The Shades of Rich

Something New [Edited]

02 | SOMETHING NEW - "Meaningless steps, it's as if it's a jungle, vacantly another sigh"

'The person you are calling cannot accept calls at the time--'

As if matters weren't frustrating enough, Sam chose this exact moment to not pick his phone.
My parents were supposed to resign from their positions as professors in this school in Arizona and come straight home. Today.

It wasn't exactly supportive to know that they ditched their daughter for another six months. All because of their employer, who insisted on sending them off to Greece on a paid sabbatical out of kindness. Even I could figure out the big picture in this surprisingly kind deed. Sugarcoating my parents into staying in the school was his ploy and it seemed to be working perfectly well.

He didn't even have to try whilst I have to beg them for months and months to make their minds up to come home and just look after me. Aunt Marissa bailed on me yesterday after babysitting me for five years straight. She left to quickly snatch a job as a caretaker for this snobbish rich guy.
The guy's looks and the job's pay were both paid handsomely. After all, as my aunt says "You can never go wrong with a guy's looks". No wonder she's fifty years old and very single.

Rolling my eyes at this ridicule, I focus my thoughts on why Sam's not picking up his phone. I wouldn't have known if he answers his phone regularly either since my phone was bought just a week ago.

Communication and a device to effectively practice it is a basic need to regular seventeen-year-olds. But for a child who was taught from a mere age of five that she should accept herself as nothing but an accident, kicking communication to the curb was nothing. I didn't find any reason to communicate with others when my parents, themselves, won't find time to chat me up.

Instead, I poured my heart out to studies which won me a scholarship to Anne Boulevard.
The most prestigious school in the country that only allows elites to bask in its glory.
The school that permits my battered-up Volkswagen Beetle to travel the most impressive distance in its life: 4 km is indeed a massive feat for it.
The school can assure me a step closer to my parents' expectations.
The school that Sam goes to.

With afterthoughts of Sam lingering in my mind, I switch my gaze towards my bedside mirror. There stood me, sporting a crisp white shirt tucked to a red and white checkered knee-length skirt with a crimson blazer topping the look off.
I would be lying if I said that I didn't miss the feeling of comfort when clothed in just a baggy shirt, denim and sneakers.

"Ugh, this isn't the time to wallow over rubbish Peyton! If you aren't on the road in fifteen minutes, you'd be wallowing for much worse."

I snatch my phone along with my backpack and bound down the stairs. If you give the whole idea of living alone just a thought, it's fun. Preparing food. Doing the dishes and laundry. Juggling between homework and keeping the house clean. Honestly, it seems way more exciting to handle on my own.

I try reaching Sam's phone again but to no avail. What is up with him? Furrowing my eyebrows, I trudge to the refrigerator and got a hold of the milk carton. When the ingredients for a perfect bowl of cereal were within reach, I switch on the TV, waking myself to sit for fifteen minutes of constant gushing.
After five minutes of switching between channels and three mouthfuls of cereal, my attention was immediately captured by a news channel.
My attention level spike up when the news confirmed that its about a student from Anne Boulevard.
The unexpected part was that it was about someone I know.

Sam.

>|>|

"Flipping shit. Fucking bullshit. A LOAD OF UTTER BULL CRAP!" I yell, my eyes wild with ferocity. "You had to give up on me now. NOW!"