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DECEMBER 14, 1971
"Hello-"
"Lacene darling, how are you?" My mother's brash, posh voice cut through the speaker suddenly making me blink in response.
"Fine mom. How are you?" The harsh laugh that emitted from the speaker made me clutch the cream colored plastic harder, my head rested against the wall and I crossed my left arm over my stomach.
"Well the most strange thing happened this morning," I was silent, letting her continue with a venomous tone," Your father and I received a letter from the university, which happened to be your report card." She paused for an answer.
"Mmhm," I hummed, a sinking feeling in my chest. I bit my lip as anxiety consumed me. I knew exactly what was coming next.
"You see, the classes we put you in weren't exactly the ones that were on the paper," I sighed and closed my eyes," History of Literature; Creative Writing; Dance History, Composition, and Production; Poetry Writing; and Dance Class!" She listed the classes off to me as I clenched my jaw and rolled my eyes. "Do you take me as some kind of fool Lacene Rose? Your father and I paid for business classes so you could have the privilege of owning our family company. And how do you repay us? By switching your major to dance? Your going fucking nowhere with that."
I took in my mother's words, resisting the temptation to cuss her out and tell her how I feel. "You know damn well that I have had the talent to get somewhere with this since I can remember."
"Really? You really think so?" Her tone was suddenly calm, but it didn't last long. "Then you can pay for your classes and you can pay for the house we bought you, you can get a job and pay for your own food. This was the last straw, Lacene. We're cutting you off."
My jaw hung open at her words. It would be different if they ever taught me how to be on my own before. My parents gave me everything in life, hell they even planned out my whole life for me. People think I should be more grateful. How can you feel grateful if you've only learned how to spend your parents money, then they kick you to the curb for pursuing your passion.
"What does da' have to say about this?" Was the only thing I could think to say that wouldn't dig me in a deeper hole.
She let out a sharp laugh. "Your father is too soft when it comes to you. But I know that your actions were defiant and disrespectful, and not to mention outright embarrassing. Just wait until the country club catches wind about this." She spat her words through the phone with zero compassion for her only daughter.
"Oh please forgive me, mom," I said dryly in the phone. "I bet your satisfied you finally got rid of me. Trust me I'm not gonna come crawling to your doorstep. I hope your fucking happy that your not gonna here from your me again."
I slammed the phone back into the receiver and let out a sharp breath, cracking my knuckles. God I need scotch and cigarettes.
〰️〰️〰️
"Oh, Lacey. Do ya' think she really meant it? Maybe it was just in the heat of the moment?" Veronica looked at me pitifully which irked me to no end. We were sat on opposite ends on the couch in her and John's home. A blanket John's mother made him was laying on our curled up legs. The sound of John practicing his bass guitar echoed faintly through the house.
I eyed my tea while stirring it before looking up at Veronica. "Ya she fuckin' meant it. The bills for the house already got mailed to me and I'm properly skint!" My pulse raced as the anger I've tried to repress was dug up again.
"Well to start, ya gotta become part of the working class, love." Veronica gave me a sympathetic half smile. I sighed and nodded.
"I already have some interviews next week. But god damn house, Veronica! I can't afford it!" I flung my head against the arm rest, and slid down so my back was on the cushions. "I'm just going to move in with you and John." I stated, eyes locked on my tea.
Veronica choked on her tea, and my eyes shot up to meet hers.
"Lacey I love ya like a sister, so does John. I mean if you r-really-" I cut off her awkward stuttering.
"Calm down, I would never do that to you. Frankly, I'm a pain in the arse." I gave Veronica a slight smirk, to which she laughed.
"Damn right." John made an appearance through the hallway and stopped at a chair across from us in the living room. "But really Lacey, if ya need a place to stay you know you can come here."
I nodded my head and gave them both a closed lip smile. "I want to have my own place, I don't wanna intrude on you guys more than I already do. Maybe I could get someone to fill up that extra room."
"What about your friend Marlene?" Veronica asked.
"Nah. Maybe I'm being full of myself but I think she might be into me." I scrunched my eyebrows together and waited for Veronica's opinion.
She smirked and breathed out a laugh. "I wouldn't doubt that. Last time we hung out she was basically on top of you the whole time, starin' at your knackers."
I scoffed playfully as my jaw dropped and I reached over to hit Veronica in the arm. "She was not!"
"She was to!"
"Was not!"
"Was to!"
"I feel like I'm having flashbacks to primary school," John quipped, ending our arguing. It seemed that John had a skill for ending that. I knew what he was referring to, I was probably more stubborn than I am now when I was a kid.
"But seriously, I've no clue what to do. I don't have much friends, people think I'm intimidating," I deadpanned, desperately wanting some wine instead of this tea at the moment.
"John, what about that new band your in? Do they know anyone? They're nice blokes," Veronica gasped in excitement that she might've offered a solution.
"Roger actually got evicted a couple days ago. He didn't want me to tell anyone, he's embarrassed to hell. But the poor guy's been livin' on Brian's couch." John wore a look of sympathy.
"Great," I perked up," tell him he can have a room at my place and we split all costs." I knew that I should probably think more about this before throwing an offer, but for the first time in my life I felt desperate.
"Lacey, ya might wanna meet him first," John nervously chuckled. I scrunched my eyebrows, I knew that look on his face.
"Why? What's wrong with him?" I asked.
"No, nothing." He looked around the room, avoiding my stare. "He's a great lad, he can just be a little much sometimes."
I took a sip of my tea before looking to John again. "Well so am I. When can I meet him?" I persisted.
"We have a gig at this bar on Friday. Veronica's going too," He informed.
I smiled, feeling a little relieved. If he's friends with John, then I'll trust him. John's particularly good at analyzing people, so Roger must be a real nice guy.
"Great. I'll meet you guys there."
〰️〰️〰️
I'm really excited to write the rest of this, I have so many ideas.
If you read my other books, I'll be updating my Paul McCartney book today or tomorrow!
