Abrogations

Pilot

Lalian Marie Pierce-

- all my life I've been preparing to live a long stable and suitable life. And maybe, just maybe if I get lucky enough to find my mate we'd have the perfect life. My parents always told me. "Courtesy is key" You must always present yourself as pleasing and fulling of grace. Never perturbing. A woman should always present herself as appealing as a perfectly shined trophy. That's how my family survived 5 generations of wealth. I've been brought up to speak the proper English language, dress like I'm presenting myself to Mother Nature on my wedding day, always. I never get to do anything of my own accord. Even if I ever did, it would have to be as perfect as the ocean's waves on a hot summer day. If I ever disappointed my family, they would desert me. I would become the black sheep of the family, damning all of my children and their children to come. The last black sheep was deserted. His mate died at an early age and he wanted to live a free life, and he did. Eventually he decided to withdraw his parents opinionated ways, they considered this mockery to our successful lives. He was abandoned with no funds and no future. I wouldn't dream of disappointing. At the tender age of 20 it's not a great image. I could never obligate my reputation. So I just keep my feelings shoved deep down. Maybe one day I will get to walk in my own shoes. Until then, I'll be stuck with over opinionated parents that despise everything.
" Lalian Marie it's absurdly punishable for you to be this late, have you no respect" my mother barges into my room asking.
" mother of course, I would never dream of disrespecting you or father" I respond turning around in my chair. She gives me a mysterious look of spite.
"Stand up child" she commands. I nod and stand up fixing my robe. She looks me over a few times before grabbing me.
" If I am ever embarrassed like this ever again, you won't like it, now fix your hair, put on a dress,and come down to the engagement" she demands before letting my arm go. I hiss and nod quickly before she walks away.
" two minutes darling, ta-ta" she exclaims with the door open making sure to look presentable in front of guests. As the door closes I shed a tear while looking down at my arm. It's a red/purple bruise. It's nothing I can't hide with a dress. I walk over to my dress rack and pick out a baby blue long sleeve dress. Perfect. It'll hide all the other bruises too. I sniff and slide my robe off slowly making sure not to hurt myself. I put the dress on and fix my makeup then I let down my hair and fluff up my curls. When I'm done I slide on my baby blue high heels. Alright. As long as I make myself fashionably late, mother won't be as upset as I expect. I leave my room and slowly walk down the stairs. Everybody here looks happy. If only I was that happy to walk in heels and stand in a mislead crowd.
" oh darling you must remember lalian, my late. darling daughter" mother says to to the executive of my fathers firm.
" oh yes, the last time I noticed her was when she was but a small child" he responds looking at me like I'm his meal.
I clear my throat and nod.
"It's dearly lovely to s see you after so m many years, sir" I stutter a bit. I quickly look at mother and see a look of embarrassment and disregard.
" quite the stutter we have here" he says laughing which causes my mother to give a fake laugh. I look down ignoring the death gaze she's giving me.
"Well I must be moving along, mother, executive sir" I give a small smile before walking away. This dress is getting a little itchy and it seems like everyone has their eyes on me. I need to get out of here. I quickly walk towards the exit. I burst out the front door and breathe in the fresh air. Suddenly I hear panting. I look to my side curiously but see nothing. Who is this at my house doing whatever they are, this is disrespectful on so many levels. Slowly walking towards the sounds my heart begins to beat faster. I'm just thinking about it. I've never seen anything like this. I've never had intercourse with anyone. I walk around the corner to see my cousin with some guy kissing on her. I gasp loudly and back away as they look at me and pull away from each other. I turn and walk the other way.
"Wait, lali, come back" I hear but keep walking. When she caught up with me she grabbed my arms causing me to hiss from the pain of her pressing on my wound.
"Oh I'm sorry are you okay" she asks confused at my pain.
"Yes I'm perfectly fine" I respond.
" who was guy, I don't recall you finding your mate Tania?" I ask curiously.
"Look promise not to say anything!" She pleads. I look down for a second. Then after a few seconds I nod.
" okay, he was at the party and he's kind of cute so I figured why not fool around a little m" she shrugs it off. I gasp.
" what about your reputation!" I stress.
" what about it" she says and I gasp again. She really doesn't even care. She sighs.
"Look we live in two completely different worlds girl, you live in a big fancy house but I live regular. We don't have to worry about our reputations because we don't give a damn about what you classy people think" she explains and I gasp wide eyed. I've never heard a woman speak so rudely
" whoa, that's thats...." I try thinking of a rude thing to say but really I'm kind of amazed. She's so unclenched. She makes me feel comfortable around her.
"Your amazing" I finally say and she gives me a weird look before laughing.
