They Call Her Love | ✔️

17: They Call Her Liar

If looks could kill, I'd be dead right now. Seated in the back of the limousine escorting us back to Thompson, our family is placed in various parts of the elongated seat. Even the coldest snow Chicago could throw at us would have been warmer than the air circulating back here. It also would have been warmer than the frosted looks my parents are throwing at me. Sure, my heart was pounding inside my chest, ears ringing, and head throbbing from anxiety. But I had to be strong and defend myself. There was no going back anymore.

"What the hell were you thinking, Love?" The question comes from dad, who surprises all of us, especially mom.

This mostly throws me off because as I stated previously, dad has always been on my side. But nothing compares to the guilt that is now rising in my chest at the disappointment I see in his eyes. "Dad-"

"No, Love. Whatever you have to say will not excuse your behavior," He interjects sternly. "We told you not to buy a car and you went against us. Just because you have all this money does not give you the right to disregard our decisions as your parents."

"You embarrassed us in front of the entire country. We told you no car yet you went behind our backs and bought one, admitting it during our time on Lily and Rick!" Mom scolds.

"We trusted you, Love."

"But, Dad-"

"We understand that this is a special circumstance, one we definitely were not prepared for when we became parents, but you have to understand that whatever boundaries we set for you kids is for your own good," Mom cuts me off.

I'm torn between yelling my lungs off and crying my eyes out. "I didn't intend to turn on you or embarrass you. But it is my money and I can do whatever I want with it. As childish and immature as that may sound, it's the truth. I'm turning eighteen next year - I'm growing up. I can start making these types of decisions for myself."

"What seventeen year old is deciding what brand new BMW sports car to buy themselves, Love?" Dad asks rhetorically. "We've never tried holding you back from anything, ever. We've supported you in whatever you've chosen to do with your time, but this is not okay."

I clear my throat, "I know it's ridiculous that I bought a brand new car, but I'm not a filler anymore."

"A what?" Mom furrows her brows at me.

I sigh, "A filler. I'm the filler in this family. You've got the whole CrunchTime thing going on, Faith is the smartest person in the world, and I am just a filler. I fill in as a daughter when the time is convenient, I fill in as an older sister when need be. I don't have a long list of accomplishments or live extraordinary tales like the rest of you but now, I have something that makes me more than just a filler. I can be my own person. I've made a name for myself."

"You think winning millions of dollars made you important in this family?" Dad seems completely offended which I know would happen. 

But my voice wasn’t wavering nor was my hands and legs shaking. I was speaking the truth straight from the core of my soul. "Yes."

"Love," Faith reaches over and places a warm hand over mine. "You don't really think that, do you?"

At the sight of her genuinely concerned face, the wetness forming at the corners of my eyes is unmistakable. "Are you saying you’ve never thought it either? Face it - you're only around me now because you get to be on TV. Mom and dad choose to monitor my every move because it promotes the CrunchTime publicity."

"Love, don’t say that," Mom's voice quivers.

"I can't believe you think that low of us," Dad glowers at me.