Prologue
"How do you feel about your new environment?" Mom turns to me from the passenger seat as Christopher pulls up on the large CrestView campus.
"Awful!" I deadpan and her face goes blank, like she wants to say, 'okay, I wasn't expecting that' but I'm not gonna lie. And I don't know why she's pretending like she doesn't know what my answer is.
I look through the window and there are all kinds of people over here. Some girls looking like they're auditioning for modeling scout pose somewhere as they take a pic.
Typical Insta babies!
"First day. You’re supposed to at least pretend you’re not miserable," Christopher says.
Ugh!
"Who invited you into our conversation? Don't stick your nose in other people's affairs, respectfully!" I glare at him through the rearview mirror.
"Audrey!" Mom calls out.
"Don't misunderstand Chris, honey, you gotta be happy! You should be lucky to attend school here. That is good news—"
"To you, not me!" I respond, almost immediately. "I have a feeling you just want me out of the house so you can play happy couple your little beau, number one, and, so you can rub shoulders with your friends, two! Tell me, I'm wrong!"
Her jaw drops for a second and I squint my eyes at her. She exchanges quick glances with Christopher before bursting into a surprised laugter. But she's speechless. And just like that, I know.
"I'm 16," I say with my voice rather low. "And I can see what you try to hide," I add, moving my face closer to hers, still squinting.
"Girls, enough, enough. Now, Audrey, no one's chasing you away. If I were you, I'd be thanking the heavens for getting a really nice school to accept me in spite of my malicious behavior."
"Let me break your jaw, Christopher. Then, I'd really accept it that I'm malicious,"
"Audrey!"
"Mom!"
"Audrey, I mean no harm, and know how to talk to me. After all, I'm your mother's—"
"Boyfriend! Not even, her fiance. Keep that at the back of your mind, Christopher! Yo're not even permanent so I wouldn't act silly if I were you. You're not the first guy to come in my Mom's life—"
"Audrey!" Mom calls out.
I roll my eyes. "Gotta go," I say and step out of the car, slinging my backpack over my right shoulder.
I slam the door harder than necessary.
Then I flash them my sweetest, fakest smile. Mom looks at me like she has a whole lot of things to tell me but I just blow her a kiss and turn.
After all, I can't be running late on my first day.
