Chapter 1: School?
-Jordyn’s POV
It was just another day in the White House. I was in my room minding my business when my best friend, Ella, burst in excited.
“Hey, girl!” Ella says as she plops down on my bed.
“Hey, Ella, what’s up?” Ella had this look in her eye that told me she was about to spill all the gossip.
“So I heard from Eva, who heard from Avery, who heard from her brother Jack, that Alex is going to Redmont High.”
We both started to shriek out loud. Alex had been my longtime crush, and Redmont High is the dream school I’ve been wanting to go to.
“You have to come with us to Redmont High, then you and Alex can... You know.”
She winked, and I immediately blushed. Ella sometimes had no filter; she was bold and open, and I was the shy one.
“You know how paranoid my dad is," I start, "He wouldn’t let me go to the store by myself, let alone high school.”
“Yeah, I know your dad is literally the most overprotective parent ever, but you need to leave the nest at some point.”
She was right. I couldn’t be homeschooled forever. I hated being stuck inside all the time; even if I was allowed to leave the White House, I couldn't do so without being accompanied. Sometimes, I wasn’t even allowed to leave at all. I know my Dad loved me and was trying to protect me, but I felt like a prisoner.
“I’ll ask, and maybe this time hell will freeze over, and he’ll say yes.” She laughed, and we hugged.
“Thanks, girl. I gotta go, or else my mom will lose her damn mind.” She left, and I smiled. I decided I would talk to Dad at dinner after he had some of Mom’s sweet pumpkin pie.
Hours later...
Dinner was amazing, and Dad was in a good mood. He was laughing and flirting with Mom. I thought that it might be a good time to bring up the idea of public schooling, but my awkwardness prevented me from saying anything. Mom, however, could tell something was up.
“Honey, are you ok? You haven’t eaten your dinner.” Everyone was now looking at me, my mom, Dad, and my little brother Jonathan.
“How can you not eat the food? When it was made by the world’s best cooker and... kisser.” Mom giggled and blushed.
“Oh, Oscar. Behave! Our kids are here,” Mom replied. I thought I’d try to bring up the school stuff now.
“Hey, um... Dad,” I whispered, but he didn’t reply. It always made me nervous to talk to him. He’d get irritable and angry so much whenever I tried to talk to him, but I spoke up again.
“Um, Dad?” I repeated, but he was too busy flirting with Mom. Now I was annoyed. He was gone all day and barely had any time for me, then when he got home, he ignored me.
"DAD!" I screamed. The table fell silent; no one dared to speak. Dad was shocked. I had never raised my voice at him. His expression changed from loving husband to annoyed father. I didn’t like that person very much.
“Jordyn, is there a reason why you’re shouting?” Dad was looking at me like a vulture. I wasn’t going to back down. I needed to tell him.
“Oscar, I have something to tell you,” I said proudly.
“Oscar?” He asked with one eyebrow raised.
“I mean, Dad! Ugh, never mind! Can I be excused?” I ask. All I wanted to do was to get out of this room. Dad looked like he was about to kill me, and Mom was giving me her “What is wrong with you?” look.
“Of course,” said my Mom. As I was about to leave, I heard my dad say, “No.”
I turned around to see my dad angrier than I’ve ever seen him before. His whole face was red, and I could see the veins start to pop out of his forehead
“I will not tolerate this disrespect,” he shouted, causing my brother to cry.
“You will tell me what you wanted to ask me now.” I was on the spot, not knowing what to do. If I tell my dad I want to go to school, he’ll be mad, and if I don’t, he’ll get even madder.
“Dad, it’s nothing--” I start.
“Tell me.” He yelled, and I flinched. I needed to tell him, so I took a deep breath and poured it out. I told him how much I hated homeschooling, that I wanted to go to high school with my friends, and that I wanted to experience the things normal teens experienced. After I was done, it was quiet for a whole minute. It was the most excruciating minute of my life.
“No,” he said. It was like I was slapped across the face. I knew he would be resistant, but it still hurt.
“Jordyn--” he started, but I cut him off.
“How could you say no? All you care about is yourself. You don’t care about me and what I want. You don’t love me! Ugh, I hate you!”
I sprinted to my bedroom and slammed the door as hard as I could. I cried till my eyes were sore. I hated being stuck in the White House. I know some people would love to live here, but I was ALWAYS here. I couldn’t go out for my “own safety.” I know my dad was a powerful person, and he had enemies who could want to hurt me, but I just wanted to be free and not feel trapped.
I cried some more until I eventually fell asleep. Breakfast the next day was awkward. My dad was barely talking, just looking at the newspaper he held in his hand. My mom looked sleep-deprived and hadn’t put on makeup, which was not like her. After about 30 minutes of awkwardness, my mom broke the silence.
“Oscar, is there anything you’d like to say to Jordyn?”
“Uh, nope,” My dad replied. My mom kicked him under the table, and he yelped.
My dad gave up and said, “You start school on Monday.”
“You’re joking,” I said, and he shook his head no. I shrieked out of pure happiness. I couldn’t believe it. My paranoid and hard-headed father was allowing me to go to school.
“But!” My dad said, “There will be 4 secret agents accompanying you.” I was so happy I couldn’t care less about the agents. I rushed over to my dad and hugged him.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I was so happy that I called Ella to tell her the good news.
“Well, I have to get to work,” said my dad. He kissed my mom and my baby brother and gave me a hug.
“See you later, Munch,” he said and then left. Munch is the nickname he gave me when I was little. He hadn’t called me that in so long, and it felt nice to hear it again.
“Your dad stayed up all night cause he felt so bad. You know he loves you, right?” My mom asked.
" Yeah, I know. Can I be excused?” She nodded, and I left for my room. I had to call all my friends to let them know. Redmont High, here I come.
