Where The Wild Things Grow | Paul Lahote

ii

ii | birthday, birthday

First day of senior year, nothing to worry about. Talise quickly gave herself a quick look over, she was trying to make that cool "young adult" impression work for her.

She wanted the freshmen to worship the ground she walked on.

She didn't want to be that girl but she also wanted to be that girl.

"Senior year, here I come," The young lady whispered to herself.

Before she grabbed her purse and car keys, her bedroom door suddenly opened, it was her dad with his not so normal cheery attitude.

"Happy, happy birthday," He started to sing. His smile was wide and he actually looked happy. "Hope you have a good day!"

"Dad, my birthday isn't until tomorrow."

Mark Locklear groaned, he didn't know how to tell her but he sucked it up anyway. "I thought we celebrate a little today–"

Talise crossed her arms, "Why?"

"A.) Your mother wants you to visit her tomorrow. B.) I work a double shift tomorrow which means I probably won't see you."

The young adult scoffed. "I don't have a problem with B, but I do with A."

Mark sighed. "She's trying to get her life together, give her a break. She can't sleep at night, she keeps thinking about us."

Talise walked past her dad, "She can't sleep at night, Mark, because cocaine is a stimulant."

Mark didn't mean to chuckle but he did. "Don't talk about your mother like that."

"I won't see her. The tears, the guilt, the regret...it's too much. She did too much to this family."

"Mara would want you to forgive her."

Talise glared at her father. "Mara was a six year old little girl, she would have forgiven anybody. I know that because she was my twin...and that bitch of a wife you had, chose to get high instead of watching her."

The memories of that night caused Mark to get a little teary-eyed, he missed having both of his daughters running around the house. Talise was right though, because of Kenna's actions, one little girl didn't get to grow up. "She's still your mother, Tali."

She didn't look at him, she grabbed his coffee and newspaper. "Go, you're gonna be late."

Mark smiled. He kissed her forehead. "So are you."

{Where The Wild Things Grow}

"It sucks that you're a senior now," Kim, the little nerd that literally follows Talise around like a lost puppy, groaned.

It seemed like out of everyone, Talise was the only that really noticed her. Kim often felt like her existence didn't matter to the world, she was always pushed and shoved in the hallway. People never really wanted to start a conversation with her. And also, she had this weird lovesick, obsession with Jared Cameron.

A guy that Talise got the chance to get to know and hangout with during the summer. He was a cheeky little jerk, but he was also really sweet.