Pride

“Move? When were you planning on telling me about this!” Mom hollers. The question stumps me because…well didn’t I just tell her? What’s with them asking dumb questions like that?

Mrs. McFallen places a comforting hand on my mothers shoulder. If the movement was meant to calm her, it didn’t. She continues to fume and scream angrily in my direction, “You’ve already graduated! Kai is moving soon and you just now tell us about your plans? When did you even discuss this and why haven’t I or your father been informed about it? It’s a long ways away and-”

“She doesn’t want her baby boy off in some unknown, cruel, heartless world!” Dad butts in and obviously gets himself a fist to the arm for that. He sarcastically whimpers before laughing and tossing an arm over my moms shoulder. “Honey stop. Shiloh can do what he wants and besides with Kai around we know that he won’t get into any trouble.”

The sad thing is; dad’s right. Kai is like an old man. The only thing he’ll probably let me get away with is…is…damn I can’t think of anything. My life is going to go down the drain, not that it isn’t already there. No parties, no drunken escapades, no nothing!

I mean I shouldn’t think of doing that in the first place but honestly I’m a growing boy! I need some crazy in my life. Kai could be labeled crazy. In my eyes he’s a damn lunatic but I’m not talking about that kind of crazy.

Mom huffs, “That is not the issue. Shiloh, moving that far away is a big deal and you can’t just magically make money. Besides, what about when you get down there? Kai will be the only one with a job and there is no guarantee that you will get one too.”

“Not to mention Kai will be attending college. He’s going to need money for that as well,” Mr. McFallen says quietly from the side.

It’s not like I don’t understand what they’re saying. Kai and I have been thinking about these things as well. We both know it’s not going to be easy and who knows it may take a couple months for us to finally have everything settled but…but we’re going to do it. I’m going to move there with him.

“I know that. It’s not like we expect everything to work out in a month or so,” I sigh. Maybe telling them wasn’t such a good idea? I should have just saved up the money and on the day I planned to leave just go ‘hey mom, I’m going to live with Kai,’ and just kind of walk out the door. It would have been less of a hassle.

And for the next few minutes or so we “discuss,” and by discuss I mean mom yells about the plans Kai and I have. Eventually dad manages to calm the other three down-I’ll have to thank him later-and convince them that no matter how much they argue it’s going to happen. Mom and dad mention putting some money towards our apartment as well since they don’t dislike the idea of Kai and I staying together. Like dad said, Kai will keep me out of trouble.

After dinner Kai and I go our separate ways, for once.

Mom still seems to be a bit shaken from what I said earlier so she refuses to speak to me. Dad chuckles at the way she stomps off childishly to her room. Maybe I got my immaturity from both parents? Well, at least I can blame genetics.

“How long will she stay mad at me ya think?” I plop myself down on the couch next to my father. Said father hums momentarily to himself before shrugging. I roll my eyes, some help he is. I don’t even know why I bothered asking.

Dad laughs. “She’s not really mad Shiloh.”

“Really? Because it sure as hell seems like it.”

Dad nods. “She seems like it but she isn’t. It’s just that she thought you were staying home a while longer. She doesn’t like the idea of her boy going away.”

“It’s not like I’m leaving forever. I’ll come visit whenever I can, she knows that right?” I don’t see why she wouldn’t know it. I will never verbally admit it but I’m definitely a momma’s boy. Even now just the thought of never seeing my mom again makes me a bit sick to my stomach. I could live without seeing dad. He’s a freak among freaks!

“She knows but that doesn’t change the fact that you won’t be here everyday. Give her some time to cope she’ll get over it.” Dad waves his hand dismissively then flicks on the TV ending our conversation.

~

“Why am I always the last resort?” asks Mindy from somewhere behind me. Looking back at her from over my shoulder I see that she is somehow managing to keep up with me while texting, who I don’t know, but seriously how does she do that? I’d ask but she’d probably just say something like ‘because I’m better than you.’

Dumb bitch.

“Why would you be the first resort?”

Mindy raises her eyes to narrow them on me. The look brings a smirk to my face. I turn away and head into Reebok’s to hand in one of the applications I’ve filled out. All together I have applied for five jobs today. If I don’t get one of them then…damn, I suck. After talking with the manager, because you know sucking up is the best way to get a job, Mindy and I leave for the food court.

She and I sit down with our Chinese and sometime between the first and second bite of food Mindy asks, “What’s Kai up to today?”

“We don’t have to be up each others ass everyday,” I answer but she and I both know that she knows he’s up to something or else he would be with us. Is it sad that I actually admit to that? It is. It is very sad. I should just die. I am the definition of a loser.

I’m blaming Kai. It’s obviously Kai’s fault, that little shit.

Giggling, Mindy rolls her eyes. “Yeah, ok, whatever you say sweet cheeks.”

“He’s packing.”

“Thought so.”

“I’m moving down there with him…once we get the money.”

Mindy squeals. “Oh my god that’s so cute! You’re going to live together?” The girl leans over the table to smile at me. “I guess I knew that you’d eventually go out there with him but it’s nice to hear you say it aloud. Make sure to invite me down during Kai’s breaks ok?”

Mindy winks.

Raising a brow I ask, “And why would we invite you over?”

Mindy huffs angrily and kicks me beneath the table. Of course I get hit. I always get hit.