Page 126 of Darkest Obsession

“Honey, we need to talk about your Christmas vacation.”

“Have you and dad decided where you’re sending me?”

She gives me a wide-eyed look as if I’m stupid as hell for daring to ask.

“You’re staying with me of course,” she says defensively, her voice raising a little bit. “I am your damned mother. You came out of my vagina in front of God and everybody on the internet.”

Well, she’s finally attracted the attention of the geriatrics by screaming the word ‘vagina’. I don’t want to finish my salad anymore.

She’ll make a scene if I let her, so I have to keep the situation under control. Pissing her off could lead to a meltdown, another overdose or some other next level situation that I am not in the mood for. We’re supposed to be celebrating my dance recital. She also promised to bring Cee, but he obviously isn’t here.

“Chill mom. I got it. I’m staying with you. Where’s Cee staying?”

I haven’t seen my brother in way too long.

“Chaos-Shooter’s staying with your dad. You can see him on Boxing Day.”

She always uses his full name, like Cee ain’t embarrassed enough by them. I bite my lip. If I want to see him, I’d better chill and behave myself. My mom’s a little dramatic and I don’t want this spiraling.

“Okay,” I tell her. “Whatever. I’ll see him on Boxing Day.”

“You have to sign these before you stay with me for the holidays.”

She slides the papers over to me. There’s the sneak attack. I don’t bother opening the stack of papers.

“What are those?”

“Contracts. You’re going to be in five videos when you come stay with me.”

“What if I don’t want to sign them?”

My mom shrugs. “I don’t know. Your dad wants you in even more videos, so your best bet is staying with me.”

They agreed I wouldn’t have to be in any more videos and now that they’re getting divorced, they’re holding me hostage. I have a “choice”. I always have a “choice”, but I’m not going to have a place to stay for Christmas after all those months away from home if I don’t agree to be in my mom’s embarrassing videos. This can’t be happening.

“What if I don’t want to sign anything?”

“Girl, then sleep on the damn streets,” she snaps. “I need those by the end of your semester. Think it over.”

I barely talk to her the rest of dinner foolishly thinking she’ll realize that I’m mad. She doesn’t. She drops me off at my dorm after complaining about her trip to London after this that she has to vlog and then she complains a little more about her pending transatlantic flight back home.

“Great dance!” she says after dropping me off. That’s the only mention of the recital I slaved all semester over.

Great talk mom.

I walk into my bedroom and turn the lights on.

“JESUS CHRIST! What are you doing in here?”

It’s him… because of course it’s him. I have the stack of papers from my mom rolled up in my hand, so I begin whacking him like crazy because we’ve had this conversation about sneaking into my room before.

“OUCH! Clover!”

I don’t care… I just keep hitting him because I’m angry and he’s there and I just fucking hate everything.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Thomas