Marie and Stephen age 20

Amelia age 17

'I can do this' Amelia thought, 'I told them I wanted a gap year, that went fine. I can tell them I don't want to go to university' She looked at herself in the mirror, "God I really am the problem child" she muttered

She had heard her mom talking with Aunt Penny a few months ago after her most recent hair dying escapade. It was only semi-permanent or wash out dye she used so she didn't know why they were always complaining. Marie had cut her hair into this ridiculous pixie cut, no one batted an eye, she comes home with green streaks in her hair and dad all but has a second heart attack.

Her phone chimed with a text. Did you tell them yet?

No she texted back

Well hurry auditions are in three days

"I can do this" she muttered again, "its not like I'm never going to go to college. I might just go way later in life and study drama"

She left her room and walked down the stairs, 'It's not like they'll never see their kids graduate, they have Marie and Stephen. The wonder twins' she thought bitterly

She entered the living room to see her parents watching a old movie. She squinted at the tv, and rolled her eyes. They always watch La La Land, she could interrupt this.

She walked in front of the tv and Amy paused it, "What's wrong?"

"I wanted to talk to you guys about college."

Sheldon perked up, "Did you finally decided which one you're going to?" He didn't know why she was hesitating about pursuing higher education, she was smart enough to get into any college she wanted.

"Sort of" she said wringing her hands, "I'm not going"

Sheldon's eyes bugged out, "You're not going where? Not going to a specific school?"

"I'm not going to college"

Amy reached for the remote to turn off the tv, this was going to be a long night. "Lia, this is a big decision. Have you thought through all of your possible options?"

"Yep" she said popping the p, "I have decided not to go"

Sheldon looked at his daughter like she had grown two heads, "You're going to college" he said in a way that left no room for an argument

"I am not going" Amelia said rolling her eyes, "You can't force me to do something I don't want to"

"Amelia" Sheldon said standing up

Amy reached out to stop her husband, "I think what your father is trying to say in his own unique way is, going to college is not an option that's available to many people, but you have that option you have many options. And a degree can be beneficial to you later on in life. You don't want to realize too late that you-"

"Yeah, I'm not going" Amelia said cutting her mother off. "I get its important of whatever, but I don't want to do it now."

"So what exactly are you going to do now?" Amy asked. She was really starting to lose her patience

"There is an open audition for a musical downtown. I heard some people say there might even be some Broadway scouts there."

Sheldon rolled his eyes, "This again"

"Yes dad this again" she snapped, "this is something I want to do. Why can't you be supportive?"

"Because its not a real career path!" he yelled, "Singing and dancing on a stage. Need I remind you how your aunt Penny's acting career panned out"

"Amelia honey, this isn't something we can see you doing. What about being a vet or a nurse or one of those other things you talked about?"

Amelia scoffed, "You don't even know the other things I talked about. You never listen! If it doesn't involve something pertaining to your fields of study you don't care"

"Amelia that's not true"

"Did you know I was Juliet in the school play freshman year of high school? That I was Rizzo when we did Grease? I was in a community play. We did Wicked. I got the lead. But did you listen?! No! You never cared! I was the only one who never had parents in the audience. I never had!" She tried wiping the tears that were falling, "At least last time Marie and Stephen came so I wouldn't have to look out in the audience and see no one"

Amy chewed her lip. She honestly didn't remember Amelia telling her about those things. 'Does that make me a bad mother?'

"I know I'm not the child you wanted. I'm the problem child. The mistake that happened in aunt Bernie's and uncle Howard's room, but why can't you just support me on this?"

"Amelia, you're not a mistake, and we want to support you, but this doesn't seem like a viable career path. So many things can go wrong" Amy reasoned

"Why can't you just let me decide my own life? Why can't you just let me be normal?!"

"Because you're not normal!" Sheldon yelled back, "You're a Cooper, we're above that level"

Amelia stared at her mother and father, "Sometimes I wish I wasn't" she muttered before walking out of the living room. She even feel like stomping to her room, she didn't have that fight left in her. She could hear her mother calling her name, but she never turned. She went into her room and locked the door behind her.

As soon as she flopped on the bed her phone buzzed

We're going to go over some lines wanna come?

"Sheldon? Are we doing the right thing?" Amy asked as they got ready for bed

"What exactly is the right thing here Amy? She just" He threw his hands up in frustration. "She just doesn't try to listen to our reasoning"

"You did not reason, you yelled at her" Amy said with a frown

"And I tried to apologize for it 2 hours ago, but she won't come out of the room"

"Maybe we should let her do this. She seems interested"

"Amy" Sheldon started

"We know nothing about her personal life. You heard what she said."

Sheldon sighed, "Let me go get her. If she decides to open the door" he said leaving the room

He returned a while later. "Any luck?"

"Her door was wide open, her bed was made. But she's not in there"

"Did you check the bathroom?"

"That door was wide open too"

"M-maybe she's downstairs?" Amy offered she was starting to get worried

"I did. I checked downstairs, I looked outside. I looked in Marie and Stephen's old rooms. She's not in the house"