Forced into Marriage

Chapter One

It was the last actual week of Senior year for me. I was pressing for my grades to be straight A's, just like what my parents want. I also had four auditions in the next ten days; two dance, one acting, and the last was singing. My mom wanted me to go into college right away, but I needed to be accepted in first. But that shouldn't be the thing I was worried about. My parents need to talk to me about something today. Any time they need to talk to me about something, it ends up being bad.

When I got home, my mom was waiting for me. I rolled my eyes as I walked up the driveway to her.

"What do you need mom?" I asked in an annoyed tone, walking up the stairs, trying to push past her, but she stood in my way.

"You took twenty minutes walking home. What the hell were you doing?"

"Mom! I have to walk up like a hundred freaking hills! What do you expect me to do, fly?"

"Go ask the Mendes' if they want to come for dinner today."

"Why don't you just call them? You have their numbers, don't you?"

"You need the exercise. You're getting a little fat. Especially on the legs."

I scoffed at her, rolling my eyes and heading to the Mendes' house. She always had a problem with me. Either my hair was too messy, my clothes didn't match right, my shoes make my feet look too skinny, my hair didn't fit my face, my clothes clash with my eyes, I can't eat cake or else I'll get fat. It's always something.

As I walked up to their house, I rang the bell. I was breathing heavily. Footsteps came to the door and Shawn opened it.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Can I-can I have some-some water?" I breathed.

"Yeah?"

"I promise it's not the only reason I came."

"I would imagine so. You have water at your house."

"Well no shit Sherlock." I said sitting on a stool. He got a glass out and poured water in it and handed it to me. I took a couple sips before I got down to business. "My mom wants to know if your family wants to come over for dinner today?"

"Why the hell did she send you? She could've called or texted?"

"That's What I said, but she said I needed exercise because I looked a little fat."

"You are not fat."

"Thank you, Shawn. Try telling that to my mom."

"She always has something up her ass about you."

"Right? I didn't even walk through the door before she sent me over here."

"Jesus. I'm sorry, Joss. I wish I could do something."

"I might need to come over for a night or two."

"My mom wouldn't care. You could just sleep in our second spare room."

"Second? What's wrong with the other one?"

"Nothing. Its just it's my studio room now."

"Oh right. You're writing songs."

"Yup."

"How's that coming along?"

"Good. Yeah. I'm leaving for tour next year, but I need two more songs before we can release the album."

"Nice! Well, congrats with that."

"Thanks. Anything exciting with you?"

"Well, Mom thinks that I need to go to college immediately, so she's got four auditions for me to go to. I have ten days to do all of them."