Page 54 of I Despise You
Chapter 19
WHEN CHASE AND I RETURNfrom our trip, our relationship is better than ever. I’m about to get ready for our study date when my phone beeps.
I check the screen and groan. It’s an alert to remind me of a special event for parents that’s being held at our school, and we’re all required to attend, even if our parents won’t come. I don’t think my mom will be there. Chase’s father probably won’t show up either. That’s why we both forgot about the stupid event.
I text Chase to let him know about it, and he sends me back a sad emoji face. We agree to meet at the event instead.
Once I make sure my uniform is impeccable, I go out into the hallway. The event that’s supposed to bring parents and students closer together, or something like that, is being held in the school’s biggest room.
As soon as I enter the room, Brittany runs at me through the parents and students who are already there.
“You bitch!” she yells, shoving me back.
I catch a glimpse of tears in her eyes before she storms off. I have no idea what I’ve done, and since it made Brittany cry, I almost wish I’d actually done something because then I’d know how to repeat it.
But then my gaze lands on a familiar figure standing close to one of the tables.
“Mom?” I call, almost sure I’m imagining things and this is just some woman who looks like my mom from behind.
She turns around, a smile spreading across her lips. “There you are, honey! Surprise!”
I fling myself into her arms. “Mom! I can’t believe you’re here.”
But as I hug her, I notice Brittany’s father standing close by. I pull away from my mom, glancing from her to him. She’s come here with him. What Brittany said about the two of them may be true.
“Um, Mom, can we talk for a moment? In private?” Now I finally have the chance to ask what I need to know.
“Yeah.”
We find a quiet place just down the hallway, and when I’m sure no one’s there to overhear us, I turn to her.
“Brittany told me something, and I need to know if it’s true. She said you and her dad are... um, together, I guess. And that the reason he’s paying for my tuition fee is because—”
“Honey, you know I’d do anything for you.” Her eyes are glassy.
“Yeah, I do, but I know you don’t like your boss at all. If I have to leave the school, I’ll do it. But I don’t want you to be with him and do things you don’t want to do because of me.”
“Maybe you’ll understand one day when you’re older or if you have kids on your own. Your future is the only thing that matters here. Don’t worry about me. I’ve made my choice. You have an opportunity of a lifetime. Don’t throw it away.”
“I’m doing my best, but the competition here is crazy. If I fail, everything you’re doing will be for nothing.” It still feels wrong that she has to do any of it just so I can go to school here. It’s wrong on so many levels. I should pack my bags and leave. But it’s not what my mom wants, is it? We’d both end up with nothing then.
“No, it won’t. Even if you don’t get the scholarship, it doesn’t matter. We’ll figure something out. You know that graduating here means a lot already.”
“I do.” I cross my arms. “But what happens then? What are you going to do if he doesn’t want to let you go?”
“You should worry about you, and I’ll worry about both of us, okay?” She reaches out and brushes her knuckles against my cheek. “I know I complained a lot about my boss, but he’s not as bad as he seems. Sometimes, people can surprise you.”
I don’t know if she’s saying that just so I’d stop feeling about the whole thing or if she really means it.
“Brittany’s not happy,” I say. “What if she convinces her father to stop paying my tuition?”
“If Brittany’s bothering you, just let me know. Her father won’t tolerate her outbursts. He’s already made that clear both to her and to me.”
I debate if I should tell her what Brittany has done, but I can’t.
“Why don’t you tell me how’s school going? I get all the info about your grades and everything, but how do you feel about it? We’ve never really talked about it over the phone.”
She doesn’t want to talk about Brittany’s father anymore, and I decide not to press any further because I don’t think it’ll achieve anything. I’m here now, and fighting for the scholarship is the only thing my mom wants me to do.
