PR1NCE

| 41 | Parents

"Don't be nervous." He pinches my hand, while he drives with the other. I swallowed the lump in my throat, wanting it to go away but it made it bigger. I painfully smile at him, thinking back on the last time I saw my parents. They threw me out right there on the spot, didn't even allow me to grab any of my clothes, or anything. I was literally wearing my school uniform and that was that. Sharon was so sweet to let me have some of her clothes, but as for a house, food, shower... nothing. I was by myself on the streets for a week before I had someone tell me about the homeless shelter.

"Those assholes! Take me home, I'm never speaking to them again." I snapped out of my thoughts, noticing the car has stopped. I looked at my surroundings, seeing we were here.

"I don't think I can follow through." and with that, the front door opens and there stands my mom, waving at us. My stomach turns, I want to kill her but also I want to run and give her a hug. STAND YOUR GROUND BEAULIEU. Is all I had in my head.

"We can leave if you want, but also to let you know I'm right here with you, right behind you." I looked over at him for reassurance, giving him a quick kiss and head nod.

"Okay, let's do this." And with that, he gets out, walks over to open my door. I step out, grabbing onto his hand tightly before he shuts my door behind me as I stood up. Everything was in deep slow motion at this point.

Here I stand in front of her, staring at each other. Was this my mother? Shes aged a lot.

"Beaulieu, its been too long." she smiles at me, pulling me in for a hug, where I stood there awkwardly. I didn't know what to do, so I hugged back trying to not feel or give emotion.

"Thank you, Prince. Thank you for making this happen." She goes over and hugs him. I widen my eyes towards him. What kinda mess that we are both going through. He hugs back quickly, then she invites us inside, where I see my father and sister sitting on the couch. My father quickly stands up and Fran continues to read her magazine, paying no attention towards me, thank god.

"My goodness, you've grown! My little bean!" He walks over to me and quickly gives me a hug. I couldn't tell to be happy, sad, excited, all I felt was no emotion towards all of this. Both of my parents step back, holding each other while faced me, looking at me together. Soon Prince's hand wrap around my waist, pulling me closer while we look back and forth at each other before my mother breaks the silence.

"Beaulieu, your father and I, we are so sorry for everything we've inflicted on you these past years, it wasn't necessary at all. There was no need for us to kick you out, just needed to repent for our sins. Your sins, my sins, all of our sins are the same and it's just how we do them differently is the difference." I wanted to eye roll so bad at what she just said, sins aren't real they have never been, they were only put there by old religious white men that made them up to keep us in a straight line. My father coughs,

"Beaulieu, Prince, please come in and have a seat." we all shuffle to the chairs and couches.

"Oh! I made your favorite sweetie, Ribollita. It takes forever but I know how much you love it! For dessert, I made Amaretto Biscotti, so delicious. Your grandmother's recipe actually." I just stared at her blankly, not knowing what to say, still emotionless.

"Fran missed you, Fran says hi to your sister." my dad demands. She looks up at me quickly.

"Hi." then back down to her magazine, typical. I rolled my eyes smiling at her. I missed her most of all, if it wasn't for her really, covering Prince's ass that way, we wouldn't be sitting here in this living room, awkwardly trying to make conversation. The next thing that broke the awkward silence was the timer's ding.

"That must be dinner! Fran set the table." My mother jumps up and so does Fran.

"So uh, Prince. Are you still doing that musician thing?" I looked over at him and he smiles.

"Yes, I won't be changing my profession anytime soon Mr. Muti." I smile at him as he respected my father, though I don't I appreciate all he's done and is doing for this to work out.

"That's a good thing boy. Can't trust those men who keep changing their professions all the time. What do they not know about commitment? Or do they get bored fast? Can't achieve anything they are don't presently so run off to something new. Something I don't like, and I can tell you don't either."

"Yes sir, I agree." My father gets up, walking over to his office.

"Come in here kid, I finally found that book we were talking about last week." I death gripped his hand while he stood up.

"It'll be alright, I promise." He whispers, kissing the back of my hand before letting it go.

"Right behind you, sir." and off he follows my dad into his office, shutting the door behind him.

Slowly, I start to panic. Wanting to run somewhere but had nowhere to go. Would anyone even notice? Is there something I can do to calm myself down. I looked in my purse, searching for any leftover pills or maybe a travel size booze, something! I was the only one panicking about everything, so I wanted it to stop. "Ah there we go." a little tiny bit of weed I forgot I put in here for emergencies. Now, do I have any rolling paper? In all honesty, you could probably use a dollar bill for rolling paper, I was tempted before my search ended by finding a little container with some paper in it. I got up, going to the front door, grabbing the handle and opening it.