"I'm sorry sweetheart I just didn't know how to tell you."
"Don't sweetheart me." I shouted. "You're never here. Ever since dad died you're always on 'business trips'. Grant and I raise each other and Macey. Her first word was momma and you weren't even here. You know what? She still calls me mommy."
"I have to work."
"Work seems to come first. I thought you loved us," I whispered.
Mom protested, "I do love you."
"Not enough to tell me I have to get married at 17. Not enough to raise us. Our family is so screwed."
"I didn't know how to tell you. Your father made this agreement when you and Zach were babies. He thought that a bigger dealership with a wider variety of cars would bring in more money. You cannot pin this whole thing on me."
"Is there anything else I need to know?"
"Well you..." she trailed off starting at her lap.
"I what?"
"You need to conceive a child in your first year of marriage to show we are serious about supporting each other."
"No! That's going way too far mom. I'll marry him but please don't make me have a baby. Cheering is the only thing I have and I can't be a pregnant cheerleader. I'm the captain mom. Do you not see this uniform I'm wearing? My life is going nowhere and I had no say in the matter. I inherent a car dealership which will immediately go to my husband who I barely know. I can't do this. I'm sorry but I can't."
"Don't you remember when you were in middle school? You told me you liked-"
"Having a crush and getting pregnant a far off. Shouldn't you be telling me not to pregnant?"
I ran upstairs to my bedroom, slammed the door shut, and fell on my bed crying. Zach must have seen me through the window because I heard my balcony door creak open and he was standing there with a sad look on his face.
"I'm sorry Cammie."
He sat on my bed and pulled me into a hug. I tried pushing away but gave up cried into his chest. I eventually cried myself into a dreamless sleep.
When I woke I was still on Zach's arms lying on my bed. He was asleep so I carefully and quietly snuck out of his arms and into my bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror and I looked terrible. My makeup was a mess and my eyes were puffy and red. I cleaned up and went back into my room. Zach was gone but there was a note on my bed.
I think you could use some time alone.
My parents and going to your house for
dinner to discuss the agreement.
I hope we can be friends.
-Z
If I'm being 100% honest I can say I had a crush on Zach when we were kids. He started dressing really badly, but had a really nice car, and he was always the top of our grade so he got labeled a nerd. Being a cheerleader, head cheerleader, means I have a reputation to protect. I always pretended to be repulsed by him and his best friend Jonas Anderson. I have always liked Zach but I pretended so much I thought it was actually true. I know I like him but I can't love him just because I'm told too.
It was 5:30 when I finally snapped out of my daze. I quickly hop into the shower I spent most of my time washing my hair because it always relaxes me. When I stepped out the shower I quickly blow dried my hair then straightened and curled it. I put on a new layer of makeup and pulled on my favorite dress. It is blue, strapless with a sweetheart neckline, and a bow at my waist. It was really Retro so I loved it. I didn't wear any shoes because of my moms OCD with cleanliness. I walked down the stairs and found my mom in the living room.
"Hey mom."
"Cammie I thought you were sleeping."
"I was."
"You look pretty, are you going out?" She asked hopefully.
"I wouldn't want to miss meeting my new in-laws," sarcasm drenched my words.
Grant came into the room smiling, "hey mom, hey Cam. I'm going to pick Macey up from gymnastics."
"No Grant its okay I'll go. I have to dress her."
Macey is 3 years old and she doesn't let anyone but me dress her. After dad died when she was 6 months old we got really close because mom is never home.
"Can't she just come back in her leotard?"
"We're having dinner with the Goode's?"
"Who are the Goode's?"
"Zachary Goode," I offered. Grant just shook his head. "The kid who got a 98% average last year."
"Oh. You mean goody two-shoes." I nod. "Why are we having dinner with his family?"
"They own Blackthorne," I said in a simple as that tone.
"Right. We're merging next year right?"
"Yeah. You should talk with mom about it while I'm gone."
I ran upstairs to my room and grabbed one of Macey's dresses and ran out the door grabbing my sneakers on the way.
I was at Roseville Gymnastics Center in 15 minutes and classes just ended. When Macey saw me she ran as fast her little legs would take her.
"Mommy!" She screamed and jumped into my arms.
Everyone turned and smiled at us. They knew I wasn't her mother but they treated my as if I were. Sometimes I would come after school and watch her while I did my homework. I was always her parent contact. Last year I got pulled out of a chemistry exam because she was rushed to the hospital due to a nut allergy. I took her into the locker room and sat her in my lap.
"How are you monster?"
"Macey!"
"What?"
"My name Macey."
"Didn't I say that?"
"No. You monster."
"I said monster?" She nodded her pretty little face up and down. "I'm sorry."
"Okay."
"So how are you Macey?"
"Gooo. I ha fuuuun."
"That's awesome sweetie pie."
I took off her pink leotard with blue lining and hearts.
"When we get home momma is going to be there with some friends."
"But you here."
"Your other momma."
"But I no like her."
"Arms up."
She followed my instructions and I pulled her favorite pink polka dot dress with a bow on the right over head and zipped it up.
I sat her on my lap and looked into her eyes. "Pinky promise me you will be a good girl tonight."
"Picky pwomise."
I put her things into her Hello Kitty backpack. I took her hand in mine and walked with her to the car. Grant and I take Macey everywhere so we both had a car seat in our cars. I was driving home and Macey said something that caught my attention.
"I be jus like you mommy."
"Trust me honey, you don't want to be like me."
"You're the best mommy in the world," I look in the rear view mirror and she has a huge grin plastered on her face.
"I'm your sister not your mommy," I reminded her.
"Then who is mommy?"
"Macey be good."
"She no my mommy," Macey screams just as I pull into the driveway.
