GOOD ENOUGH

We advise that you listen to: Like A Tattoo by Sade

March 2013, Age 15

"Happy Birthday, Violet. Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday, to me." Violet whispered to herself in her dinky bathroom mirror. The cracked mirror was on brand for her. Distorted and broken.

She focused on her new hairstyle. No longer natural, Violet was impressed at her relaxed straightened hair. She had dyed it black with two streaks of blonde in the front the night before. She looked drastically different.

Her nose piercing that she did herself shined even in the low lighting. Violet pulled her book bag over her shoulder as she entered the living room. Her mother had been gone for weeks on a binge. She was alone.

"Happy Birthday," Natalie said handing her a small envelope.

Violet smiled but it was so fucking fake, "Thanks."

The two walked through the halls ignoring the whispers.

"Hey, slut."

"She really slept with Manny?"

"I heard it was the whole football team."

Violet kept her head held high. She had an extra pep in her step. This new sense of sexuality and sexual attention pumped through her veins. Natalie gave her a look, "You alright with them talking about you like that?"

Violet smiled, "I love it."

After enduring another day at school, Violet found herself sitting in front of Oakley. His chin sat on his hands as he rested in the leather booth. Violet downed her milkshake digging into her fries. Oakley smiled, "When was the last time you ate?"

Violet slowed down her chewing, "If we're being honest, probably last week."

His smile dropped, "What?"

Violet sighed, "I shouldn't have said anything?"

"Where's May?" He asked referring to her mother.

Violet shrugged as she dipped her chicken tender into the honey mustard, "She's been on a binge for a few weeks."

"Vi."

"Don't. I'm just trying to enjoy my birthday."

"Fine."

Oakley unlocked the front door of his home two neighborhoods from Violet. The sounds of reggae music came from the beaten radio. Violet smiled smelling food cooking from the oven. Oakley's younger brother who they called Juke stumbled into the entryway.

"Violet, happy birthday!" He screamed grinning.

Violet smiled slightly. Juke was twelve going on twenty, "What's good kid?"

"Nothing much. My mom's got a plate in the kitchen for you." Juke told her kissing her hand.

Oakley laughed pushing him away, "What you trynna do? Take my girl?"

Violet smiled, "I ain't ya girl."

Juke crossed his arms over his chest smirking, "Exactly."

"Man go on."

Violet poked her head into the kitchen. Oakley's mother, Joyce, and his father Neil kissed in the kitchen. Joyce giggled like a schoolgirl as he grabbed her hips. She stacked a few plates in the kitchen.

"Hi." Violet's voice felt small as she watched their intimate interaction.

Joyce jumped pushing Neil away, "Oh my god, Violet. Happy Birthday my dear."

Joyce engulfed the teen in a hug. Violet felt her heart rate increase as she smelled Joyce. Her mothering touch made her miss her mother. Not the mother that was coked out and smelled like alcohol all the time.

Neil smiled at her patting her head, "New look?"

Violet averted her eyes still not comfortable around men, "Yeah. I'm kinda going for a grunge look."

Joyce gave her husband a worried look before passing the girl a plate, "I made you something."

Violet laughed seeing the plate of her favorite food. Joyce had tried to make fried chicken and baked mac and cheese. Some of Violet's favorite food from her culture, "You tried Mrs. Joyce."

"I told her to let you cook it here but she wouldn't listen," Neil said stealing a spoonful of mac and cheese.

"Bro, Violet is the best cook. Sorry, Mom." Juke said making a plate.

Violet watched as Oakley's family ate at the dining room table. They laughed and smiled like a happy family. It made her gut hurt at the sight. Joyce eyed her from the end of the table, "Are you full?"

Violet snapped out of her thoughts, "Yeah, I'm good. Thank you for inviting me for dinner."

"You're family Violet. You're always welcome here." Neil told her sipping his water.

Joyce smile as she signaled Oakley to go into the kitchen. He came back with a cake. Pink candles were lit in the shape of the number fifteen. Violet felt tears come down her face. Juke hugged her from behind as Oakley placed the cake in front of her.

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!" They sang. Violet could see where Oakley got his music skills from. His parents sounded good.

"Make a wish," Oakley whispered brushing her hair back.

Violet closed her eyes. Many wishes racked her brain but one stayed in her mind. She blew out the candles as they clapped and cheered.

Violet sat next to Oakley on his parent's couch. All the food she had eaten gave her a stomach ache. Oakley closed his eyes listening to the soft r&b music from the radio. Sade's soft sounds made her sleepy. They sat in silence.

"Do you think I'm pretty?" Violet asked picking at her nails.

Oakley looked at her, "What?"

"Am I pretty?" Violet whispered.

Oakley caressed her face. Violet noticed how much longer his hair was. She thought he was so gorgeous. His youthful face clashed with his growing tattoos and his street smarts. But his smile was the best part of him.

Violet leaned closer.

"Violet, I think you're beautiful."

She blushed, "I always thought you were the best looking. You're very much ethereal."

Oakley laughed gripping her chin, "Etheral? What do you know about that?"

"I've been picking up your big vocabulary."

Oakley smiled looking at her lips. He leaned in kissing her gently. Violet froze at his touch. It was very different than the last interaction that scared her for life. Oakley watched her waiting for her to make the next move.

"Was that okay?"

Violet nodded, "Yes."

She kissed him back softly a bit scared. He smiled again kissing her back. Even if it was just a peck she felt safe with him.

They sat in silence for a few minutes. She held his hand leaning on his shoulder. He rubbed circles on the back of her hand.

"What's on your mind?"

Violet's eyes shifted to the clock. Her birthday was almost over, "I found my dad on Facebook."

"Really? Where does he live?"

"A town over from where I was born."

"Near Miami?" Oakley said remembering small details from Violet's childhood.

She smiled a bit, "Yeah. We've been talking through the app for a bit. He didn't even know I existed. He wants to see me."

"Are you going to go?"

Violet shrugged, "I'm scared when he sees me he won't want to look at me. Everything I touch gets destroyed."

"Violet, you say that like you're walking bad luck."

Violet sat up pulling away from him, his touch too much for her suddenly, "I am though. My grandmother didn't want me. And, I'm tainted."

Oakley's face softened despite her raising her voice, "I don't think you're tainted, darlin'."

Violet shook her head, "But I am. You're the one that warned me. Nothing is free, right? I got something valuable to me stolen."

"That wasn't your fault. None of this is your fault."

Violet wiped her eyes, "Can we talk about something else."

Oakley looked at her confused. One minute she was happy and then the next she was upset. He didn't know how to console her but he moved on, "I wrote a song."

"Can I see it?"

Oakley passed her a ripped-up napkin with writing on it. She laughed as she read it, "This is so good, Oak."

"You think so?"

She nodded, "You're gonna be famous."

"Really?"

"Mhm, and I'm gonna be your loudest fan too."

Violet watched as Oakley slept on the opposite couch. It was way past midnight but her nightmares made her never want to sleep again. She pulled out her notebook from her bag and the envelope Natalie gave her.

She opened the envelope smiling as the fifty dollar bill fell out. A small note from Nat and her grandmother made her smile.

Dear Diary,

Everyone but my mother remembered my birthday. At first, I didn't want to celebrate it but Nat made me feel special. Oakley made it even better. His family is like my family. They accept me for me despite my flaws. Like I'm good enough to be here with them. When my mother comes back hopefully she's sober enough to remember that I turned 15.

Authors Note:

Vote and comment! (Comments make my day!)

I'm so in love with this chapter, it's the longest I've written.

Excuse mistakes.