Bridgette - Chapter Six: I'm Done

It felt like the never-ending senior year. If I had known that this is what my senior year was going to be like I would have begged Mom to homeschool me or at least send me off to a private school. Anything would have been better than the hell I had been living for the last six months.

 

 

It was March and the only things I was thankful for was the fact that the dreary looking winter was coming to an end and there was only a couple months left until graduation.  All I wanted to do was graduate high school and paint. I had decided that I didn’t want to go to college but instead just wanted to stay at home for a couple of years and start my painting career. I figured I could save some money while living at home and then after a couple of years I could put a down payment on a house and live on my own. 

 

 

Those were the dreams that were keeping me going the last several months.  As I sat on my bed I thought back over the last several months. It was pretty much the same crap over and over. There would be what I referred to as “the calm before the storm,” the Waverly storm. During that time it seemed like things were going decent. I was still feeling like the odd duck in our group and it seemed that we were all doing less things as a group. So I was usually left to find something to do by myself which usually ended up being painting.

 

 

Then the storm would hit. I swear Waverly had spies in that school. I would no sooner say something or would be alone with Carson before she would find me and warn me to back off or watch what I said.  I remember one time Carson and I happened to walk to class together and she flipped out. She claimed that someone had told her that while he and I were walking to class together that I was hanging all over him and flirting with him.  No matter how many times I tried to deny things, she always seemed convinced that I was out to get Carson. She had somehow convinced herself that my goal was to steal Carson away from her. My only goal was to get everyone to realize who she really was which was hard since she never acted this way when anyone else was around. She would always find a way to get me alone when she blew up.

 

 

That’s probably one reason why Carson and her were still together. If someone had told me at the beginning of the school year that they would still be together with two months left to go in the school year, I would have laughed right in their face.  I would have told them Carson was smarter than that.  I really struggled with that fact; the fact that my best friend had been so oblivious and infatuated that he was blinded to who the girl he was dating truly was.   Blinded for almost a whole school year to how she treated me, his supposed best friend. At this point, the only reason I was continuing with my revenge plan was to get back at Waverly for all of the months of hell she had put me through. I had long ago given up on the idea of Carson and I being friends after he and Waverly broke up. I just didn’t think there was a way that I could forgive him for being so blind.

I was interrupted by a knocking on my door and the sound of Mom’s voice on the other side “Honey, can we come in for a minute?” I guessed that the we meant her and Dad.

I stood up. “Sure, come on in.”

 

 

Mom entered my room with dad entering behind her. Mom sat down on at the end of my bed and dad chose the other bed. They both had serious looks on their faces which kind of scared me.

 

 

“Bridge, we were wondering what you plans are after high school. We realized that you hadn’t really talked to us about it.”

 

 

“Well, I figured that I could stay here for a couple of years while I start my painting career and that would give me a chance to save up some money for a house of my own.”

 

 

Mom and Dad looked at each other and an unspoken understanding happened between them. I noticed Mom take a deep breath. “Have you ever considered college?”

I looked confusingly between the two of them. I had no idea where this was coming from. Neither of them had ever mentioned anything about me going to college. “Why would I go to college when what I want to do is paint? Do you think painting isn’t good enough of a career? I figured since both of you have had careers that aren’t “normal” that you would be supportive of my choice.”

 

 

“No, it’s not that we’re not supportive of your career choice, it’s that there’s so much you could learn about your career by going to college. You’d be learning from people who have themselves studied to paint.”

 

 

“Let me ask you this, did you go to college to learn to be a composer?”

 

 

“No, but I am the rare exception.”

“But you still didn’t go to college, right?”

“No I didn’t, but . . .”

“What about you Dad? Did you go to college to learn to be a rodeo rider or a ranch owner?”

“No, but. . .”

 

 

“So then why should I have to go to college to learn to be a painter?”

 

 

“Because even though neither of us went to school, we still learned from those who had more knowledge than us; it’s very important to do that so you can progress. If you don’t, you’ll be stuck.” Mom explained.

 

 

“Then why doesn’t Charlie have to go to school? Why should I have to go to college and Charlie is allowed to stay here?”

 

 

“Because Charlie will be learning how to run the ranch from me, plus he will be signing up for some business classes from the local community college. I wish I had more understanding of the business end of running a ranch and that’s something I can’t teach him.” Dad piped in.

 

 

“Why can’t I just do that then? I could sign up for some classes at the community college.”

 

 

“Bridgette, we really think you should look at all your options and that includes going away to college.” Mom said more sternly.

 

 

“What if I look into it and I decide that I’d rather stay here and take some classes at the community college?”

I could tell neither one of them wanted to answer. It was then that I realized that my parents weren’t really suggesting that I look into going to college; they were pretty much telling me that whether I wanted to or not, I was going.

 

 

“I don’t understand why you both are doing this? Why are you basically forcing me to go to college?!”

 

 

“We both think this is the best thing for you Bridge. All we’re asking is that you give it a year. If you decide that after a year that you don’t want to continue then you can come back home and go ahead with your plan.” Dad tried to reassure me.

I was furious. I had almost finished the crappiest senior year and now my parents were telling me what to do after I graduated. I knew I had no choice; if I wanted them to support me then I was going to have to go along with their plan at least for a year.

 

 

“If I agree, do I have your word that if I choose to leave college after a year that you will uphold your part of the bargain and let me live here until I can support myself?”

“Yes, we will do that but only if you uphold your part of the bargain.” Mom agreed.

I took a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh. “Fine. But I want you to know that I am not happy about this and I’m only doing it because you’ve basically given me no choice.”

 

 

“Bridge, please try to . . .” Dad started to explain

“Just please leave.” I told them turning away from both of them so they wouldn’t see the tears that were forming in my eyes. They got up and quietly left my room closing the door behind them.

Once I heard their footsteps go down the hallway I laid back down on my bed and started crying. I felt like I had lost everything; my friends, my senior year, and now the dreams that had kept me from slipping into a depression. I was done; done with high school, done with wanting revenge, done with Appaloosa Plains and most definitely done with Carson and Waverly. As far as I was concerned, they could have each other and Carson could find out on his own who Waverly really was.