Chapter Three

   “Really? You know Renee`, you just can’t seem to stay out of trouble. I’m surprised your mom didn’t bless you with the name trouble, instead of Shontelle. It kinda fits you more,” Jammy stated.

“I know and why are you worried anyways?” I asked.

“I was just saying. Don’t get mad at me, because you got an extra day of in school school suspension. You know it’s going to where they suspend you from the school and like send you home for a couple of days or even worse, expelle you. You can’t afford that. One I’m pretty sure that your grades in the past aren’t that well and second we have this year and next year. You need to pull yourself together. Get your life together.”

“ I know.”

“You’re not going to have a future with the path you’re taking right now,” she stated.

     I got in my car, after I told my friends bye. I didn’t have time to go anywhere after school today. I had places to go. I don’t even think that my friends are going where I’m going, to be honest. I got in my car, turned up my music. I zoomed right out of Tall Letter High parking lot, not caring about cops. I know this might sound safe and most likely it’s not, but I do my best thinking when I’m driving. The reason it’s not safe is, because it distracts you, so my friends don’t try it!

    After I hit the fifth stop light, my phone rang. I picked up my phone and answered it, “ Hello?” I asked.

“ Hey it’s your mom. Where are you at?”

“ At a stop light. Why?”

“Because I was just wondering where you were. By the way, I don’t know if you know this, but we received another phone call from Mr. Bryer saying that you once again, got another day of in school suspension. You know, I can’t wait for us to move away from here. May be Arkansas could do something good for you. Sometimes it’s just better to keep your mouth shut, especially while you’re in school,” she explained.

“You know what?  I really don’t have time for all of this, so bye. I’ll talk to you later.”

“ Renee` Taylor!” my mom yelled, before I hung up on her.

                               

      As I showed up to my house, I noticed that there was no one there. No signs of any parents here! That’s good because today was a day I didn’t feel like answering to them. All these annoying questions and me having to give the good enough answer. I had somewhere to go tonight. I didn’t need two people following me, until I gave up answers that had nothing to do with them. I needed my freedom! I parked my car in the garage and rushed inside to get ready for this night. I wanted to hurry in and hurry out, once again. Put all the pieces together, you could read that I didn’t feel like answering to anyone.

      I went into my room and stripped my school clothes off. While, I was doing that, I went over to my sound system that had my ipod hooked to it and turned up the volume. I don’t know what it was, I loved listening to music when I got ready for school or for an important event in my life. I love to clean with music as well. I don’t know, I guess it helps me not think about why the music is really on. To blur out the truth of cleaning. I went in the bathroom, that’s attached to my room and jumped in the shower. It took me about fifteen minutes to wash all the gunk off my body and got myself to smelling good and fresh. After that I blowed dried my hair and wrapped it up in a messy bun. I strolled into my big walk- in closet towards my dresses. You’re probably thinking the kinds of dresses you wear to a formal dance, huh? Well, you’re wrong! I’m talking about the dresses that your butt cheeks halfway fall out of, the ones that seem to make you do the wrong things, and make you feel the temptation. They make you want to not come home the next night, if you know what I’m getting at. Now, do you do which ones I’m getting at? Do you have the idea now? Thought so. I found one that attracted my eye and zipped it up my body. Once, I got back to my bathroom, I took down my messy bun and got a nice start on my hair and makeup. After all was said and done, I looked down at my feet and that’s when I noticed that I haven’t picked out a nice pair of shoes.

     Before I left the house, I checked myself in the mirror one last time. Believe it or not, I was looking sexier than ever! I actually ran to the garage and got in my car. I actually can’t believe that I ran in some five inch heels. I was pretty proud of myself. Pat on back! I checked in my rearview mirror to check my makeup, again! “Made it before they got home!” I said, while catching myself laughing.

     “Are you on your way girl?”Kaley asked me on the other end.

“Yeah. I’m almost there. I’ll be there in five.”

“ Okay, see you in a bit.”

“ Bye.”

