Marriage Before Graduation

Chapter Twenty

I was walking back in the door when my phone rang again. I was laughing when I answered the phone without checking the name. "Did you change your mind?" I asked.

"Tia?" My mom's voice asked.

I hung up, terrified. I slapped my hand to my forehead. What the hell was that? I shook my head, and dialed her back. "I'm so sorry," I said, when the ringing stopped. "I thought you were Elijah. You scared me. What's up?"

"You haven't talked to me in over a week," my mother said, trying to a toe a fine line between scolding and curious.

"I've been really... occupied," I justified. "I just started school and-"

"You started school? What school?"

I smiled, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. "It's a private school called Roycemore. They have this amazing program-"

"And you didn't think to tell me?" She interrupted

"What?"

"You didn't tell me anything about this new school."

Anger flared up in my chest, so I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "You didn't think to ask?" I countered.

"No, I didn't think I had to-"

"Well I didn't think I had to tell you my every move. The phone works both ways. I haven't heard anything from you since I left the hospital. Before that, I hadn't heard form you since I  called you the day after we got married!" I recognized my voice getting louder, but I did nothing to correct it. "I'm busy adjusting to a new life. What's your excuse? Too high?"

"You do not get to speak to me that way," she shouted angrily into the phone.

"What are you going to do to me? You're not even in the same state as me."

"You are still my child!"

"Technically, I'm emancipated, according to the papers you signed so I could get married at sixteen!" I screamed to the phone.

"You are so lucky you don't live under my roof anymore."

"You got that right!" I shouted, hanging up the phone. I tossed me phone across the floor. It slid under the couch and I huffed. Don't need that damn thing anyway. I heard it ringing a couple times, so I turned on the radio in the kitchen and cranked it to drown out the sound.

~

I was dancing along to a new rap song I hadn't heard before, stirring vegetables cooking on the stove when the front door opened. I turned the volume down in the radio, so I could talk to Elijah.

"What happened?" He asked immediately, squinting at me.

"What?" I asked. "What are you talking about?"

"I called you four times," he said, sounding slightly aggravated. "Your mom called me."

I scoffed, turning to look at him. I leaned against the counter and then Yankee my hand forward, sucking a breath through my teeth. "Shit," I grunted. I turned my hand as far as I could to see the bright red burn on my palm.

Elijah skirted around the island, meeting me in the kitchen. "Come on. Under the sink." He turned cold water on and held my hand under the tap.

Tears rolled down my face. "I'm so stupid," I complained.

"No, you aren't," he consoled. "You're just not used to this kitchen."

I chuckled sadly, still crying. "I'm so mad at her."

"You sure showed her!" He joked, offering a hopeful smile.

I sniffled, nodding towards the living room. "I threw my phone. It's under the couch."

"Why do you let her get to you like that?"

"Because she knows exactly what buttons to push," I explained.

He shook his head. "You can't let her get to you. You said yourself, she's a bitter addict. She doesn't know how to be good to you, which is absolutely her fault. You don't even have to deal with her if you don't want."

"What do you mean?"

"You're not under her care anymore. You aren't responsible for her. You don't have to answer her anymore. Sometimes it's healthier to just cut the ties, ya know?" He pulled my hand from under the water and checked it. "Does that feel any better?"

"A little," I answered, watching a blister trying to form. He stepped away to look through the cabinets, so I put my hand back under the water. "You're saying I could just stop texting her back and picking up her calls?"

"Exactly. Here, give me your hand." He held my hand gently, pouring an amber colored liquid across the burn.

"Oh, that's really helping. What is that?"

"Apple cider vinegar. I'm not saying I think you should cut your mom out of your life. I don't really care either way. That is entirely up to you, but if you think it's necessary, then please, do."

I thought on that for a moment, watching my hand cautiously as the stinging continued. "What if I change my mind?" I whispered.

He tilted my chin up. "Then change your mind. Try to make amends. Now or later, you're likely to have more time. Just know that I support whatever decision you make."

I nodded, solemnly. "I wish you would let me drink."

His face lifted into a grin. "I only did that because I knew you were angry. Angry drinking isn't a good idea. You are too young to be worried about drinking, anyway."

"It's really hard to be a teenager and an adult at the same time," I said to myself.

He hugged me carefully, to avoid my hand. "I'm sorry. You are doing a wonderful job. Soon, you'll be an adult and wish you could be a kid again."

I shook my head. "I doubt that."

"You will, until you're an adult. How does your hand feel?"

"Not so bad- oh crap I forgot!" I rushed to the stove and stirred the vegetables, but it was too late. I opened the oven and a burnt smell came gushing out. I hung my head.

"Don't worry about it," Elijah said softly. "Shit happens. We'll order delivery. How do subs sound?"

~ I'm wine drunk so sorry if this isn't legible 😂 I'm trying to write as fast as possible to finish this. I'm so encouraged by the fact that it's about to hit 2,000 reads.