The gangster next door

Chapter 2

“Angelina Taylor. Get your a*s here right this instant.” I heard my mother’s loud voice as soon as I stepped into the house. She was pissed about something, that one was clear, and I suspected it was about today, but I wasn’t sure. I did so many stupid things that I could never be sure what they found out at that moment.

“Yes, mommy?” I asked her as I stepped into the living room. She was standing there with her arms akimbo and I tried to look at her with my best puppy eyes. I used to practice in front of my mirror sometimes to make it perfect.

“Don’t ‘yes, mommy’ me. What have you done again?” She asked furiously, and I looked at her in confusion, before I looked at my dad who was sitting on the couch, working on his tablet. “Don’t look at your dad. He won’t help you this time, young lady.” She added, and I let out a sigh of defeat. My dad always took my side.

“But daddy, I didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t even know what this is about.” I whined to him. He let out a sigh and stood up from the couch.

“Claudia, my darling, let her have her dinner at least. We can talk later.” Dad told her softly and pressed a kiss onto her cheeks before he turned to face me and winked at me when mom didn't see it. “Listen to your mom, kiddo. I told you the last time if you get into trouble again, I will step back.” He reminded me with an apologetic expression on his face.

“But what did I do? How can I defend myself if you don’t tell me?” I asked my mother while I threw my hands in the air in frustration.

“Go and wash up, we will talk at dinner.” She said and headed to the kitchen. My dad just shrugged his shoulders helplessly before he followed her.

‘Sh*t.’ I thought before I headed to my room. I hoped it wasn’t serious, and I could convince them that I didn’t do it, whatever they were accusing me of.

I took a quick shower and put on a t-shirt and shorts before I went to sit down at the dining table. Mom placed the food in the middle of the table, and we all started eating in silence.

My dad was tall, and he had dark blond hair and gray eyes, which I inherited from him. My mom was an average woman with brown hair and brown eyes, but her personality was far from average. She was strict with me, not like my dad. I had always been his princess.

“So, can you tell me what’s going on?” I couldn’t wait till the end of dinner, so when I ate half of my food, I asked her. She looked at my plate, like always when she knew that I would just leave after hearing what she had to say. It had happened a lot before, so she learned from that already because she always told me to eat properly.

“Please, Gordon, let me have a word with her alone.” Mom said to dad and my eyes widened while my dad let out a sigh before nodding his head.

“Alright.” He said and carried his place towards the living room.

‘Sh*t.’ I knew that I was in trouble.

“No, wait dad. Why does he need to leave?” I asked mom in panic.

“Because we already discussed this, and he is always too soft on you, but now you are really in trouble, young lady.” My mom said while trying to stay calm.

“But what did I do, mom?” I asked her.

“Mrs. Johnson was here again.” She said, and my eyes widened slightly. “She said that you drove into her trash bin again the other day.” She added accusingly.

“That was an accident, mom.” I told her in my defense, but it totally wasn’t. I was a great driver, but I hated that old fart with passion, and the feeling was mutual because she hated me too.

“For the fifth time in a month?” She asked furiously. “That’s not an accident anymore, Angelina.” She added and I let out a sigh.

“But still, it was before I promised you that I wouldn’t do things like that again. It was before you wanted to send me to my grandparents, so that doesn’t count.” I told her, hoping she would let me off the hook this last time. It was just two weeks from the end of school. I needed to hold on until then without getting into trouble.

“Oh, yeah?” She asked as she folded her arms in front of her chest and I gulped. “Then what about the prank with the stinking bomb today?” She asked, and I looked at her in fake confusion.

“What are you talking about?” I asked her. How did she find out so fast? We didn’t even get caught?

“Do you think I am stupid, my dear daughter? Mrs. Coleman called me today and asked me what time you got home from school because someone pulled a prank on her after classes? I lied to her that you were home early, but I knew it was you. You can’t fool me.” She said and I let out a sigh.

“No, mom. It wasn’t me.” I told her desperately.

“Enough of your lies, Angie. I am tired of them, so I have decided to send you to my parents for the summer, away from your troublemaker friends. You need to grow up for god’s sake.” She said, and my eyes widened as I stood up from the table, making the chair fall back.

“What? You can’t do that. I am twenty years old, I am not a child anymore.” I told her furiously.

