Ever since I got accepted into my dream college, high school has been seeming like something I’ve outgrown. Some people might call me arrogant, maybe I am. I do believe I’m not beholden to the same rules as regular people. I’ve always believed I was beautiful, just objectively speaking. I’m 18, i keep myself fit, and always turn heads wherever I go. Lots of people like me and want to be around me. I’m not a mean girl, I just understand the way the world works.

A few days ago I came home from school- a friend dropped me off at my house. My mother is apparently waiting for me in the kitchen. She looks pretty upset.

My mother looks very nice for her age. She knows it the way I know I’m pretty. Even after giving birth to me, she maintained a slim figure. Everything about her was modelesque. She was the perfect height, almost always wearing heels, even just around the house. She kept her hair long, in its natural loose curls. She has the slightest posh accent from growing up in the u.k.

She was at the kitchen counter leaned up against it, scrolling through her phone before she looked up and saw me.

“How was school today, darling?” She says with a deep sigh. Her tone tells me she must know how school was and that I’m about to face some kind of consequence. Here we go. I’m already eye rolling.

“it was mostly good, can’t complain”

She’s staring into my eyes. She’s intimidatingly pretty sometimes.

“I got a call from your counselor today, and she tells me your behavior at school is starting to become a problem. And that your grades are slipping. We talked about all of this last semester. Do you remember?”

Ugh. I literally don’t care about school, I’m a normal person, I just want to be with my friends, and enjoy life. She’s always in my business. My teachers are assholes, and I just put them in their place sometimes when they try to come for me. So what if I’m talking to the person next to me in class, mind your business. So what if I literally never do homework, if you fail me you just have to deal with me for another semester. I know these explanations aren’t going to work on my mother. I have to give her some kind of answer but I also need to stand my ground and defend my actions as of late in a way that she might accept.

“Ok yeah I’ve gotten in trouble a couple times this week and I’ve gotten behind of some assignments. I’ll make them all up and do extra credit assignments, everything will be fine.”

This may have worked, maybe she’ll leave me alone.

“Darling, I remember this whole speech last semester. You’re not keeping your promise to me that you’ll try harder. Lately it seems like your priorities are getting a bit.. silly. All you seem to care about is the way you look, what other people think of you. Your friends parents may let them go days without any homework or discipline, but while you’re living with me, you’re going to take your school work seriously. Do you understand?”

I can’t help but to eye roll but I still tell her, yes I understand. I wish i had held back on my reaction, though. I see in her eyes, she’s just about had it with my lack of respect.