a/n

I'm a total sucker for 90's grunge so that's why there is no much GGD and Matchbox 20 in the playlist. but who doesn't love the Goo Goo Dolls???

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As I was walking to my car after class, planning to head over to Wes and Flynn's apartment for a low key night, my phone started ringing in my back pocket. I pulled it out, already knowing who was calling.

"Hey, mom."

"Hey, V. What time is it there."

"I don't know. Like, 7. Why?"

"Just wondering. Are you out of class for the night?"

"Yeah, do you need something?"

"I want to talk to you about something."

"We talk almost every day. Can we talk tomorrow? I have plans in a little bit."

"Don't you have homework?"

I rolled my eyes at her. "Those are my plans," I fibbed, hoping she wouldn't catch the irritation in my voice.

"I want to talk to you about your classes," my mom started, ignoring my request to have this conversation another time.

Oh, shit.

I panicked, thinking she found out I was lying to her about my classes and what I was studying. I didn't know how she could have figured it out, though. Sadie would never snitch on me, especially not about something this serious and important to me.

"So I know you like to push yourself-"

Liar. She doesn't know anything.

She pushed you.

"-and you stay at the top of your class in every class you take-"

We all know you only did that because she would manipulate you into guilt and shame if you weren't at the top.

Somehow it's bad parenting on her part if you get less than an A, even if she knew she was crushing you.

"But I'm afraid you aren't getting all you need out of your school. Are you sure you're doing your best and these classes aren't too easy for you? You seem to have an awful lot of free time."

"You're afraid I'm not being hard enough on myself?" I sneered.

"Well, I'm not there to monitor you. Maybe you should transfer back home to one of the colleges out here, like Santa-"

Fight.

I stopped walking and cut off her excuse angrily. "Monitor me?" I scoffed. That was bold ever for her. "I'm an adult, I don't need you to babysit me. Just because you're not here to breathe down my neck, you're afraid I'm slacking off? You don't think you did your job as a parent to drill into me the work ethic of someone who stresses themselves to the extent they break down and cry themselves to sleep when it gets to be too much? You don't think you taught me good grades equals love from my parent? That an A is worth more than sleep and a healthy diet?"

"Vienna!" My mom gasped.

"No, no" I laughed bitterly. "Let me finish because you taught me a lot in my 19 years of life, mom. You taught me what manipulation is. What neglect is. What anxiety is. What loneliness is. What emotional instability is."

"Vienna Annabel Vargas!" My mother boomed menacingly.

"That's not my name!" I yelled. "And you don't get to scold me when I have lived up to every expectation you had of me. I've met every goal you set. I did it all. You don't get to call me after I move across the country for college and accuse me of not being my best. I'm doing great without you. So thanks for your concern, but I don't need it."

I hung up the phone and turned it off, knowing my mom would try to call me back. I continued the short walk to my car, using that time to cool off before I drove to Wes and Flynn's.

I didn't even feel like hanging out anymore. I was more concerned about the wrath of my mom. Part of me was so worried about what I did, I actually thought my mom might fly out to unleash her hellfire in person. The rational part of me knew better, though. My mom didn't have the money for that and even if she did, I doubt Sadie would allow her to come out here to yell at me.

Look at you, three thousand miles away from her and she still terrifies you.

Shut up.

You're pathetic.

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I threw my purse and keys down on the coffee table after Wes lead me to the living room. I tugged off my university sweatshirt and slipped off my flip flops as Wes made room on the couch for me. As soon as I sat, Flynn handed me a bottle of beer.

"I'm fine, thanks," I waved him off even though I wanted it.

"You look like you need to relax, Val," he told me.

"I'm plenty relaxed. You need to realize, I'm barely 115 pounds. I'm the epitome of a lightweight."

Wes leaned over, taking the beer from Flynn for himself. " You look about as loose as a facelift," he chuckled, "but whatever."

