
“We need to talk, young lady. Let’s sit.” She guided me to the couch and my dad just left us alone.
“Mom, I hate it here. Dad acts like I’m some kind of disease, the other boys think I’m an alien, I have no friends here. I need to get out of this town. And I know that you won’t listen when I ask you to take me with you but there really isn’t anything good for me here and I just feel like I’m suffocate-“ She cut me off and said
“I know, that’s why you’re going back with me. I know that life has been hard for you these two years without me while I have been on tour with the boys, but I have realized that I’m not done raising you yet, and you still need me to teach you about life. And I know this town sucks, and you’re only rebelling because you hate it so much.” She said as I was beaming, but she cut me off with a stern look on her face “I will make this short: you will be doing all of your school work on the road, every day. You will not let the boys distract you from your school work. You will help the crew with backstage work, you will do as I say and listen to all of the rules. You may not go anywhere without me or Luke or any of the boys with you. And you will not treat this like a vacation, you got it? Do these things and we won’t have a problem.” I leaped into her arms before she could draw another breath. “Now the boys have no idea that you are coming, so do not tell them. This is going to be fun surprising them, and you’re going to have loads of fun with them.” She said with a smile. “Our flight leaves in… 2 hours. So let’s get you packed and ready!”
As I was packing my things, I could not help but think that this was the start of a new chapter. This is what I needed. I convinced my mom to let me bring my skateboard, and she found a pack of cigarettes that I hid in one of my suitcases so dad wouldn’t find them. She didn’t even yell at me for it! I bet it was because Michael smokes and she could never get him to stop so I was probably a lost cause. I fit all my stuff, surprisingly, into the biggest suitcase that our family owned and loaded the car. I gave my dad a hug, but I wanted to give him the middle finger. I said a quick goodbye to my other brothers before getting into the car.
“You ready?” Mom asked as we both buckled out seatbelts
“I was born ready.” I said with a laugh and she looked over at me and shook her head.
I cannot wait to see Luke. Rephrase: I cannot wait to see Luke and the other boys and start my new life.
