BAD REP(102)

But...

“Stop stressing.  Your parents will like him.  You need to stop building things up unnecessarily in your head.  You'll end up in the loony bin at this rate,” Riley told me, giving me a sharp look.  Introducing Riley Walker, my good sense.

“You're right.  Turning off my overactive mind now.” I tapped my head and gave her a smile.  Riley snorted.  She watched me continue my one woman whirling dervish as I flitted around the apartment, making it as clean as humanly possible.

Finally it was time for me to get showered and dressed.  I chose a simple, knee length flowered skirt with a short sleeved pink shirt.  Virginia was enjoying unseasonably warm weather; fall hadn't begun to move in.  I loved it.  I hated when I had to start cramming my feet into closed toed shoes and cover my legs with pants and leggings.  I was a summer gal and I would live it up while I could.

I had just finished putting my hair back in a braid when the doorbell rang.  Riley answered it before I could and I listened to my mom and dad's voices drift back from the living room.  Riley must have said something amusing because I could hear my dad's rich laugh.

I walked down the hallway and saw my roommate and parents talking animatedly.  My parents may be older but they still looked great.  I got my long, dark hair from my mom.  She wore hers down and it curled around her shoulders.  Her face was only just starting to show signs of wrinkles, primarily around her eyes and her mouth.

My dad was a big dude.  He towered over my mom's 5 foot 3 frame.  He was clean shaven with a strong jaw and dark brown eyes.  His thick, black hair was peppered with white and his mouth was smiling.  I wasn't used to my dad looking happy.  He was serious guy.  Being a high school English teacher, his thought process often went right over my head.  He had always had high expectations for me and I knew I often fell short of them.

“Hi Mom.  Dad,” I said, joining the trio in the living room.  My mom's face lit up when she saw me and immediately enveloped me in a warm, rose-scented hug.  My dad gave me a small smile, nothing like the one he had been wearing seconds earlier.  My mom pulled back and patted my cheek before my dad leaned in to pat my back.

No hug.  Just a freaking pat on the back.  What, was I a dog?

My mom looked around the apartment.  “It looks so clean in here.  I'm glad to see you guys aren't like other college students living in squalor,” she stated.  I shared a look with Riley.  If she only knew that on a normal day, our coffee table was covered in used glassware and empty pizza boxes.  And our kitchen would have dirty dishes piled in the sink.   We weren't complete slobs, just lazy about housekeeping.

“Thanks,” I said.  My dad was looking around, and I knew he was trying to find something to criticize.    I hated how inadequate that man made me feel.

“So what exactly did you spend all of your money on? Because I'm not seeing anything here that cost more than fifty bucks at a garage sale,” my dad asked coldly.

I tensed and my mom hissed out, “Dan!”  Two minutes in and I was ready to cry.  This was going to be a long day.

“Well, you know our Mays.  Giving to the homeless and feeding stray animals.”  Riley jumped in.  “So, Mr. Ardin, how are those Gamecocks doing this year?” she asked, steering the conversation away from my spending habits to the football team at my dad's alma mater, the University of South Carolina.  Another reason for my dad's chronic disappointment where I was concerned.  He wanted me to go to USC, I wanted to come to Rinard with their awesome English Program.  That hadn't gone over well.

I gave Riley a look of intense gratitude as my dad launched into a detailed stats rundown of his favorite college football team.  “Do you want anything to drink, Mom?” I asked, heading into the kitchen.  My mother followed me.

“I'd love some iced tea if you have it.”  Of course I had iced tea.  I'd stocked up because my mother drank it by the gallon.

I got a flowered glass down from the cabinet and poured her some tea.  “I love these glasses, Maysie.  They're adorable,” my mother said a little too enthusiastically.  I knew she was trying to make up for my dad's nastiness.  That was the way of our family.  I was the royal screw up, my dad got pissed and my mom worked her ass off to smooth it over, even as she drilled in her own guilt trip.