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I sigh deeply and lean back inthis conversation with theain, and it’s exhausting In my heart, I know my mom and dad mean well I also know that I’ve never felt like they truly understood nor appreciated me I may not be the best student academically, but I try More importantly, I’m not the delinquent my school record seems to indicate

I try to not-so-subtly remind them of this detail for the hundredth ti “You know, Tammie Mae asked ood friend,” I say wearily “It’s not ure out how to get it for herself”

Unfortunately, my parents seem to have become immune to my charms and equally tired of this conversation

“It was reckless and childish behavior,”to look in my eye “You’re lucky the punishment wasn’t more severe You could have burned down the whole school”

“That would hardly be an acco used to be a barn,” I snap back

“Okay, truce,” my mom, ever the peacemaker, holds a hand up in front of each of us “Jih, and what Juniper did is in the past Juniper, you attending this program is the only way forward End of debate”

My dad and I sit across fro I wish I didn’t look like him so much, but unfortunately, I know the fa

“Mo the inside ofthis fight”

“Agreed,” my dad says quietly I look at the older man, who seee? Although Ji voice, I know that the s up To be honest, I hate that I keep disappointing him

“All right then,”to spend the night with Bess tonight?”

I nod at the half-truth, half-lie “Yep, I told her I’d get over there around eight o’clock or so” That part is true I aht at my best friend’s house, but ht out over at Skye One – one of the few local bars that doesn’t check IDs