I USED TO be the type of person who would scoff at anyone who would say they were on cloud nine, but now, I understood that feeling completely. On cloud nine was exactly how I felt with James, a feeling clouds numbers one through eight could never convey. Despite meeting him in my last year as a Stone Creek resident, James felt like home to me.
We were racing each other down the cement pathway of the local park. Okay, maybe racing was a bit of an exaggeration. While my boyfriend glided gracefully, I feebly wobbled after him. Needless to say, I was never rollerblading again.
James turned around to watch me struggle, showing off as he rollerbladed backward. "Don't be scared of falling."
"But I am scared of falling," I said through gritted teeth.
He skated in front of me and held onto my hands to support my balance. "I won't let you fall."
I took a few cautious steps forward, but it wasn't long before I stumbled, nearly bringing Stone Creek's very own roller derby pro down with me.
James chuckled. "See? It's not so bad."
"I have a better idea." I let go of his hands and plopped down on the nearby bench. Without giving him a chance to convince me otherwise, I undid the laces of my rollerblades, ready to give up.
"You're no fun," he chided.
"Bite me."
He simply shook his head and sat beside me. As I fumbled with the stupid double knotted lace, he wordlessly lifted my leg, placing it on his lap as he undid the knot with ease.
"Showoff," I grumbled.
"I wonder where you'd be without me," he mused.
"Probably dead in a ditch with two broken ankles."
James rolled his eyes at my response and undid my other skate. He then opened the drawstring bag on my back and took out my sneakers, handing them to me.
"You're not going to put them on for me?" I teased.
That was how I got a dirty sneaker thrown at me.
"I'm sorry, it was a joke," James said instantly when he saw the murderous look in my eyes.
I slipped my feet in my shoes and stood up, dusting off my pants. "You're lucky you're cute."
Ignoring that we were outside in a public setting, James yanked my arm and pulled me onto his lap. My lips curved up as he leaned in, but before anything could even happen, his phone decided to go off. He took it out of his pocket and looked at the notification, his attention completely diverting away from me.
"Sorry, it's the lab," he said as he skimmed the message he had received. I didn't even have to say anything for him to know I wasn't pleased. When James saw my frown he powered off his phone. "Fine, I'll ignore it just this once." His phone buzzed again, so I grabbed it and slipped it into my back pocket. He held out his hand, palm facing up, indicating I should give it back, but I shook my head.
"How about you buy me ice cream first and then I'll think about it?"
James sighed and raised his hands, surrendering. "Let's go, piggy."
~*~
I glanced out the window as I took a lick from my ice cream cone. Neapolitan, always a classic.
With his eyes still on the road, James handed me a napkin. "Your cone is dripping."
I was about to tell him he was mistaken, but when I looked down I was surprised to see ice cream sliding down my wrist. I licked it off instead of wiping it, earning a grimace from my boyfriend.
"At times like this, I remember you grew up with three brothers." Using the napkin, he wiped some ice cream residue off of my chin, his eyes still focused on the road as he drove.
"What am I going to do without my favourite servant?" I teased. I paused for a moment as I reflected on what I had said. "When are you going back to Penbrooke?"
His thumbs twiddled against the steering wheel as he waited for an opening to make a left turn. "I leave in two days."
Not to be dramatic, but it felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. "Two days? It feels like you just got here!"
He rested his right hand on my knee and squeezed it as he steered left with his other hand. "I promise we'll make it work. I'll be back every weekend."
I frowned, losing my appetite for the remainder of my ice cream. "Only on weekends?"
"I'll come back as often as I can, even if it's just for the night," he assured. We drove in silence for a bit until he spoke again. "I'm supposed to have dinner at my mom's tomorrow. Do you want to come?"
I nodded my head eagerly, my sadness dissipating a bit. It had been so long since I'd seen Helena, and she was one of the few parents I actually enjoyed talking to. "I'd love to."
"She's going to be so happy to see you," he said with a grin. "Pick you up at six?"
"Sure, sounds great." I made a mental promise to have no more fights with James and enjoy our limited time together. If he was only going to be back for the weekends I wanted to make sure they were as blissful as possible. I placed my hand on top of his hand on my knee. "I wish you didn't have to go so far."
James leaned over and kissed the top of my head before turning into our street. "It's only one more year." He paused. "Who knows? Maybe you can do your Master's at Penbrooke?"
Me? Doing my Master's at Penrbooke? Graduate school was just about the last thing on my mind.