I snatched the beer from Wes irately and leaned over and grabbed my keys, using my bottle opener shaped like a camper. A few months before I left, I took it off my dad's old set of keys before Tammy could get to it. I figured I'd use it while coping.

You haven't used it, though, have you, Vienna? Because you prefer to shove all those emotions deep down.

What's wrong with pushing them aside, and hope they'll leave you be?

I felt my heartbeat pick up at my thoughts so I took a swig of the beer, hoping it would help to calm my nerves. I let the bitter taste runs across my tongue and lost some of my tension as I relaxed into the couch. I threw my feet up next to Wes, who was watching the game playing on the tv.

"Are we going to sit on the couch all night, and watch tv? I'm pretty sure that I was told I'm supposed to prevent someone from making a douche of himself, which I thought meant there would be entertainment."

Flynn looked over, confused, "Aidan left a while ago. Has work in the morning and was helping Belinda with something."

I turned to Wes who looked guilty. "But you said-"

"Wes just needed a reason to get you over here," Flynn smirked.

Uneasy, I looked at Wes, who was now glaring daggers at Flynn. The tips of his ears were reddening and it was almost cute to see him begin to fluster. "You should go to Aidan's party this weekend," Wes blurted.

"Sure."

"Really?" He asked, shocked.

It made me uncomfortable that they were surprised I could be social. I took another sip of my beer and shifted on the couch. "No."

He frowned, "Why?"

"It's not my thing, Wes. I'm sure you've figured that out by now." My voice came out more hostile than I intended.

"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked.

"Nothing." I gulped my beer.

"Careful there, Val. You've got work in the morning," Wes mocked but I just flipped him off.

A half hour later I started an argument between the boys when I asked, "Who chose the beer and why the hell did they choose crap? Have either of you two ever tasted a decent beer?"

At first, their bickering was entertaining but it wasn't long until I grew board. I wiggled my feet out from under Wes' thigh, where I stuck them when my toes got cold. I swung my legs over the side of the couch and looked at the boys. "Do you guys have any cereal or something I can have? I haven't eaten in a few hours," I broke their bickering.

"Yeah sure, help yourself," Flynn answered.

I walked around the couch to the kitchen. The kitchen and living room were set up together, only a small, bar-like counter separating them. The cereal boxes were left out on the counter. The box of CoCoa Puffs I grabbed was empty as was the next box I grabbed so I threw those away and grab another box that actually had cereal in it. I washed a bowl and spoon from the sink before I poured a bowl of stale Mini Wheats for myself.

When I sat back down, Wes scooted towards me on the couch, opening his mouth. I shoved the bowl to him after taking a spoonful for myself. "I'm not feeding you, Artwood."

He took the bowl back and scooted back over to his spot. "Thanks," he smirked.

Sighing, I stood up to pour another bowl for myself, seeing as he stole mine.

"No. no," he grabbed my wrist to sit me back down. "So edgy tonight," he chuckled handing the bowl back to me, but as I sat down, I could tell his smile was strained as he watched me carefully.

"This cereal in stale," I said, as I stuffed my feet back under his thigh again, leaning against the armrest.

Wes looked amused as he stared at me but kept his mouth shut and so did I. Then Flynn had to ask, "So where's home, Valley?"

Always so curious this one.

My grip on the spoon tightened as I noticed Wes shoot him a look. I decided to finish chewing before I answered, leaving them to sit, awkwardly waiting for me to answer as they listened to me chew my food. "California," I mumbled after I swallowed.

"Oh, wow. That's way out there. Wes and I are only about half a day's drive from here."

3,137 miles if anyone wants to be exact.

"And you came here?" egged on.

Wes' eyes widen as I stopped the spoon full of cereal that was inches from my mouth to look over at Flynn. "No, I went to Kansas."

"No, no, I just mean like- well like why? I've been to Cali a few time and it's amazing there! Who would ever want to leave?" He asked amazed. "It's always sunny, you have In-N-Out, that one cool highway, celebrities, and surfers."