Okay, so I guess I’ll tell you where I’m going. And you know what? I never thought I would ever hang out with Kaley. Ever! And I can’t even believe, I, myself am going to one of her parties. Knowing her, her parties are probably more like a club environment. For me that’s like Heaven. I don’t even know if I’ll make it home tonight!

     I was driving down her street, coming up on her house. I can’t even exaggerate, there were cars from it looked like all over the world and they were even parked on both sides of the road. I guess she did invite the whole school, without a single doubt! Wonder if Jammy and Siarrah came? I guess I’ll just have to find out myself, when I step in that house. I found a pretty good spot to park. I got out and walked up to the porch. People were already piling out of the house. That right there just shows how many people from school came. Kaley had a really nice house. May be too nice to have a house party at! I rung the doorbell, but no one answered it, so I walked right on in!

     There were people standing all around holding red solo cups and cigarettes were hanging out their mouths or stuck between their fingers.I looked around to see if I could find Kaley, Jammy, or even Siarrah. I walked into the kitchen to find Kaley and some of her other friends that I noticed from school. They were all taking liquor shots from shot glasses. I was thinking that it’s time to get my party started. Kaley noticed me standing there, watching the fun roll on, “ Hey girl! About time you come. Hey listen, I saw Jammy here. She’s around here somewhere.”

“ Thanks. I’m just looking for a good drink, to help me release myself. I’m not really used to this many people at one party,” I said.

“Come on over here. I’ll fix you up something.”

“ You got beer?”

“ Sure do. I’ll fix you up nice and well.”        

    After she got me my cup of beer, I headed into the living room, where most of the people seemed to be hanging out. This guy came up to me and right off the bat we started talking. “So, what’s your name?” the boy asked. “ Renee`. Tell me yours,” I insisted. “ Drew. You go to Tall Letter High?” “ Yeah. You?” “ Yeah, funny thing is, is that I’ve never seen you around. I just need to tell you that you’re very pretty.” “Thanks, but I’m a trouble maker. You probably never seen me around, because I’m either in class and we just don’t see each other throughout the day or I’m in, in school suspension,” I explained myself. “Well, I am too, but usually when I get in trouble they just go ahead and send me home.” I started laughing. This boy was not bad looking at all. Matter of a fact he looks just like the guy that was talking to us at the stop light the other day, when we were on our way to get our nails done. “Is there something wrong, Renee`?” “ Yeah. You just look really familiar,” I said looking him up down. “You know, you do too.” “ Are you the guy that was riding in that Ford truck? You know the one where my friends car stopped by, at the stoplight?” “Yes. I do believe you’re correct. I think I would like to you know you better. But I think somewhere quieter would be better,” he suggested. “Me too.”

    He took my hand and led me down a long stretched hallway. While we were walking, I noticed a lot of couples that were making out. Tongues and all, my friends. Then we started stepping down a flight of stairs, “How do you know your way around here and you don’t even live here?”

“I don’t. Stairs lead to secret and dark places, you know.”

“Okay,” he lead me into another room. It looked as though it could be a guest room. This house was pretty huge. I mean it had a least three floors. I was taking that we were on the third going down to the second.

     He got in front of me and started kissing me. He wrapped his hands around my waist and started rubbing his hands up and down my waist. He pushed me onto the bed. He got on top of me and started kissing me again. From there, I stopped him. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “Do you have an….you know?” I hesitated. You better believe me, I’m not having unprotected sex here. “Yeah hold on,” he went into the bathroom and I just sat there waiting. Thoughts were running through my head. Debating if I should do this or not. But, look I’m at a party and having sex is all part of the fun, right? So why not? To tell you the truth, I know I’m really bad, but sex has never really been a part of all the bad things that I do. I know it’s kind of shocking,because of how bad I am, and I know that you would have figured that I would add sex into my terrible life.

      He came out of the bathroom with a smile on his face. Okay I believe this may have been the most awkward moment in my life. My stomach started making twists and turns. Butterflies were soaring. I knew I could back out in any moment, but I don’t know if I really wanted to. I laid myself back onto the pillow and we got back to where we started. I felt his soft lips go up my neck, making pecks here and there. I felt his rough, but soft hands on my back, making their way towards the zipper of my dress. From there, I let him take the lead.

