Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before (Girlxgirl)

Chapter # 3

Taylor's POV

Cheer let out a little early today, which I was grateful for. I was mentally and physically exhausted from the week, and Friday still remained after today.

The only thing that kept me from collapsing was the fact that Talia was coming to my house to help me with school work. I couldn't help but to be excited about that, and I didn't even know why. Maybe it was just because she was pretty and smart. I doubted I would be feeling like this if I knew her. Maybe I should get to know her?

After all, it was a little harder to have a crush on someone you knew stuff about. It left less room for imagining perfection. At least I'd know she had an imperfection, although it would clearly have to be something she can hide well.

Although I had never thought of my sexuality as a flux arrangement, I couldn't deny my unadulterated crush on Talia. Would it be all that bad to like her in that way?

I know Jason would be furious, but I couldn't find it in my heart to care about his anger. Not if it meant I might have a chance with Talia.

On my way home, my phone rang. "Where are you?" Her voice rang through my eardrums as I answered. I looked at the clock. "Oh, oh god, I'm sorry. I'm on my way, cheer practice was today, I guess I forgot to mention it."

"Maybe you should stop being so forgetful, Taylor." I sighed and bit the insides of my cheek, which had become a habit for me when I was angry. "My schedule is pinned up on the fridge for the entire world to see."

"I will make you drop cheerleading if you speak to me that way again." I let out a defeated sigh and obeyed her. "I'm on my way." I repeated.

"I don't want to hear that, I want to hear your car in the garage." We hung up after that and I felt like pulling my hair out.

My mother and I never got along well. She wanted the smart, well-mannered daughter I'd never be, and she wanted me to always be bubbly--whatever that meant.

Seth was really smart and had an intelligent girlfriend named Sara. They were both Harvard bound and my mother never shut up about him. She bragged to me, even, and I'm the kid she's disappointed in.

Seth told me that I was perfect the way I was, and that mom was just out of her mind from all the anxiety pills, but I didn't think so. It was true that I wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, and it was true that I'd rather wear sweats than jeans, and it was also true that my description of a perfect Saturday afternoon was playing video games with Seth.

If all that stuff made me imperfect to the point where my mom hated me, think of what other people think.

Of what Talia must think. She had seen my brain work at its finest--getting almost every homework question wrong. What if she thought little of me because I was stupid?

When I got home, my mother was in the living room, which was right next to the study. I set my school bag in the study before taking a deep breath and walked into the living room with a pained expression on my face.

She wanted to meet today because she's flying out tonight for a meeting in Seattle. She would be gone for a whole week--thank god.

She actually had to schedule in a time for her own daughter. Not like she loved me or anything. I sat beside her and I noticed her scoot over with hurt settling into my heart.

"How has school been?" I bit my lip. "We took a test in calculus today and I knew a lot of the answers. I think it will be my first non-failing grade of the semester." She tightened her jaw.

"If your brother was you, he would have passed that test with ease." I frowned and picked at my nail polish. "Well, he's not me." I began to pout. "And he took calculus in like, the tenth grade." Her blue eyes rolled so far back, I was afraid they'd fall out. Afraid wasn't the word. If they fell out, I would do a sundance upon them.