“You will do as I say until you live under my roof, young lady. I won’t let you waste your life like that. You will need to learn responsibility, so you will go there and help my parents around the house for two months. By the time you come back, I will look for a job for you, so enjoy your time until you can.” She said, and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“But dad...” I whined loudly, so my dad would hear it from the living room. I felt like crying.

“Your dad won’t help you this time. We just want the best for you, Angie. You will see that when you get older. Life is not about jokes, pranks and fun. It’s time to grow up.” She said and stood up from the table to take her plate to the sink.

I realized that I wouldn’t be able to change her mind, so I stomped my feet in frustration before I stormed into my room and slammed the door behind me hard.

'I should have known, but I didn’t think they would actually do it. What should I do? I have two weeks to be with my friends before school ends. Maybe I can prove myself to them by then, so she will change her mind. I should look for a job as well, so she would see that I am responsible. Yeah, that’s what I am going to do.' I thought to myself before I opened my laptop and started searching for jobs.

'I won’t let her do this to me.'

*

*** Two weeks later ***

*

“Angelina Taylor.” The principal called my name from the podium with a huge smile on her face. “Finally.” She added quietly, but everyone heard it, and they started laughing and clapping wildly.

I made my way up the stage, dressed nicely like everyone else and bowed in front of the crowd.

“Thank you, thank you.” I said before I took my certificate from the principal’s hand. “I did it, baby.” I shouted towards the crowd before I turned back to the principal. “Don’t miss me too much.” I added, and she rolled her eyes at me before I turned on my heels and walked down the stage.

“We did it.” Colton hugged me tightly and Bobby joined in the hug as well.

“Congratulations, guys.” He said and patted our shoulders.

“Thanks, dude.” Colt said before he turned to me. “So, can you stay?” He asked impatiently and I shrugged my shoulders.

“I don’t know yet. I will talk to them today. Wish me luck.” I said, and I saw my mother waving at me from far to join them. “I need to go now, I will call you later.” I told the guys.

“Alright, good luck.” They said and I hurried away.

“Congratulations, honey.” Dad kissed my cheek and handed over a bouquet of flowers happily.

“Finally,” Mom just said with a half smile.

“Thanks, dad.” I just ignored her. “Let’s go home.” I said, and we got into the car and dad started driving.

I did everything in my power to convince them to let me stay. I helped the annoying neighbor around the house and apologized to her. Colt and I stopped with the pranks on the teachers. I found a job at a bar and I tried to be at home more often and help mom with the chores. If that wasn’t enough, then I don’t know what else I should have done. I was more than sure she would let me stay.

My dad pulled up in front of our house. We got out of the car and headed inside.

“Can I talk to the two of you for a moment?” I asked my parents nervously as soon as we walked into the living room.

“We don’t really have time to talk, Angie. You will be late for the airport. I already packed your bags while you were at school.” Mom said, and my eyes widened.

“What?” I asked in disbelief and turned to my dad. “Dad, I have changed a lot. I stopped the pranks. I helped Mrs. Johnson and apologized to her as well. It wasn’t easy, let me tell you. I also have a job now. Why can’t I stay?” I asked them helplessly.

“Don’t raise your voice at us, Angelina. Acting normal for two weeks doesn’t mean that you had changed. What kind of job did you find anyway?” She asked.

“I am going to work at a bar. I have already talked to them. I can start next week and the money is good.” I told her and she shook her head disapprovingly.

“I won’t let you work in a bar, Angie. My decision is final. Go and change. We are leaving in twenty minutes.” She said, and I looked at dad.

“I am sorry, honey. You know how your mom is. I couldn’t convince her, but I agree with her about the bar. That’s not the place where I want you to work ever. It’s just two months. Your grandparents are excited about seeing you. I am sure you will have fun, and you will like it there. Give them a chance, alright?” Dad asked and I let out a sigh.

“I don’t want to go, dad. I did everything for nothing in the last two weeks. I don’t even have time to say goodbye to my friends.” I complained to him desperately.

“I will get a good job for you in the office by the time you get back, alright?” He asked, ignoring what I said, and I knew that it was pointless to say anything else.

I looked downwards sadly before I turned on my heels and headed upstairs to change. I felt like the whole world was against me, along with my parents.