This Is How It Goes

Chapter Seventeen: Academics

A/N Hey everyone!! Thought I'd put this up here for a change. So first off, so sorry for being late on uploading. Yes I did promise to upload whilst I was on holidays but my internet connection was not reliable and I decided it'd be better for me to save editing for when I got back. Which was in fact a smart decision because I'm very inspired since having not written anything for a week. I've spent a good hour piecing this together for you lot. I hope you enjoy :) I made it extra long to make up for my naughtiness. Lots of James and Kat this chapter as well. Enjoy :) 

I call home that night. Tabitha has been sending me grainy pictures of Mom’s belly, obviously taken in secret. She’s convinced herself Mom is with child. I don’t think Mom looks any chubbier than she did before. She’s always been on the curvier side, I got my lean frame from Dad’s side of the family. Actually I think I got most of my looks from Dad’s side of the family. Luckily I didn’t get his personality as well.

“Hello,” Mom greets pleasantly.

“Mom, its Kat.” I say.

“Sweetie!” She cries. “It’s so good to hear from you. How are things?”

“Pretty good.”

“Are you making friends?”

I feel like I’m in pre-school again, my Mom just as desperate for me to make friends as I am. A parent’s worst nightmare is a friendless child. We all know what happens to children with no friends. They grow up to be depressed loners more concerned with Sylvia Plath and Dickens than real people.

“Yes Mom.” I reply.

“I just want you to be happy darling, I know how hard it can be to be lonely.”

“Anyway, I rang because I was thinking of coming home this weekend.” I say, reaching for a strand of hair to twirl and then realizing its five inches shorter than it used to be. I make do with a longer strand near the front that’s almost past my shoulder now.

Mom takes in a sharp, surprised breath. “Oh I’m not sure if that’s such a good idea darling.”

“Why not?” I say, feeling almost hurt by her sudden decline of my homecoming.

“Well we’re going to be out this whole weekend Kat. Darren and I are going to a friend’s birthday dinner and then we were thinking about driving down to this wonderful antique store we spotted across town the other week. We’d really only be in on Sunday and you’d have to leave that day anyway. Also we haven’t finished doing up your room yet. Give us a few weeks and we’d love to have you home.”

Typical. Everything always has to fit around my mother. Don’t mind how I feel, that I might be missing my family, or that I might want to get a tone of washing done. Or because I want to check whether or not my mother is possible expecting.

“I understand.” I say trying to keep the irritation out of my voice.

“I just want it to be perfect for when you come back. And honestly Kat I think you should focus on College. I don’t want you coming home every weekend. Have fun, study, be a young person. Don’t come rushing back home.” I can hear the fear in her voice, that I’m going to become the kid that lives at home till they’re thirty. She wants me to be independent. Well kudos Mom, I’ve been independent since birth. All thanks to you.

“I just thought it would be good to see you guys, but now that I think about it I might just study. Things are piling up already.” I want to end this phone call as quickly as possible, before I snap at my Mom.

“Good, good.” I hear voices in the background. “Oh, that’s Lachlan he’s asking to speak to you. Want me to put him on?”

“Of course.” I say, feeling brighter already.