James pulled the car to a stop in front of my house instead of parking on his driveway. "You going somewhere?" I asked as I stepped out of the car.
"What do you mean?"
"Your house is over there, dummy." I pointed at the house beside mine, the same one he had moved into three years ago.
"I'm doing a grocery run," he said.
"Want some company?" I offered, walking up to James' open window so he could hear me better.
He shook his head. "Nah, I got to get a bunch of stuff. I didn't want to keep you out late."
I clicked my tongue. "Damn, I guess Tate isn't much of a shopper."
James scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Well, you know Tate."
I was about to say more about his lousy excuse of a guardian, but my phone suddenly vibrated, distracting me momentarily. I took it out of my pocket, my heart sinking in my chest when I saw the familiar unsaved number.
Are you free tonight?
I slid my phone back into my pocket, focusing my attention back on my boyfriend. I leaned my head through his open window and pressed my lips against his.
When I pulled back, James had a dopey smile on his face. "Not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?"
I shrugged my shoulders as I smiled back. "Nothing, I just love you."
"I love you, too," he told me sincerely.
I watched James drive off before turning on my heel and going inside the house. I walked up the stairs to my bedroom and laid down on my bed. My laptop was on the corner of my bed, so I turned it on to find something to watch. When my phone buzzed again, I was about to ignore it, but I stopped when my eyes skimmed over the notification.
I instantly sat up straighter and opened the email. It was from Cortland University. My heart hammered against my chest as I read the email, my legs feeling like jelly. I read it over once, and then again to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me.
Dear Ms. Daniella Parker,
At Cortland University, we value student success and high academic standards. Unfortunately, your last two semesters have not met our standards.
It is our understanding you have been on academic probation twice already, but our records show no progress has been made. As such, we regret to inform you that you are suspended for one year, commencing this summer until the end of the following summer.
We understand this may be unsettling news, and as such we have support programs in place to help prepare you for your return.
We hope you use this time to reflect on what may be the best decision for you.
All the best,
Cortland University Dean of Academics.
I knew this was coming, but I was still so taken aback. I was suspended. I was suspended for an entire year. While James, Brenton, Amber, and Holden would be wrapping up their college experience, I would be wasting away a whole year of my life. God, I couldn't even imagine my mom's reaction or James' for that matter.
What was I going to do?
~*~
When dinner rolled around, I wasn't the least bit hungry. Lately, dinners at the Parker house were anything but joyful. I quietly sat in my seat at the dining table, praying today wouldn't get any worse.
The evening appeared to already be taking a turn for the worse when I caught a glimpse of Adam in the kitchen. I didn't doubt he was a good person, but I just did not like him one bit.
"Great, the tool's here?" Brenton huffed as he sat beside me.
"Easy, tiger," I said in a low voice. "We don't want to piss off Mom any further." Neither of my siblings had spoken to Mom since the whole situation last night with Niko. We all figured she needed some time to cool down, plus none of us wanted to be her next unlucky target.
Alex entered the dining room the same time Adam did, and a sour look formed on my little brother's face. He glumly sat in Niko's seat, clearly wanting to distance himself from Mom's beau as much as possible.
"Alexander, don't be rude," the voice of our mother called out as she also entered the dining room. Alex glumly shifted to the seat closest to Adam. Mom then sat at the head of the table while Adam set down the tray of food. He kissed her cheek, and it took all of my willpower to not gag at the sight.
"I hope you enjoy the goose confit and mashed potatoes I prepared," Adam said as he unveiled the meal on the silver tray.
"Confit?" Alex asked, a puzzled look on his face.
"Goose?" Brenton added, his eyes wide. "There's no way in hell I'm eating goose."
"Then I suppose you'll starve." Mom didn't spare Brenton a glance as she carefully used her fork and knife to place what appeared to be a goose leg on her plate.
"It's an old family recipe," Adam explained as he put goose legs and mashed potatoes on plates for us. "My mother's side of the family is French."
"So why couldn't we have French fries?" Brenton asked as he took his plate, prodding the meat.
Alex nodded. "Or French toast?"
"Or Frenchâ"
"Enough," Mom yelled. Her tone made all of our heads snap up and look in her direction.
I eyed her concernedly. "Are you okay, Mom?"
"No," she spat in an icy tone. "When all of my children disappoint me, I can't be okay."
"We're screwed," Brenton said in my ear.
Yes, we were.
