Annalise Springster's a High School Dropout

Chapter 6

September 4, 2202

Annalise's POV

I am in an intense staring match with my mother. We have been arguing for at least the past half hour.

She stands in front of the west entrance of our home, her lengthy arms and legs stretched to reach different points of its doorframe, blocking me from leaving. She looks like a spider trying to save its broken web.

"Go back to your room, Annie," she spits venomously. "Either that or help me in the kitchen, but you aren't running off tonight."

"No."

Her eyes narrow but never leave mine. The fire behind them could scare almost anyone into obedience—too bad mine possess the same flame. "Don't make me call Rick to come get you and take you there."

"Rick would never."

"Rick will do what I tell him too. That's his job."

"Are you sure about that?"

Her nostrils flare. "See Annie. That's just your problem. You have no respect for authority. You don't even have enough respect for your own mother to listen to me."

"Listen? All I do is listen to you. Why don't you listen to me?"

"I do listen to you!"

"Apparently you don't. I told you I'm done with these stupid dinners, with your stupid small talk, with your stupid mayor."

"Watch your mouth!" She slams her hand against the door frame, sending the resulting sound reverberating throughout the hall.

My mind begins to cloud, and I blink slowly to keep my composure. "I will when you start paying attention."

"I ought to just—"

"Hey, hey! There are my two lovely ladies." My dad's voice echoes from behind me. "What's going on here?"

Neither of us flinch nor look at him.

"Your daughter wants to leave."

"Just for a little while. I said I would come back before dinner," I say almost cutting her off.

"That's what she said last time, and then she ignored our calls for hours, which was very irresponsible, Ben. I mean what if she was dead? Or had been taken?"

"That's not what you were worried about," I reply hastily.

Her eye twitches, causing her break eye contact with me.

"Ben, honey." Her tone switches to sweet. "You remember how disappointed the mayor was last time don't you? I'd just hate for that to happen again."

"Vividly," my dad says, placing his large hands affectionately on my mom's shoulders. They cover much of her shoulders, and his wedding band glints in the chandelier light as he speaks. "Annie, honey, I hate to be in the middle here, but your mother is right. What you did was irresponsible."

Most days I spend hours away from home with Cassie, even spend the night without hearing a peep from them. But when it comes to dinner nights with the mayor, all of a sudden, they remember I have a cell phone.

"Now, we don't ask much of you, Annie. You made a promise that you would make these dinners."

That was before I realized you were selling him my soul...Oops, I think I said that out loud

"For goodness sake, stop being dramatic! What is all this drama you've acquired these past few years?" my mother asks. "Mayor Muller is a very capable man, and the major he picked for you is a good one. Why can't you trust it?"