" girl it's called living" she says grabbing my hand. I smile and follow behind her.
" where's your room?" She asks dodging all the people in the way.
"It's only the third floor, three doors down and to the second left" I say bluntly.
"Ohkay" she says confused. I laugh and lead the way up to my room. When we finally get there we both get in my bed.
" Damn girl your bed is big and comfortable" she says jumping in it.
"Oh no don't do that, mother will kill me if the guest hear us" I say seriously before pulling her down. She laughs.
"Seriously your 20 years old, why haven't you moved out of your parents house yet?" I give her a look.
"Are you serious, I can't leave, I'm not ready for independently living" I say like it's obvious. Literally I've never thought about moving out until I'm married.
"Girl I left my moms house when I turned 19, I'm 23 now and I'm living the life"
"Well I have to wait until I'm married" I say confused at my own words.
" no you don't, you can move out any time you want to, it's your choice, not your parents" she says smugly. I nod and sigh.
"Who will I live with though, I've only planned to live with my future husband or mate" I say nonchalant.
" I'll tell you what, come live with me, I have a roommate but he's almost never home, you can sleep on the couch until you find an apartment" she suggests. I nod. It's better than staying with mother and letting her treat me like a child.
"Okay, I'll go, but mother and father won't be happy, if I make one mistake they'll abandon me" I say looking down.
"Hey it's okay girl, we family right, I'll get you a job where I work, you'll be fine. It's more to life then living off your parents" she laughs making me snicker.
" alright, we can leave tomorrow, I'll have my bags packed tomorrow and I'll tell my parents in the morning" I say smiling hard. I can't believe it. I'm making grown up decisions. I feel like an adult.
"Alright girl, I'll get you at 11" she says.
"Wait I have my own car, maybe I can just get your address and I'll be there"
"Okay but don't let your parents make you change your mind, you got this" she reassures with a nod. I smile and hug her.
"Thank you cousin" she pulls away.
"If you gone live with me you gonna have to put some slang to that lang okay" she says snapping her fingers. I giggle and nod. She grabs my hand and pulls me in front of my mirror.
"Okay let's go over a few words" she says telling me how to speak her slang. This is great. It's like another language. We spend the rest of the party fixing me up and packing myself a bag.
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The next day-
I slowly walk down stairs with my yellow sundress on and my hair in a neat bun. As soon as I get to the kitchen I sit down by mother and father. Mother gives me a look and I look down and notice I have my shoulders slumped. I quickly fix my posture and call the maid over.
"What's for breakfast, angel?" I ask placing my handkerchief in my lap.
" you'll be having French Gibassier ms. pierce" she tells me before clapping her hands two times. Just like any other day the servants appear promptly on time. They place our meals in front of us neatly and remove the cover. I grab a fork and take a bite. I give mother and father the signal that it's delicious and they start taking small bites. After a few minutes I clear my throat and put my fork down.
" Mother, father" I call their attention.
" Lalian Marie how disrespectful you are, you know there shall be no conversation at the breakfast table, oh the disobedience you have been giving my child" she says gasping like she's going to cry. I roll my eyes and clear my throat again.
"Mother this is a serious matter, I have decided to move out. I want to discover how to be an adult" I say plainly. Father stops eating and looks at me then at mother. I look to mother to see her still eating her food like I hadn't said a word.
"Mother!" I say loudly.
"Young lady that's no way to speak to your mother" father tells me. I give him a confused look and grab my handkerchief and place it on the table.
"I will leave today, I've already packed my bags, I've just come to seek your permission mother" I speak thoroughly.
"Your not going anywhere until you are married off or you find your mate, this is not up for discussion" she tells me.
"But mother-" I try considering. She slams her fork and knife down on the table and stands up.
"You are not to leave until you are married. If you even think about leaving again me and your father will take away everything. Your car, your money, the jewels, the dresses, and we will abandoned you, FOREVER!" She screams. I stare at her in disbelief. How will I survive without their money. Even if it's just 10 thousand, I'll be okay but if I have nothing, how will I get my own apartment, how will I live. I hold back my tears and watch as mother sits down and starts eating her food again. I look to father to see him reading a newspaper.
"May I please be excused" I ask trying not to cry. They don't even consider the fact that I want to live my own life.
"Yes you may" she says. I quickly leave the kitchen and run to my room. This is absurd. They want to keep me here forever. What if I never find my mate. I'll be just like her. Married off to a man who doesn't care about anyone but himself. All he cares about is keeping his reputation clean. And living up to the family name. I sit on my bed and cry all night.