Mom turned to face Adam. "Would you pour me a glass of wine, dear?"
"Red or white?"
"Surprise me." She turned back to us. "Alexander...."
"Uh oh," the youngest Parker said, his eyes wide.
"What on earth were you thinking searching those types of images at school?" she roared.
"I'm sorry, Mom." He looked so genuine as his voice quivered, and I felt my heart go out to him. I thought Mom would go easy on him, but she was ready to kill tonight.
"No video games for the next two weeks," she said in a monotone, immune to his cuteness. "And I don't want you to come back inside until the lawn has been mowed, the leaves raked, and the flowers watered."
"Dear, he's just a child," Adam said as he returned, handing my mom a glass of red wine.
"His funeral," Brenton whispered.
"Dear," Mom started in a sickly sweet tone. "This is how I discipline my children."
Alex slowly got up and headed for the door, clearly not wanting to break the staring match going on between Mom and Adam. As someone who played the role of mother and father for as long as my mom did, she did not feel comfortable with anyone trying to take either role. Surprisingly, Adam backed down and quietly sat in his seat.
Wuss.
"As for you..." Mom continued, facing my twin and me.
"I'm sorry, okay?" Brenton sputtered out.
"Not you." Mom paused. "I'm talking to Daniella."
How did news travel so fast? There was no way the school already contacted her.
"You flunked your last two semesters?" she said incredulously. "Even after you changed your program? How can you be so irresponsible, Daniella?"
Wait, that was it? She didn't know about the suspension. Thank God, she didn't know. My momentary relief didn't last long when I realized it was only a matter of time before she would find out the truth.
"You failed?" Brenton asked, breaking the silence. "I know I said I wish you'd screw up but damn, you're screwed!"
I scowled at him. "All this coming from the guy who spent his tuition on a sports car?"
"Excuse me?"
Uh-oh.
"Brenton Wilhelm Parker, what the hell did I just hear?"
He raised his hands in defence. "Hey, you wouldn't buy me a car so I took matters into my own hands."
"By blowing my hard-earned money on a sports car?" Mom said in disbelief.
"So we're talking about blowing, huh?"
"Don't you dare," Mom warned. "As a punishment, you're banned from partying so long as you're under my roof." Mom paused as she thought over her next words. "And you are to help Adam prepare dinner three nights a week."
"Why do I have to spend time with him?" Brenton jutted his thumb in Adam's direction.
"He is my boyfriend," Mom answered in a matter-of-fact tone.
Brenton shook his head in disappointment. "It's so funny how you preach about responsibility when you're the biggest hypocrite out there. I mean, who sleeps with a total stranger when your thirteen-year-old kid is under the same damn roof?"
I shot him a stern look. "Brent, stop."
"Anyway, what's for dessert?" he continued. "Because all I see is a tart."
"Enough!" Adam rose to his feet and threw his napkin to the ground. "You can't speak to your mother like that."
My short-tempered twin also abruptly stood up, pushing his chair back. "Who the hell are you to tell me how I can and can't speak to my mom?"
"You need to learn some basic respect," Adam said in a firm tone.
"And you need to learn to shut the hell up," Brenton retorted. "You're not my goddamn father!" He slammed his fists on the table, his left hand landing on the corner of his plate. Without a warning, the plate catapulted forward and the food flew out. Since I had just about the most rotten luck, all of the uneaten mashed potatoes landed smack on my face.
Mom gasped. "Brenton!"
"I'm out of here." He stormed out of the dining room and out the front door, letting it slam shut behind him. I assumed he took my car keys and while I would have been mad in any other circumstance, I was a bit preoccupied with wiping mashed potato residue from my face. This stuff was sticking to my hair so instead of letting the silence linger, I decided to cut straight to the chase.
"What's my punishment?"
"You clearly have no ambition." Mom's words might have stung if she said them before Brenton's outburst, but she looked and sounded so drained, it seemed like she wanted this to be over quicker than I did. "And after checking your academic transcript, I saw you passed all of your governance courses, so that is exactly what you're going to do."
I stopped flicking the dried-up mashed potato bits from under my nails and glanced up at her. "What?"
"One of the town's councillors is on sabbatical, so you will take over his position for the summer," she explained. "That way you can learn more about politics to see if this is something of interest, and it will make my life easier for the summer."
"So my punishment is to help you?" I deadpanned.
"Unless you'd like to help Adam prepareâ"
"So when does this councillor job begin?" I cut her off.