Differences

Chapter 2

~Destiny~

1 Week Later

It was the second Friday of the school year, and nothing changed. At all. I was just looking forward to the weekend coming up and sleeping in. I was literally your average loner that had no socialization, no phone, but some serious attitude. I need to man up. Yup.

Once again after school, I left quick enough so Dawson didn't get the chance to look at me in the music room. He sometimes talked to me, asking me if I was shy or something. I would give a reply saying it had nothing to do with him and tell him to not get so flattered. I always had this itching manner to talk to popular kids that way. I just assumed all of them were a bunch of jerks.

I walked home as usual, with the same flashy car passing by me everyday after school. I wish I could drive. My parents were way too busy to admit me into driving classes. I was really surprised they were home early today. They came an hour later than I did, but I was happy.

"Didn't go to Marcello's house or something?" I said, running down the stairs and stopping before them. My mom tucked in a strand of my hair as my dad grinned and loosened his tie.

"Actually, we did," he replied. "We had a lot of talking to do about the tour we're going on, on Sunday." I pulled in my eyebrows in confusion.

"What tour?"

"Remember I told you we have our official business fair around the world? We have 5 places to go to, each one taking around two weeks," my mother explained. I choked.

"That's like two months! So, you'll be away from home for two months?!" I exclaimed. My parents smiled, and my dad grabbed my cheek.

"Don't worry honey, Marcello knew you would freak out and arranged a plan for you to stay safe until we come back," he said reassuringly. What the heck? My parents were rarely home so it made no difference, but I was still freaking out about this.

"Dad, I don't even know how to cook," I said, crossing my arms across my chest.

"That's the least of your worries," my mother said, walking into the kitchen as I followed her. "It'll be good training for you to learn and we've also got a nice maid who will come three times a week."

"Do you guys have to go? I mean, I can be kidnapped or murdered for all you know!" I said. My parents laughed as I bent over the island. "Come on, I'll be all alone in the friggin' house."

"Don't worry, pumpkin," my dad said. "Marcello has a babysitter for you."

"A what?" I said in utter disbelief. "I'm not five, dad."

"Well, who's the one complaining about being all alone?" my mom said. I opened my mouth and closed it. Touché. I stammered as I followed them upstairs like a sickening puppy.

"Well, w-what if that babysitter isn't very responsible?" I said. My dad made me stop at their doorstep and smirked at me.

"Marcello trusts him completely, and don't worry, he'll keep you company," he said.

"Wait, my babysitter's a he?" I said astonished. You got to be kidding me.

"Come on, you need to get along with your friends and make new ones, too," my mother encouraged me from somewhere in their bedroom. "We've met the boy before and he's quite a gentleman." I groaned as dad gave me an apologetic smile and closed the door.

Okay, I was happy my parents came home early but if this was the reason why, if they had to go on some tour and leave me with some dumbass babysitter, I was sorely disappointed.

I just hope that he's not a rapist or something.

* * *

The next day, my parents were all packed up and ready to go to the tour tomorrow, and they were busier than usual. I was sitting on the porch, eating a granola bar and watching my parents talk to Marcello on our driveway. I looked to the left to see my neighbor gardening up her porch, and if I stretched enough, I could see the large weeds growing on the house to my right. I cupped my forehead and sighed.

"So, it's settled then," I heard Marcello said. "Hey there, Destiny!" I looked up and gave him a smile. "You'll be fine, alright?"

"I won't be unless they buy me a phone," I said. My parents laughed and practically ignored me. I'm 16 (but technically 17 because of late birth month) and I still have no phone, or any device at that. I had to use the cheap, crappy desktop that was in our family room. I stood up and stomped over to them. "Come on, guys, how am I supposed to communicate with you guys?" I said, trying to convince them before they leave.

"You'll do fine," my mom said, patting my head. "Besides, you can email us through the desktop anytime."

"What if I'm outside, dying or something?" I scoffed.

"That's up to your new babysitter," Marcello said winking. "Don't worry, he'll take good care of you." I rolled my eyes. It seemed like everyone was fond with the person taking care of me for the next two months. Everyone, but me.

It was time for Marcello to go and I walked back into the house. I forgot to wear sunscreen and now, I might be tan enough for the school to make some sort of joke on me. I threw the wrapper away and went into the family. One more night, and that's it, my parents are gone, and two new strangers appear: my babysitter and the maid. Was it just me, or did I just think it was going to be awkward as hell?

I turned on the CPU to my computer and waited forever for it to load. I heard footsteps as my parents came back inside. They found me in the family room and I looked away, opening a fresh Word document.

"So, you excited?" my dad said, going to a nearby shelf and rummaging through the books and stuff.

"Meh," I mumbled, typing 'What's Fresh on This Year's Newspaper?' for the headline of the document.

"You'll have so much fun, and I know it," my mom said, putting a hand on my shoulder. "You'll not be all alone in the house anymore. You'll have someone to hang out with."

"Mom, adults and teenagers just don't get along, okay?" I informed. "Just...just, please be back soon."

"We'll try, honey," she said, sighing. She looked at the computer screen. "'What's Fresh on This Year's Newspaper?' What's that?" I explained to her how I wanted to join the newspaper group, you know, talk about what's the new issue or everyday and what the hot topic was. It was ironic since I might not know anything about the modern life, but I wasn't dumb, I have sharper ears than most people in my school.

"Plus, they didn't have anyone in the group, so I decided to do it for volunteer hours," I said. "And also because I need a break from guitar playing. That thing makes me annoyed sometimes."

"That's amazing, Destiny! See, you're really participating in more things right now," my mom said, squeezing my shoulder. My eyes shifted to my dad as he came back with a bunch of stuff, including books and boxes.

"These are just in case you and your babysitter get bored and have nothing to do," he said. My jaw dropped, and I sighed in frustration.

"Stop being so embarrassing, dad. I don't want to read baby books with some middle-aged dude, okay?" My dad laughed as he shared a sly look with my mom.

"They're not reading books. They're games that you can play, for any age, actually," he said, putting them on the sofa set table. "Look them over. I'm pretty sure you'll find something interesting." My parents left me with the messy pile of things on the table and I stared at them for two minutes straight.

I sighed, turning off the computer and walking over to the table. I flopped down on the couch and bent over to grab a random box. It was a board game. The only time I played Scrabble was with my parents when I was 10-years-old. I put that aside and picked up a book. It was some activity book with all kinds of games you could play with 2 or more players.

Most of these games were just icebreakers or to get to know the person better, two of the things I wasn't willing to do. But really, it's time that I start being more courageous and stop depending on my parents so much. I took a deep breath and went upstairs, calling my mom's name.

"Mom!!" I said through their bedroom door. "I'm going outside, okay?!" My mom came out quicker than I imagined with a wide smile on her face. Oh, how she loved it when I started acting like other girls.

"Wow, that's wonderful!" she said. "You're going to buy something nice to wear for tomorrow?" I shook my head.

"I'm not going shopping and besides, I always have something nice to wear," I said. "I just want to go the library. I don't like typing on that thing."

"That thing is called a desktop," my dad called faintly from behind. My mother chuckled and gave me a quick hug. My dad appeared at the doorway. "Make sure to come back before dinner."

"Right. And if my legs are so tired of walking and walking, I won't have a cell phone to ask for a ride," I pointed out. My dad shook his head.

"We're not buying you a cell phone just yet," he said, smirking. I scowled and walked away from their bedroom. They don't know I get made fun of for not having a personal device. For being the only person in school without a cellphone or any social media. I was too alternative for them. Too alternative for that school.

My life just completely sucks.