Catcher in the Rye meets The Silver Linings Playbook in this coming of age tale.
Life is complicated for nineteen-year-old Miles Henderson. He was supposed to go to community college, graduate, and leave his crime polluted community for good.
But...
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Getting to know Brianna is complicated.
Propping my butt on the edge of the bed, I try to get her to talk about her interests, but all Brianna cares about are my art pieces.
"How long have you been interested in photography?" she asks me for the twentieth time.
I let out an exhausted sigh. "I don't know, seven months?"
Brianna crossed her arms and sticks out her fat bottom lip. "You sure hate talking about yourself."
God, the kid is right: I would rather tune out a conversation or listen to music than brag about my job, dreams, and family to a bunch of random strangers.
"My mom was into photography when she was a little kid." I begin to explain.
"Oh?" Brianna's eyes sparkle. "Where is your mom now?"
"I don't want to talk about it," I respond sharply.
"Okay," she mumbled.
Brianna was silent for a moment until she spoke: "My real mom is a negligent piece of work. I have been living with Phil and Davis for seven years and she never visits me."
"Jesus, that must have been rough for an eleven-year-old." I think.
"So, where is your Dad?" Brianna asks inquisitively.
Pinching the string of my denim jeans, I sigh again. "I don't want to talk about it either."
"Okay, can you talk about why you want to become a photographer?"
"Why?"
"Because I need you for my report," Brianna answered.
I blink at her in surprise. "Pardon?"
Sighing, Brianna later tells me that her English class is doing this assignment where she has to interview people who have fancy careers.
"Oh, so basically you are using me for an assignment?" I ask, feeling hurt.
Brianna nods. "Look, I know it's selfish-"
"It is," I interjected.
She ignored me. "But I need to make at least a B- in my English class."
So by using my friendship, Brianna would get an A on her report?
"I thought you liked me," I say quietly.
"What?" Brianna scoffs as she casts me a doubtful sneer. "You think I trust you because you are dating my sister?"
My cheeks started to burn like fire.
"I do," Brianna admits bluntly. "I just haven't figured you out yet."