"I'm from Northern California," I defended myself, slightly offended. "And, Flynn, no one from California calls it Cali and if you ever do again, I will make you eat from the disgusting wannabe Mexican restaurant." I was loving the state, it was becoming my home but they lacked an essential part of my diet. The people of Rhode Island had no idea how to make a decent burrito.

"Takkos?" he pouted. "I like them, though."

I widened my eyes in disgust and turned to Wes to defend me but he was busy staring weirdly at Flynn. I turned back to Flynn, ignoring Wes' irksome looks. "Flynn if you keep insulting me, I'm going to leave," I said sarcastically.

I saw Wes' face contort again.

Flight.

"What's with that?" I asked.

Wes turned to look at me now. "What?" He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

I rolled my eyes, irritated. "You and your face. Those looks you're giving Flynn. Huh? What's with you?"

"You obviously don't like talking about it, so-" he started saying slowly, trying to test the situation but it was too late.

"So what?" My irritation flared. "You going to be my friend and comfort me? Protect me? I don't know what this is, what you're doing but you need to step off."

"Valley, I didn't mean anything by it," he defended himself. "I just thought that if you don't want to talk about it, you shouldn't feel pressured to-"

I sat up and set the bowl down. I cocked my head towards him inquisitively. "Do you feel bad for me? Am I some sort of pity case for you? Or is this one of those things where you pick on the outsider in hopes of scoring? I thought you might be better than that, Artwood," I snarled bitterly.

Shit.

You snapped Vienna.

Wes sat up straighter too. "What?" Wes scoffed. "What?" He repeated louder. "Hell, I thought you were smarter. Why would- How did?-" He sighed looking at Flynn who was awkwardly sitting in his chair, shocked by my outburst. He looked dumbfound. The both did. "You honestly think I would-" That's all he managed to get out.

He just doesn't seem to be able to form a complete sentence.

I sighed in frustration.

You fucked up, Vienna.

Clearly.

You seem to be doing a lot of that today.

Clearly!

Flight.

I got up, grabbing my keys and purse, and threw a second beer in there too. "I should go."

As I walked down the hall to the door, Wes spun me around. "What the hell was that?" He growled.

"I don't know why you keep this up. This whole calling me and asking me to lunch, and over for beers, and Halloween. I have my own life even if you don't think so. I'm not some unloved doll you need to play with. So what are you trying to accomplish with all of this?" I sneered.

"Valley, it's not like that-" he started apologetically.

"I've seen the looks you give me and your friends when they ask questions. And when I clam up you get this look of pity and disappointment. I'm not blind. I know you've noticed how I don't share anything with people. And those eyes you give me," I laughed harshly, feeling tears swim in my eyes. "Those eyes you give me when you realize that I'm by myself."

I ran a hand through my hair and looked at the ceiling in frustration, not wanting him to see me cry. "You may have figured out I'm alone, Wes, but you're blind if you think I need your pity. I'm not someone you can sit down and braid hair with; I won't share my feelings with you. I don't need you to be my friend because you feel bad. Don't need it nor do I want it. I've made it fine on my own." I looked back at him to see him looking at me with even more pity again making me want to viciously claw his face so I'd never have to see it again. "I'm not drowning so I suggest you find someone else to save." I turned toward the door, wrenching myself from him.

"Valley, I'm not trying any-" he began to yell, but I was already out the door.

You can go ahead and try to blame your mother for that outburst but-

Shut up!

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a/n

This isn't even the halfway mark, more like just past the 1/3 mark.

But seriously, raise your hand if you hate me now. go on, don't be afraid. I'll understand.

and yes, I know, Valley's more than a bit emotional/dramatic but it happened.

What are some question we have?- What will happen between her and her mom now? What does this mean for their mother-daughter relationship? What does this mean for her school situation? What will Sadie say? How the hell are Valley and Wes going to come back from this? ARE they going to come back from this?

So because this is about 2.4K word count without the a/n this will be the only update today. I update every Saturday, though, so until then. And don't forget to click the vote button if you haven't already.