Chapter 11
Egypt couldn't help rolling her eyes as she unlocked the front door. I promised Shayne. That's the only reason I'm going to even attempt this one, she told herself quietly. And it had better work out without a giant fight or I'm gonna be pissed.
Fin was on the couch when she opened the door, a beer in hand. "Little late isn't it?"
"Don't lecture me! Please. I'm tired and I actually want to try to get somewhere with this. Can't we at least try to have a decent conversation without attacking each other or arguing?" Egypt muttered, flopping down on the couch. She sighed. "Can we at least give it a try? And if you don't like it, you can always go back to being yourself again."
"Fine. What's the subject?"
"Why don't we start with cutting the sarcasm?" Egypt replied angrily. "Okay, fine! Why don't we start with your problem with me? Why do you constantly accuse me of stuff?"
"Because you act like someone who would do it."
Egypt nodded. "And how is that?"
"You're out all night. You hide everything from me. I can go on if you want me to."
"Can we be reasonable, Dad? I'm seventeen now and in a few months, I'm moving out whether you want me to or not. And after that, I can do whatever I want. I can stay out all night without you getting mad at me. I can hide every single detail of my life from you. My point is that you need to get used to trusting me because in a few months, you're going to have to."
"You're moving out when you turn eighteen? Where are you going to live? Last I checked, you don't have a job."
"Me and Shayne are going to move to LA probably. She's going to model there. I'll sing."
"Why do you want to sing so badly?"
"Because people don't judge me as much then. It's sort of a get-away from all the bullshit in life. Like you sitting here on this smelly old couch with your stupid tv shows and your cheap beer. I go to meetings everyday, Dad. At Life after Rape. I listen to the same stuff you do all day, okay? I know how much it sucks. I think I deserve a get-away as much as you do. Shayne just helps out a little because she's the only way I'd get the chance."
"So you are using her?"
"Sure, in a way, but not like you think! Besides, that's what friends are for."
"Really? Why do you like her so much?"
"Because she's real. She's not like those fake celebrities who don't have any problems at all, but the ones they make for themselves. She doesn't feel sorry for herself. She got over what happened to her and now she's helping us do the same. She's not someone who fakes problems or acts like she doesn't have any. She faces them and I admire that because I've never been like that. Sure, she's a celebrity in a family of celebrities. But she has real problems, not just paparazzi. She's not plastic or fake in anyway. if she's thinking something, she'll tell you straight out. There aren't very many people like that anymore."
"Fine. She might be a nice person, but I don't think she's a good influence."
"In what way would she be a bad influence?"
"Every time you're with her, you've got a boy on your arm."
Egypt laughed. "Nick? Dad, he's just a friend. I'm single. He's just like that. He's never liked anyone but Shayne. And she's all he'll ever like. And all their jokes about sex, they're not real. They haven't had sex yet, not unprotected anyway. They can't because Shayne... Isn't that real love? Something that will last? I'm jealous of her actually. She has that thing, whatever it is, and it's kept Nick for so long, but I can't keep one boyfriend. I guess because maybe my affection wasn't real, not like theirs."
"So you expect me to believe that it's all just jokes?"
"You can have Nick tested if you want. He won't have any of the STDs Shayne does."
"And what do you know about testing?"
"I get tested every year and I don't sleep with someone until I've seen the results. Even though you might not like him, Shayne's dad is convincing and he's a great person."
"That's why the investigation is pointing to him being the rapist?"
"He was out of town..."
"Anyone can fake something like that."
"No. Not when you're such a big star. Everyone, fans, paparazzi, lawyers, cops, everybody knows and you can't fake it."
"So basically, you're saying you're right and I'm wrong, as usual."
"There you go again," Egypt muttered, standing. "I'm going to a movie. Shayne's waiting outside. She invited you if you actually want to come with a bunch of crazy teenagers."
"What movie?"
"I dunno. And who cares about the movie? It's the beer and the partying we're after." Egypt grinned and ran to her room.
