Spindrift Queen

So here I am. Trying not to roll my eyes at my dad while he gives me the same lecture he's given me every single time I've made a "bad decision." I seem to make a lot of those. Or maybe it's just the fact that my dad is the head of the biggest news company in Spindrift and he doesn't want me, and I quote, "tainting the family name." Too bad I don't give a rats ass about that. Which pisses him off more actually.

"How many times are we going to go through this Asta? Every little decision you make down to the very clothes on your back affect the entire company. Do you know how hard I've worked to get this far? To get the respect of people in this town, state even? Why can't you care about someone other than yourself for once?"

I try not to laugh. 'Every decision you make down to the very clothes on your back affect the company. Do you know how hard I've worked to get this far? To get the respect...' Yep. I've got it memorized. Oh yeah, and the part where he rants about me "not caring about anyone other than myself" is especially hilarious. This is coming from the guy who only cares about his work and nothing else. So much so that the only reason he cares about what I do is because he thinks it affects his reputation. I'm not sure why he even bothers to try and lecture me about my "actions" anymore. I mean, I'm not going to lie. I act out because it pisses him off and frankly I don't give a fuck about what he wants me to do. I am my own person and he needs to put his big girl panties on and own up to it.

"Asta, this is the last straw. I'm done letting you act so juvenile and risking the company because you feel like it."

I look him dead in the eye and raise an eyebrow. Okayyy... so this part is new but I'm not worried. What's he gonna do? Send me to boarding school? I'd like to see him try actually.

"I've tried to be nice. I've tried to be the fun dad but you won't let me. You always go against me no matter what."

Oh yeah, thattt. He thinks he can buy my love or something so he gets me whatever I want. Even the shit I don't want to be honest. Not that he knows what I do and don't like, you know, 'cuz the whole work-is-more-important-than-your-own-daughter and all.

"I'm sending you to Mossy Oak starting next week. No more do-whatever-you-want-public school. You need to focus on your future."

I stop picking at my nails and freeze. He can't be serious. Mossy Oak? That's like the preppy-ist prep school you can get and he wants to send me there? Of all places. There?? There must be a mistake. Once all my friends find out I'm going there they won't ever talk to me again. Like ever. They'll think I've gone full preppy rich girl on them and I'll be the outcast instead of the girl who rules the school. The fuck is he thinking??

I scoff. "That's funny dad. You almost got me. Good try. Are you done lecturing me now? I'm meeting up with Lexi tomorrow bright and early and it's getting late."

There's no humor in his eyes. My stomach drops. "Asta. This is not a joke. You will start at Mossy Oak this Monday and I will not argue about this. Agnes has already been sent to get your uniform and will be back shortly. I expect you to cooperate fully," He stands up to leave. No way is he getting the last word on this. I'm literally blinded by outrage as I shoot to my feet.

"You can't be serious! Do you know what'll happen if everyone from River Creek finds out I'm going to a prep school!? And Mossy Oak of all prep schools! Are you insane?!?!

He puts his hand up to silence me. "I already told you I won't argue about this. I've made my decision whether you like it or not," Then he walks out of the room and leaves me there steaming. It's official. My father is absolutely insane. Crazy. Loco. Whatever-the-fuck-you-want-to-call-it insane.

I storm out of the lounge and make my way to my bedroom. If he wants to send me there fine. But I will make sure there's hell to pay. He can't just make me switch schools like this and expect there to be absolutely no consequences. He made a bad decision. Funny, because usually I'm the one who makes those. But not this time. Before I reach my room I go to the kitchen and grab the last bag of chips. Hopefully Agnes will get some more when she gets my dreaded uniforms.

Agnes is out housekeeper who has worked for my dad for as long as I can remember. When I was little and my dad was out late she would always cut me an extra piece of apple pie, my favorite, and whisper, "Don't tell your dad. This is the last time," but it never was. She always gave me some little treat. Agnes is probably the sweetest person I know. She's also the one person in the world, besides Lexi, who I can trust. Although she might be the only one in a couple days. I mean, don't get me wrong, Lexi and I are tight and have been since first grade, but we used to make fun of the prep schoolers together. Prank them, sometimes post photos of them that had been edited to be offensive. But now that I'll be on the other side I don't know what she'll do, how she'll react.

I'm already expecting the worst though. Lexi will probably come up with some creative way way to make me the laughing stock of River Creek and my reputation will be ruined. I think it's pretty safe to say that Mossy Oak won't be particularly welcoming either considering they all know who I am for two reasons; One, is that I'm the one who makes fun of all them and two because, I'm the daughter of the man who runs New Centuries so everybody in this fucking town knows who I am.

I sigh in response to all these thoughts and open the door to my room. It's not a typical teenagers' room. Well, besides the fact that my room is ginormous, with a waterfall wall and my own fire place and a king sized bed. Yes, I know, a king sized bed It's ridiculous but I guess my dad thought that all five foot five of me needs the biggest bed he could get. But no. I'm talking about the pages upon pages of lyrics scattered everywhere and the ten different guitars and multiple phones hooked up to speakers just for music. Yeah, no social media, no texts, no calls just music. Usually the first thing I do when I enter my room is pick up a random page of lyrics and add onto it. I could spend hours writing down all my thoughts but today I'm just exhausted.

I flop on my bed, open the bag of chips and turn on the music. Tate Mcrae's 'Happy Face' is the first song to play. It's about putting on a happy face when you're around others and not trusting anyone with whatever hides behind your fake smile. Suddenly, there's a knock at my door and I'm jostled out of my thoughts. I crumble the bag of chips, sit up, and toss it in the trash can when Agnes walks in. She's carrying bags of clothes and I groan. My uniforms. Great. She laughs softly and walks over to my closet to start hanging them up. Her long dress swishes against her legs as she moves. I don't understand how she wears those everyday all day.

Her long blonde hair flips over her shoulder as she turns to address me. "I got you more chips don't worry," She doesn't even mention the uniforms in her hands and for that I'm grateful. Agnes has always known me better than anyone.

I smile. "Thanks Agnes, I just ate the last bag."

She chuckles. "I figured. My sweet little Ash never could control how much she eats," I feign offense and gasp, tossing a pillow at her. We both laugh as the pillow falls to the ground and she picks it up and heads toward me. She rests the pillow on the bed and enfolds me in her warm embrace. The lyric papers on the bed crinkle as she moves. Neither one of us mentions Mossy Oak and after a minute she leaves, shutting the door softly.

I stand up and head to the bathroom to change and brush my teeth. The girl staring back at me is not who I expected. My eyes are bright with determination and my skin is almost glowing. This is the opposite of how I feel. I shake my head and move back into my room, getting into bed. I'm not sure what's going to happen in the next couple days but I can at least hope for the best.