"I don't even know why y'all are so upset about this?!"
"We're not upset. We're just a little worried that you're getting in over your head-"
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"I'm not getting in over my head!" Jennifer raises her voice, taking all of us by surprise. "May I be excused?"
"No-"
"Yes-" Dad quickly interrupts mom.
"Jeff!"
"Jennifer, go upstairs. We won't get anywhere if we're all angry and yelling at each other." Without another word, Jen makes her way up the stairs.
"Um, I'll go talk to her." I give mom and dad a brief smile before walking up the stairs. I knock a few times times before saying anything. "Jen... Can I come in?"
"Sure." She sighs. I open the door and she's sitting at her desk playing with something. I walk over to see her rolling a blunt.
"Jen." I sigh. "You know we talked about this before."
"Anissa, I really don't need you getting mad at me either."
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"Just- put that stuff away for a few minutes...."
"Fine." She carefully places it in her desk drawer, closing it.
"What were y'all arguing about?" I cross my arms, siting on the edge of her bed.
"Coach told dad that I've been skipping practice. I walked into the house just trynna smoke and they ganged up on me. Mom immediately started yelling at me, didn't even have both feet in the door." She smacks her lips and I chuckle, shaking my head.
"Well why were you skipping track?"
"I don't know I just... I don't think- I don't want to run track anymore."
"Okay." I shrug.
"Okay?"
"Yes." I shrug again. "If you don't want to run track then that's fine." I motion for her to sit next to me. She sits down, laying her head on my shoulder.
"I'm just tired of having of being "The queen of Garfield", having to put on the perfect act, Anissa. I don't want to run track, I'm not perfect- I just want to live my life, Anissa!"
"I understand, Jen. I felt the same way when I was your age. Have you tried actually tried sitting mom and dad down to tell them how you're feeling?"
She chuckles. "We're talking about the same mom and a dad, right? Mom swears up and down that I'm just 'acting out to get attention' and she just won't... listen to me." Jen sighs in frustration.
"Well, When you're ready to sit them down and talk to them, I'll be there, okay?"
"Okay." She nods.
"I always got your back....Now, I am gonna make you look for another after school activity later but I'll let you off the hook for now."
"I love you." She smiles.
"I love you too." I pull her in for a big hug and we fall back onto her bed.
"So, how are you and you're little boyfriendddd?" I tease.
"We're doing good. He's starting to sound like mom and dad though."
"What does that mean?"
"He says I'm smoking too much and going to too many parties. I told him he sounds crazy." She shrugs.
"Well, he's right. I've been trying to tell you the same thing but you do this thing where you choose not to listen to anyone when they're trying to help you..."
"Can I smoke now?" She whines.
"No." I say with a straight face and we stare at each other for a few seconds before bursting out into laughter.
