Stage Fright

Chapter 2 ~ The Bathroom Confrontation

Heather

Sometimes I wasn't too sure about this haircut. It looked strange after having my hair long for so many years. I wasn't sure how to style it anymore, it was wavy now but maybe it would be better straight?

"Heather, hurry up!" Eleanor calls from the other side of the door. "You don't want to be late!"

Eleanor had been working with my father and I every since I was born, it felt wrong to call her our maid. Of course she cooked and cleaned but she was really like my mom, she was a part of our family.

I grab my bag and adjust my skirt slightly, making sure my tank top wasn't riding up at all. I leave my hair the way it is and walk down the stairs to the kitchen grabbing something to eat.

"Good morning, honey." Dad says, answering emails at his laptop at the kitchen table. He barely lifts his eyes and I sigh, peeling an orange.

"Hey dad." I mumble. 

"Ready for your last first day?" He asks and I nod.

"Yep." I mumble, getting a glass of water.

My phone starts to vibrate as Zeke's name pops up on the screen. I smile and answer the call, hoping he was here.

"Hello?" I ask into the phone.

"Hey gorgeous, I'm here." He says and I smile. "Let's hit the road."

"I'll be right out." I tell him and hang up the phone, finishing my water.

"Was that him?" Dad sighs and I roll my eyes, putting the glass in the sink. "I'll never understand your fascination with this boy, Heather."

"I like him." I insist, putting my phone away.

"Is that what you're wearing to school?" He asks, finally lifting his eyes and I nod.

"Yeah, I just bought the skirt a week ago." I tell him.

"It seems short, don't they have dress codes at this school?" He asks in a disapproving tone.

"I'm late." I tell him, rolling my eyes. "See you later."

"I'll be in-"

"Portland for the next couple of days." I finish. "I know dad, have a good trip. Eleanor and I will be fine." I insist.

"Have a good day." He says. "And be careful on that motorcycle!" He calls as I walk to the front door. 

I laugh to myself, walking outside. I'm lucky if we even speak that much most days. He's usually never here, only on important occasions. 

"There she is." Zeke says and I run over wrapping my arms around him. "Happy first day of school." I lean in and give him a quick kiss, that he turns into more of a make-out. I quickly pull back, knowing we're in my driveway and he furrows his eyebrows. "What's wrong?"

"Not here." I tell him, meaning it. "My dad's home."

"I thought you didn't let your dad tell you what to do." He whispers and I shrug, gladly accepting another kiss.

Zeke had been my boyfriend for almost six months. We got together in junior year after my ex Ryan dumped me. He was the roughest boy I'd gone out with, but he was nice to me. He was tough which I really liked, it made me feel safe. Zeke cared about me to this un-human level, he kept me out of harm's way and defended me when anyone came after me.

We had an understanding, he was the troubled bad-boy and I was the rebel-child. We worked together in some ways, in others we were like water and oil. He wanted me to stay loyally by his side, make his my life. Life would be easier with somebody else, I knew that. But I also knew Zeke was crazy about me. He knew that together we were unstoppable at school, and I knew it too.