"Can Meg come over for a while? Her parents have errands to run and she doesn't want to go." I ask my mom who was cooking lunch.
"Sure. Does she want to stay the night?" My mom asks. I ask Meg who then asks her parents.
"Yeah. She will be here in a few minutes." I say, as I hang up the phone. I walk into the kitchen and picked a grape of the vine that was laying on the counter. "What are we having tonight?" I ask, popping the grape into my mouth.
"I figured grilled chicken with salad."
"Will I ever be allowed to have a normal life?" My question causes my mom to lay down her knife.
"Excuse me?"
"Well, I mean," I pop another grape into my mouth. "I don't get to do anything except hang out with my parents. Not that it isn't fun, but I would like to be a normal teenager and hang out with friends, you know, movies, grabbing a bite to eat, parties."
"Parties?"
"Well, Mark Ruthers is having a bonfire the night before school. I just wanted to go for a little bit. I wouldn't be out to late and I would have Meg with me."
"Riley, sweetie. Charming is not exactly safe for anyone, especially young kids."
"I'm not a child. I get it, I mean, yeah I am not an adult either but I am missing out in life. I truly am. If Charming is that bad, then why are we still here?"
"Because this is where your father and I have made a life together. This is where our daughter was born."
"Oh, boy."
"Riley, we just want you safe."
"Yeah, safe, bored, and an outcast. I got it." I say as there was knocking at the door. As I walk to answer it, I say, "I guess I can take that as a no on the bonfire?"
"That's right." She replies as I open the door and let Meg in.
"Okay, well. I guess we will be safe and sound in my room. Come on." We walk into my room and I shut the door. Meg sits on my bed while I look in my mirror and play with my hair.
"Did I miss something?" Meg asks.
"Well, I just asked my mom about going to the bonfire."
"No, huh?"
"Exactly. What about you?"
"Uh, yeah. I got a no, too." She says, as I sigh and fall back on my bed.
A few days later, Brady and I were moving into our house. I have to admit, Brady and his dad did a good job on picking a house. It was more like a mansion but whatever. It was overly large, six bedrooms, four baths, a large kitchen, a large pool, home office for Brady, the whole nine. It was beautiful but I like something slightly smaller. I like being able to be close but enough room for time alone. Here, you are almost always feeling like you are miles apart. I don't like it. But, the house overall is…lovely.
"Sweetums, it is 10:30." Brady says. "Don't you have somewhere to be?"
"Yeah," I reply walking out of the closet where I was hanging clothes. "Wedding Dress: Round Two." Brady wraps me in his arms.
"Good luck." He smiles.
"Yeah, let's hope I can find a dress that is not matronly nor sexy."
"Sexy can't be a bad thing, right?"
"Um, well. So far, sexy equals see-through to the point I might as well be naked."
"Ah. Well, maybe you can find something."
"Maybe." The doorbell rang. I open the door and see Mindy. "Hello."
"Hello, my dear. Are you ready?"
"Of course. I just need to grab my purse." I walk back to the bedroom and pick up my purse. I see a photo of my parents on the dresser by where my purse was sitting. "I don't know where you are mom, or if you are even still alive, but I wish you were here. I wish you could give me your advice. Yeah, I never listened to you before, jeez, all I would ever do was argue with you about everything you ever said. But now that I am getting married, and to an amazing man at that, I could really use you. And Brady moved us back to Charming. The last place you want your little girl, huh? Mom, I am so sorry about all the trouble I caused you. I am so sorry that I fell into Jax's trap. I just wish I knew where you are or if you are even alive. I need you, Mom."
"Sweetums? Are you okay?" Brady calls from downstairs.
"Yeah, I am coming." I say as I look at the photo one last time. "I love you, Mom." I head downstairs and I see Brady and his mom whispering in the corner. "Secrets don't make friends." I laugh.
"Well, then I'm glad that in a matter of seconds we won't have secrets. But first, I thought you said your mother was dead?"
"Missing but legally declared dead after searches turned up nothing. Why?" Brady's eyes shoot to the kitchen door. I slowly turn around to look at what he is looking at.
"Hey, sweetie." She smiles, nervously.
"Mom?" My eyes fill with tears.
"So, what shall we discuss over dinner tonight?" Meg laughs as we sit on my bed. "School? Parents? Dreams? Boys?"
"Boys?" I laugh.
"Oh, come on. Jackson has been following you around for a year and invites you to something that is so not his thing."
"What does that have to do with me?"
"I know you. You hate him because your parents would totally never approve yet I see that look you get in your eyes when you hear his name or think about him."
"What look? You are insane."
"No because you have that look right now. It's the same look you say I get about Mark except more….lustful." She says, causing me to choke on my food.
"Lustful? Meg, shut up before my parents come in here and reprimand me again. And I do not!"
"Uh-huh. Well, I am glad that you are not falling for him and his ways. He is bad news. You know that. And his mother?"
"Gemma Teller-Morrow. I doubt there would be a clarified winner of the worst 'smother' but she does like the bad life, so maybe he takes the title…just barely."
"At least your mother wants you safe. Gemma wants him to follow into the SAMCRO lifestyle."
"What is the SAMCRO lifestyle, anyway?"
"Like I know. I just know…law enforcement are really watching them. It can't be good." She says before returning to her food. I take another bite and slowly chew.
"Meg?"
"Yeah?"
"Wanna be rebels with me for a night?"
"And do what?" she laughs thinking I am joking.
"The night of the bonfire. I think we should go. You flirt with Mark and I can enjoy the company of my friends away from parental eyes." She stares at me, trying to read my face.
"You are serious."
"Dead."
"Well, if you want to risk your life for freedom, might as well party hard and have a blast."
"That mean you're in?"
"I would never let you rebel alone."
"Okay." I look at my closet. "Oh. What am I going to wear? I mean," I walk to my closet and pull out on of my parental approve monstrosity of an outfit. "I doubt this Mickey Mouse long sleeve, high collar shirt and these boy jeans are bonfire at 16 appropriate."
"So what do you plan to wear?"
"I don't have anything." I turn to look at her. "Bring me an outfit from your closet and I will change in the car. You drive."
"Oh, going out when not supposed to and getting naked in a car all in one night? You rebel you."
"Shut up! Bring me something hot…but not trashy." I say sitting on my bed and resume eating.
"I got your back, girl. I won't let you go looking like a lost child."