Page 48 of Saints & Sailors

“Where the hell have you been?” he snapped at me.

Here we go. “How about we postpone this whole thing until later, when I’m able to give a shit and respond.”

My words enraged Scott even more, but he waited until we were both in the house before letting loose.

He slammed the door shut behind us, an action that almost made me jump, as the picture on the wall near the door rattled in place. “You will not speak to me like that, young lady. I am your father.”

I snorted. “No, you’re not.”

Scott’s brows tipped down in confusion. “Excuse me? Yes, I am.”

I folded my arms, staring him down. “How do you even know if it’s true or not? I look nothing like you.”

His face burst into a bright red. “Do not talk about your mother that way.”

“I can talk about her however I goddamn well please! Don’t forget you abandoned her with a baby, so your character’s shit as far as I’m concerned.”

If Scott had any patience, it was gone with those words.

“You are grounded! Do you hear me?” he yelled.

Rage. Hot. Blinding. All-consuming rage took over me. I couldn’t think straight. I couldn’t stand still as I felt my fists shaking at my sides. I was at the edge and I was about to lose it.

So I let him have it.

“Fuck you!” I shouted back. “I don’t even want to be here in this shitty house, in this shitty town, with you shitty people! And I don’t want to be with you!”

Scott seethed in front of me, his shoulders rising and falling. “Well too damn bad, because you’re here for good.”

We were being so loud I was sure the neighbors could hear us.

In that moment, I didn’t care.

I hated Scott.

I hated my mother.

I hated Meadow Grove.

And I hated how I had no control on getting out.

So I did the only thing I could do.

“Argh!” I screamed as loud as I could.

Scott watched me scream, his anger lessening, but his stance even more firm. “This will not happen again. There are going to be some changes around here. Any shot at freedom you had, you just blew it and I mean it.”

“Fuck. You.” I waved my middle finger in his face before I took off toward the steps. I was done with him and everything else in this pitiful town.

I couldn’t wait until I was eighteen. I was leaving everything behind. Scott. My mother. Every damn thing that was a letdown in my life.

Fuck ’em all.

Scott was right behind me. “I mean it, Saylor. I’m so through with your attitude.”

Fuming, I faced him with one fierce look, peering into his eyes with nothing but fury.

“When I turn eighteen none of you will ever see me again since I’m such a fucking bother!”