The Perfect Frame

5

It was just one of those days. Those days where everything went wrong.

Let me tell you how my day has gone so far;

First, I wake up to yelling. Never a good way to wake up. It seems my mother already had her own opinions on Carter. I didn't even want to know.

It has been two days and I haven't heard from Jacoby. I haven't even seen him. I don't want to be clingy or anything but I just figured we had fun and would want to hang out.

I tried to play with Princess, my brother's cat, and she bit me. My pointer finger now has a colorful bandaid on it. It still stings.

Deciding I needed some quality riding time, I take Jett out and realize he got a cut on his leg. Not sure how but since he gets turned out daily, it could be anything. He got the day off.

So, Ebony was going to be worked today. I hopped on bareback and had to listen to the other girls complain about her. Yeah, she liked to go fast. Yeah, she's a bit fresh. If I heard one more time about how she doesn't deserve to be out here, I was going to flip a switch.

I put everything away at the barn and walked home. I took off my shoes at the door and my mother was there, a glass of wine in her hand. She sipped it.

"You know, you should actually dress like you weren't raised in the projects," She said.

I glared and walked up stairs, slamming my door. My sweatpants were comforting. I walked into the closet and grabbed all the blankets I could find and piled them onto my bed. I laid under them and silently let out the tears that have been threatening to escape all day.

It's not what my mother said, it not my finger throbbing, it's not even the terrible people at the barn. It's all of it. Being so frustrated with life. I wanted to hear from my dad. I haven't spoke to him in the week that I've been here. I wanted to hear from Jacoby. He made me smile and think that my life wasn't so bad after all.

A knock on my door. I didn't answer. I didn't want to. I could pretend I'm sleeping.

I was covered in blanket and couldn't see who had opened and closed my door. I could hear their soft footsteps come closer.

"Skyler, honey,"

I flipped over to my grandmother. She gave me a look and sat down on my bed, pushing my hair back.

"What's the matter?"

I shrugged, "Everything. I'm just so... frustrated."

She gave me a sad smile. Like she understood.

"Well, I'm not a smart grandma. I can't tell you something that sounds cool. Instead, I'm gonna tell you what my daddy used to tell me: Kick their ass."

That got me to laugh. She chuckled with me, stroking my face.

"Well, that and a very handsome boy is wanting to see you."

"Who?" I asked.

She shook her head. I knew who. "Lynn's boy. Have you two got something?"

I shrugged again, feeling like I could trust her. "I don't know. I like him. I think he might like me. I just, I don't know," I groaned.

"You're young. There's no need to understand. Just feel and go with it. I just don't want any great-grandkids this early. So think before making big decisions. If you like him, like him. Just don't like all of him. Like, the gross parts."

Again, she made me laugh. She laughed with me. She gave me a kiss and stood up. "I'll send him up here."

She walked towards the door and there was a knock before she could get to it. She opened it for me and let whoever it was in. I got up and saw Jacoby walking over to me.