“Okay so today I’ll just ask you to put out some new stock and package some stuff up for me. I’ll teach you how to use the register next weekend if you pass the trial today.”
Mia nodded her head and wrung out her sweaty hands on her jeans. She hadn’t felt this nervous about something in a long time. But she had no choice, she had to see it through. Part of her also wanted to show Ryan that she was going to do whatever she wanted too.
“Okay yeah, that sounds great. What would you like me to do first?”
Angela tapped the boxes that were stacked on the counter. “So, these are washers.”
Mia bit her lip. She had no idea what washers were.
Guessing her thoughts, Angela chuckled. “They are small metal discs that go in between nuts and bolts in order to keep the fixture secure.”
“Oh…okay.”
“It’s alright. You’ll soon pick everything up.
Mia was shocked when Angela told her she’d passed her trial shift. She’d done okay, but she was sure someone else would have been able to do better. It was great of course, but now it definitely meant that she would probably be bumping into Ryan more than expected.When she got home, she decided to enter the house as quietly as she could. She was tired and couldn’t be bothered to go through all the questions her mom would have.Just as she was about to go upstairs, she heard Bob say her name. She wondered if he’d heard her come in, but as she got closer, she realised he was actually talking about her. Not to her.“Is she even trying? It seems like she’s not trying?” His voice echoed against the metal framed cabinets of the kitchen.“I don’t know…she’s never been right since…well. You know.”Mia’s heart faltered. Couldn’t her mom even say his name? Couldn&rsq
After the telling off of Mia’s entire life, her and Ryan were ordered to stay behind after school for detention. She’d tried to argue that it was all his fault, but the principal said that her reaction had still been ‘disproportionate’. Mia would have argued further if it hadn’t been for the fact the principal threatened her with putting it on her permeant record. That wouldn’t help her college applications. So here they were. Just the two of them in front of some crusty old teacher who clearly didn’t have a life to go home to at the end of the day. Mia had already taken out her homework and had started filling it in. Although it was hard to concentrate when the person who was ruining her life was sitting right next to her. She was so uncontrollably angry with him, that she still hadn’t stopped shaking. The sudden sound of snoring filled her ears, and she jerked her head upwards to find that the teacher who was meant to be watching them, had fallen as
When Mia got home that night, all she wanted to do was escape to her room and forget about everything that had happened. However, as soon as she entered the house, it became very clear that this wasn’t going to be the case.Her mom was waiting for her on the stairs, and she had that look on her face that told Mia she was in for a lecture.“So, your principal called today. Apparently, you thought it would be okay to assault Ryan Lee?” Carla gave Mia a hard look. She knew her daughter was having a hard time, but this was beyond anything that she would have ever expected.Mia let her bag drop to the floor. “Did he explain why I’d done it?”Carla straightened her shoulders. “Mia Fernwood. Whatever the reason, violence is NEVER the answer. I thought I’d taught you better than that!?”“He read out my diary Mom! MY DIARY! I was a laughing stock in front of the whole school!!”Mia had
“Hey, Mia!”Mia swung around to find Tilly calling after her. She stopped, and waited for her to catch up. What was this going to be about?Once the other girl stood before her, she shifted her weight backwards and forwards, struggling to keep eye contact.“Listen, I just wanted to say I was sorry about yesterday…with your diary and everything.”Mia tried not to let her expression betray how she was really feeling. “It’s fine. Those guys really aren’t worth it.”Tilly bit her lip. “Have you thought any more about the article? Brooke asked and well…seems like you kinda owe them one back.”Mia sighed. So, was Tilly just here to chase her up about the article? For a moment she’d thought…no. It was stupid to think like that.“Er no. I still haven’t decided. But honestly, I’m thinking about leaving it anyway. I don’t want any more
After their conversation, Mia retreated to her room and only came out to use the bathroom. There was no way she could face any member of this household right now. Sensing it was better to leave her to it, Carla and Bob allowed her to be alone.Mia couldn’t even process how her mom could ask her such a thing. Her last name was one of the last things she had left of her dad. She never ever wanted to lose that.The next morning, she expected a fight about her going to school, but there wasn’t. Instead, she heard the house get ready for their day, and eventually, leave. Once she was sure everyone was out of the house, she breathed a sigh of relief.Despite the problems it had caused, Mia wrote in her diary. She’d decided on a new hiding place for it anyway, and was sure Savannah wouldn’t be able to steal it again.She began to draft alternative escape plans.Run away and find a normal job to support herselfJoin t
Ryan hadn’t planned on having this conversation. He’d hoped that his Mom just wouldn’t find out. Why did Savannah’s dad have to have such a big mouth?“It wasn’t her fault, Mom.”Angela laughed coolly. “So, she throws a tray at your head, and you’re telling me it wasn’t her fault? And what’s more, she hasn’t even contacted me to say sorry. I had to hear it from Bob Miller! Is she expecting to just walk in on Saturday like nothing has happened?”Ryan placed his hands on the kitchen table, trying to ignore the stack of beer bottles in the corner of the room. He wondered briefly how many more would be sitting there by the end of the night.“It’s complicated. Alright. I sort of deserved it.”His mom narrowed her eyes at her son. “What do you mean? What did you do?”Ryan scratched the back of his head and cast his eyes downward. “I re
Mia couldn’t quite believe the phone call had happened. What was even more shocking, was the fact that it sounded as if Ryan had been the one to convince his mom to keep her on. Why had he done that? He had been horrible to her this whole time. What was his end game here?However, now she knew she definitely still had a job, she wanted to check in with the college advisor again. If she explained that she’d secured employment, maybe the old cow wouldn’t insist on her joining an after-school club. She couldn’t bring herself to write that damn article if she didn’t have to. Mainly because she didn’t want to think about that crowd anymore than she already was.Mrs Parkinson was wearing another loud edition of a floral blouse. Mia wondered if she had all her clothes made from old curtains.“So, I was thinking, now I have the Saturday job at the hardware store, isn’t that enough with my grades for my applications?”
Mia knew she was grounded, but she wasn’t sure if being grounded meant she couldn’t have friends round either. She wasn’t going to ask, but was sure that if they were caught, her mom would be too overjoyed at the fact she actually had a friend.“I can’t believe I’m standing in Savannah Miller’s room.”Tilly was gaping at the room as if it belonged to the Queen of England. Mia just rolled her eyes.“Yeah well, start looking, because we won’t have much time until my mom or Bob gets home. And I can’t face another one of their lectures.Savannah’s room was everything Mia had expected. A space entirely covered by soft furnishings all in various shades of pink. She walked over to one wall where Savannah had pinned a thousand photographs. They were mostly of Savannah herself, posed in different positions designed to make her look as beautiful as possible. She caught sight of one of her and R