Thrilled
Mom has already made breakfast by the time I walk down the stairs, and Dad is sitting at the island counter eating it.
"Good morning, birthday girl," she beams at me, placing two pieces of bacon on my plate.
I drop my schoolbag on the floor and hop up onto the stool, groaning, "Morning."
"What's wrong, Bells?" Dad asks through a mouth full of scrambled eggs, ruffling my hair.
I can't tell them; they won't understand.
They're a happily mated couple.
Ugh.
"Just tired."
He grunts in understanding.
"Aren't you excited?" Mom asks, twirling her hair around her finger like she's the teenager in the room.
"Thrilled."
Not.
Dad stands up, going around to give Mom a kiss and say goodbye before leaving for work.
She shifts uncomfortably, "Bella?"
"Yes, Mom?"
She doesn't answer for several moments, "I know that you're unhappy with the way things are -"
"What gave me away?" I ask sarcastically, cutting her off.
She ignores that, continuing what she was going to say, "But go easy on him, okay?"
I look up at her in question.
"Whether you like it or not, you are going to feel a pull to him, and it's going to grow more painful the longer you resist it. And the pain is going to be ten times worse for him, not to mention the pain of your rejection."
I don't have time to ask her what she means before I hear the school bus pull up outside.
~ Madison ~