    “Wake up, Renee`! I think you need to go home now. Your parents are probably wondering where you are,” Kaley said, while she was trying to wake me up. I didn’t know what happened. I looked under the covers. Where was my dress? My body was bare! I looked to the other side of me. A boy! His clothes were off too. Oh’ no! I let him take my virginity! “Kaley I let him. Oh’ my gosh! What am I going to do?” I panicked. “Just go on with your day, duh.” Of course that was easy for her to say. I’m sure she’s done that a lot. “Okay,” I got out of the bed and put my dress back on. I ran to my car and zoomed down the street. Really, I think that I just ran a stop sign! I took my phone out of my purse and I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many missed calls in my life. They were all from my parents. I mean I should’ve seen that one coming. I guess I’ll just have to hear it when I get home.

    I pulled up to the driveway and pressed the button on the garage opener. Once, I got in the house I heard my parents arguing in the kitchen, “ No Steve! She’s running all over us! I can’t take this anymore!” my mother yelled at my father.

“Well, then what are we going to do? It seems as though you know better than me!” he argued.

I walked right up in the middle of the fire. From there I knew I was going to burn in it, “Where have you been?” my mother barked at me.

“ Gone?” I said.

“Where?”

“Why do you always have to be in my business? Why can’t you be like dad? He’s never in my business, ever!”

“Because I care! I don’t like you out most of the night and when you don’t answer my calls or texts, yeah I’m going to get all uptight and start stressing, because I’m a mother and that’s what mothers do for their children that they love.”

“ You know, I’ve been up all night, so I’m pretty tired. I’m going to go and get some sleep,” I walked right out of the fire and to my room. I slammed the door to help them see how mad I really was.

    I took off my dress and threw my heels back into my closet. I put some comfortable clothes on and laid myself on my bed. I heard a little knock on the door and if that’s my mother, I don’t know what I’m going to do. She’s literally driving me insane! “Who is it?” I asked.

“Your loving father,” he said.

“Come in,” he came in and sat on my bed next to me,“You know Renee`, your mom loves you and I know she seems very controlling or may be in your eyes very protective, but all she wants for you is the best.”

“ But I’m being a teen. Teens want to go out and have fun and do what they want to do, without restrictions. Not sit at home and brainstorm all the things that could possible do to make the time fly by.”

“ I know where you’re coming from, Renee`. Just try to understand where we’re coming from, as your parents. One day you’ll understand. I mean I used to do all the things that you’re doing right now. Go to house parties, seeing couples hold onto each other, drinking beer and not making it home the same night, but better yet, the next morning.”

“ I think I know that, dad.”

“What I’m trying to say is that we’re your parents, we care about you and your whereabouts. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time and then adding on you doing the wrong thing, honey, that could change your life. One little mistake, it could all happen in a heartbeat. Me and your mother both don’t want to see that happen to you. You also need to step back and see what you’re doing with your schooling. Everything that you’re doing is on a record. All those in school suspensions, all those definite behavior, and everything else that you do at that school, it’ll all catch up with you one day. From there it might get hard to find a job that’ll except all that.”

“I know dad. I guess I feel like I have to hold up my reputation. Me and my friends run this school, dad. Those are, our hallways. So, I guess for me to keep my reputation I have to keep being...you know, cool.”

“ No, you don’t, Renee`. You’re just hanging out with the wrong group. The wrong people. Don’t do this to yourself.”

“ You know, mom is probably right. I think that Arkansas could do something for me. Even though as sick as it makes me feel, I guess I could make a change.”

“ That’s my girl,” he patted me on the shoulder.

     I was so glad to have a dad like him. It seemed like he knew me better than mom. Mom never came into my room to talk to me, like dad just did. She would have never taken the time to come and talk to me and ask how I was really feeling. To ask about my emotions and my feelings. I gave him a hug and he told me he loved me. Then he exited my room, leaving me with what it felt like a million things to think about.