Chapter 3

Jennifer

Even though I knew I looked like I had been run over by a bus, Tyler still calls me beautiful right when he sees me. I love him for that, he always knows just what to say. I was so happy to see him when I opened the door. He brought over my favorite essentials for when I'm not feeling good, a box of pink tissues, cough drops, a carton of orange juice, and a cup of chicken noodle soup from the cafe down the street. He is so thoughtful, I wish other people recognized as greatly as I did. I could use this to make him look better to my mom, but if she knew he came over here, it'd be the last time I could stay home from school in this lifetime.

As Tyler and I laid on my bed, I soon felt myself get very sleepy. Tyler noticed too, he put a pillow under my head then said he'd be right back, and that is the last thing I remember before drifting off to sleep.  

It wasn't until five o'clock that evening that I was awoken to my mothers voice yelling. I ran downstairs to find Tyler sitting at my kitchen table across from my father, and my mother standing next to him, yelling at Tyler. "Are you insane, Tyler?! You know the rules, I cannot believe you would be so disrespectful of my husband and I to disobey us like that. You really overstepped your limits this time!" my mother said in the most angry voice I've ever heard her use. "Stop it!" I yelled so loud it woke up my little brother from his nap. "I got it, I don't want to be a part of this anymore." my father said as he went to handle my brother. 

"Mom, Tyler stopped over to bring me a few things because I was sick, that's it!" I told her. "Jenni, that's not the point. The point is, he isn't allowed to be here when I'm not home. He isn't allowed to be here during school hours. And he shouldn't be skipping school anyway, that is not a very mature thing to do." After she finished, I just glared at her, for when seemed like hours, until finally, I just broke down. 

I can't remember the last time I lost control like that. But, without even knowing it, I just cried. I lost it, I was tired of it all. Tired of fighting with my mom, tired of her hating Tyler. I just wanted her to accept him and see what good of a guy he was. But that wasn't going to happen, and I think at that very moment I realized that. My relationship with Tyler had no hope of ever working out if I was under my mother's control. I think that is why I was crying, I realized for the first time, I had to choose. Not choose to be with Tyler or not. Choose between a relationship with my mom or a relationship with Tyler. And it would be the hardest decision I would ever make.