V: All The Same

I'll take you for who you are, if you take me for everything.

"You're late." Mother's voice was taught like a bow string, ready to release her anger in the blink of an eye.
"Miss Morgan wanted to talk to me about community hours-" before I even finished the sentence mom cradled her head in her heads and started to inhale sharply.
"It's okay though," I started to babble, hoping the quicker I could explain, the more of a chance I had at convincing her.
"She told me about a few volunteer opportunities at school I could do. The graduates are coming back for a reunion and they need ushers to-"
"No." she looked up from her cradled hands and stared at me coldly. I automatically shut up.
"Do you know," she continued in a slow, bitter voice that hurt to listen to.
"how many possible rapists, pedophiles, and pornographers could be there? After hours at a high school?" she put a hand to my cheek and I winced as she crushed down on my jaw unmercifully.
"Do you?" she was right in my face now, deep brown eyes so widened I could see her the vessels sticking out, bringing out her bloodshot eyes. She kept me in that painful hold, staring at me expectantly.
"No," My eyes stung from not blinking for so long.
"I don't." I looked down, not wanting to meet her gaze. Her grip went lax and she gathered me into a gentle hug.
"I'm sorry sweetie." her voice was heavy with pent up emotion.
"You know I just want whats best for you right?" she let go of me and went to the kitchen. I stayed rooted to the spot as she gathered dishes together with a flew clicks and clacks here and there.
"I'll get Barbara to sign them for you, OK? Don't worry about a thing."

I convinced mom that the tears burning in my eyes were from the sharp scent of antiseptic she bore from the hospital.

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I stared lifelessly as Kennedy dismissed the stoners. I didn't move from my seat, even though it belonged to some other guy in the next class. I watched people file in groups, girls with high pony tails and pastel sweaters, yoga pants, and overdone make up. I rolled my head to the side to see Hollister clad pants. I lolled my head again as the university level class filled up. No sign of mystery man, where was this guy?

"You're in my seat y'know."
"I could care less right-" I turned my head and immediately wrighted myself. 'Romeo' chuckled at me and tossed a bag under the desk beside me. "You were saying?" my ears burned and I flushed in embarassment. We stared for a couple moments, him amused, me having an inward panic attack. What to say when one was thoroughly embarassed themselves in an extremly cliche way? Nothing, the other party is kind enough to remedy the problem for you.
"You volunteering for the reunion tonight?" I looked down trying to not let the depression be seen on my face.
"No, not allowed." He had his brows tilted upwards but didn't make much comment aside from:
"You know you're supposed to do them to graduate right?"
but then he countered hi8mself by saying
"Oh, but perhaps your already done."
In which, I say something completly uncharacteristic that lands me in the office when Kennedy heard. Crappers and milk.

"Suck it 'Romeo.'"