There's more to life (Adopted by Brendon Urie) | #2

#7

Song of the Chapter: The World is Ugly by My Chemical Romance

Anna's POV

Mum and I walk up the stairs of the front office.
"Hi can we speak to the principal?" Mum asks the same man who signed me out. He nods and Mr Jones, the principal, walks out.

"Hi Mrs Urie, Anna. What seems to be the issue?" He says once we are in his office.
"Yesterday there was an incident where Anna's uncle had to come pick her up because-"
"Ah yes, the panic attack that Anna put on to get out of her assignment. Now Anna your teacher has been kind enough to let you have another go or you will fail."
"Hold on, you think she faked it too?"
"She did fake it, and caused a scene and two class members left the class without permission."
"Sir, I didn't fake it. I have anxiety it's a thing that happens."
"Well you've never had an issue with it before."
"Are you joking? I didn't come to school for two years when I moved here because of it."
"No that's just because your father was was too lazy to enrol you."
"Excuse me! Do not talk about my dad like that!"
Mum softly places her hand on mine and I calm down.
"Anyway back to the issue at hand, you can't fail Anna for one task, that's ridiculous surely you could just remove the task from her course."
"Possibly. But it would be a much easier if Anna just did the task."
"I don't think you understand sir. I physically can't get up there and speak."
"You're speaking to me just fine."
"It's different."
"Not really."
"Sir do you even know what anxiety is?"
"Of course it's something teenagers like you use as an excuse to get out of things."
Mum and I stare at him shocked.
"Well if there's nothing else, you best be off. I have things to do."

"What the hell is wrong with him?" Mum exclaims when we get in the car.
"I don't know."
"He's just rude, like boy, google anxiety. It's an actual thing. I'm sorry I couldn't help."
"It's fine Mum, thank you for trying."
"Let's go shopping."
I laugh and agree, happy to be spending time with mum.

We walk around the shopping centre and Mum decides to get her nails done, I didn't really want mine done so I go to the hot topic opposite the salon. I still had my gift card from my birthday so I look around and pick up some earrings and bracelets and check out.
"Aren't you hot in that jumper?" I hear behind me and I turn around, very confused.
"Nicole!" I hug her.
"Hey girl, how's it going shouldn't you be at school?"
"Uh there's a bit of an issue with the school, saying my anxiety's fake and all so mum and I are hanging out."
"Oh that sucks I'm sorry, where's your mom?"
"It's fine and she's over there." I say, pointing to the salon.

We walk over there and she was just finishing getting her nails done.
"Oh hey Nicole."
"Hey Sarah, hows it going?"
"Yeah good, Anna and I are just hanging out."
"Yeah she was telling me that the school was accusing her of lying?" Nicole asks as mum pays. We walk to a coffee shop and order a coffee. We tell Nicole what happened and she gave me a sympathetic look.

When we get home, dad immediately asks us what happened. We explained what happened and I could see him getting visibly angry and frustrated.
"What the hell is wrong with him." He yells.
"I don't know." I say, kinda scared by dad's reaction. Dad stops walking around the room and looks at me.
"Darling I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." He hugs me but I was still worried.

———

"Oh for fuck sake Anna! Do your fucking job! I only asked you to do the dishes!"
"I'm sorry."
"Why didn't you do them!"
"I don't know."
Liam pushes me into a wall and I get an immediate headache.

"Anna?" Someone shakes me.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." I repeat over and over again.
"Shh it's ok, you're safe. I'm here." I look around and see dad hugging me, I was crying and pouring with sweat. I was having nightmares again, something I thought I had gotten over. Dad rocks me back and forth, just like I was 13 again. I stop crying and just let dad rock me.