Break All Your Rules

I settled in on the couch in the living room, getting comfortable while my father poured my mother a martini and picked up a scotch for him. This couldn’t be good – my parents only had drinks during a conversation with me if it was going to be long and very critical.

“Fiona,” my father began in his deep voice. “We’ve noticed that… Martin character around here a lot lately.”

I sighed. So this is what they wanted to talk about. “It’s Mason, dad.”

“Either way,” my mother interrupted. “He’s a hooligan, Fiona, and I – we – were wondering why exactly he was around.”

“He’s my friend,” I answered with my arms crossed. “And he’s actually pretty nice.” I didn’t dare tell them I was dating him – that would be a death sentence.

“We don’t care if he’s nice. He’s a hoodlum. And we don’t want him corrupting our daughter.”

“Seriously, Dad? Corrupting me? Just because he’s not some rich, stuck-up, polo-playing blond, he’s automatically not worthy of my company?” I stood up, furious. “I can’t hang out with someone who doesn’t live in a gated community? I can’t be friends with a guy who likes to skateboard?” I felt my eyes burning. Here come the tears. “This is the first time I’ve ever had anyone over here! This is my first real friend! Have you not noticed my lack of a social life? It’s because I’m always working or competing! And now, here comes someone who doesn’t mind that about me, and you guys don’t want him in my life!” I started storming out of the room, big, round tears rolling down my cheeks. “That’s too bad for you guys, because I’m gonna have him in my life! No matter what you say!”

When I was upstairs, lying on my stomach on my bed, I picked up my phone and called Mase. He sounded a little baffled when he answered.

“So I just flipped out at my parents.”

“And?” he asked, sounding shocked and a bit happy.

“It felt great.

“That’s awesome, Fiona. What about?”

“Oh, nothing. Just a little issue, but it’s alright now.”

I didn’t feel like saying the ‘little issue’ was him.