And this was the part where I truly would die.

My best excuse wasn't appropriate at all. 'He's not my teacher anymore,' certainly wouldn't fit the standards of what my mom wanted me to say.

Normally, I'd be cocky. But right now? I didn't dare.

"Miss Valentine, say something," She ordered.

"He was just helping me with something-"

"-With what?"

"Something for school,"

"What for school? Huh? Don't be vague. Tell me,"

"Just a project- for- y'know, music. Just for music. He's just helping me with my music. That's all,"

"Why couldn't he help you in school?"

"He's not a teacher anymore,"

"So why are you still in contact with him?"

"Just- I don't know I just-"

"Don't you even dare lie to me Mallory Valentine,"

I looked over at my dad. Who was looking more at my mom.

"Now I'm going to ask you this once. And I want the truth. Are you seeing your teacher?"

"He's not my teacher-"

"-Mallory! Answer the question!"

"Yes- No! It was just that one time for help on a project!"

She took her eyes off me and breathed in, trying to physically stop herself from being hurled into rage.

"Mr Armstrong?" My dad asked. "That's the teacher helping you outside of school?"

"He's not a teacher anymore," I sighed. "He was only a substitute for our class- he left teaching weeks and weeks ago- okay?"

"Oh- so I suppose that makes things better," My mom scoffed.

"Better? I've not done anything bad-"

"-You're seeing your teacher Mallory Valentine!"

"He's not my teacher!"

"Is that suppose to make a difference!?"

"Erm- yes!"

She looked away at me again, taking in a deep breath through her mouth. "Go to your room,"

"My room? What am I five?"

"I said get to your room!"

"Alright! Alright!" I gave in pushing myself off the sofa. I felt my hands shake nervously as I made my way fast out the living room and making my way up the stairs and to my room.

Although I was still managing to be a cocky asshole, my heart had never pounded so fast. My hands were trembling as I tried looking around unbothered for my phone.

I wasn't actually quite sure what my next step here was. I didn't know how my mom would react to this- wether I'd be kicked out or grounded forever. Maybe they'd make me go live with some of my family or maybe I'd just have to leave now. Or maybe I'd have to ride out the punishment given- or maybe I'd be forced to ignore Billie.

After moving around my bed sheets trying to stop myself from panicking about what could go wrong, I realised my phone had been placed downstairs on the sofa beside me when I'd sat down.

I needed to ring Billie- I wasn't sure if they'd ever let me speak to him. I needed to at least explain myself before anything happened.

Beginning to tip toe out my room lightly and across the landing. I carefully made my way to the top steps. Only just pausing realising they were still in there speaking.

"It's always something with Mallory- but this? She thinks because she's growing up and leaving school this can happen?" My mom ranted.

I heard my dad sigh loudly.

"Am I boring you Aaron? Is the fact that your daughter is seeing a teacher boring you!"

"You're not boring me- I just, I think-"

"-You think what!? It's not a big deal!?"

I felt purely bad for my dad. He couldn't get one word in. He spoke so calmly, yet my mom kept making up accusations cutting him off.

It sort of reminded me of someone.

"Mallory that's not at all what I was saying. I still believe in you-"

"-Then stop, I would hate to disappoint you for a second time,"

/

"Mallory it wasn't like that, y'know I-"

"-No, no I remember seeing your face. You barley looked through it. Actually... you didn't look through it. You looked at my percentage, you shook your head and looked at me with this painfully disappointed look. And you- well you left after that,"

"Well... yes but-"

"-If you even looked through it you might've realised that wasn't my writing, it wasn't like you was surprised. It wasn't like you had to double check my marks. You just looked at it and you went 'would you look at that, just as I thought,' and left!"

/

"Billie we need to talk,"

"I know- I mean- I've been trying to talk with you but you've been angry at me-"

"-I'm still angry,"

/

"Mallory I told you that-"

"-I know what you told me! And I told you back that it wasn't enough!"

He took in a deep breath, he held the bridge of his nose with his fingers trying to calm himself down.

She sort of reminded me of myself.

Maybe that was why I hated her so much.

"No," He spoke calmy. "It's not that I don't think it's a big deal- it's just-"

"-Just what!?"

"Y'know- this isn't about Mallory anymore!"

"What do you mean this isn't about Mallory- do you not understand what she's done!?"

I stood up on the stairs, creeping down a little further.

"All you focus on is Mallorys problems! I'm sick of it!"

Leaning over carefully on the banister, I could see the both of them hostile stood in the living room. Both faces looking angry and yet fed up.

"Of course I speak about her problems she needs them fixing!"

"You don't even speak about your own!"

"What problems do I have!?"

"Oh come on Janet," he laughed sarcastically, looking over at her.

"No- go on. Enlighten me,"

"You're a narcissist, you're a hypocrite, you're cynical, bitter and mean- you dont interact with me anymore unless we're arguing, it's almost like you don't care for anyone but yourself,"

I really just wanted my phone at this point: hearing my dad become so honest with my mom made me scared for him. And for the world wind she would become, I did not want to get in the way of that hurricane.

"That's a lie and you know it! How about the last time you ever did anything for any one Aaron! If I cared for anyone but myself so much- why am I the one working? While you sit around and watch shitty tv. Why's that!?"

"I spent years and years of my life working as a college professor- I mean-" He scoffed at her slightly. "-You'd know,"

"So what's your job now? All you do is stay down here and-"

"-Because I stay out the way of you!"

"Why do you think I stay in my office so much!"

Really just want my phone right now.

"Y'know what- I've had it,"

"You have?" She laughed sarcastically. "Well- well so have I!"

"I want a divorce,"

Shit.

Did not see that one coming.

I watched my mom, her hands mid way in the air through action how she manically exaggerated her words with her hands, slowly sink down to her sides.

It was weird to see such an angry women so vulnerable.

"A divorce?" She asked him, her voice didn't sound so upset- but it didn't sound okay.

"I'm sick to death of the way you do things! You're so hypocritical of Mallorys life- you seem to forget our marriage. It's not working anymore- I want a divorce,"

The phone can wait.

I quickly made it back up my stairs, quickly running into my room to make sure I wouldn't be seen.

In all honesty, my parents splitting up wouldn't have much of an effect on me. I've never really seen them happy together in the first place. Wether it was my dads ignorance or my moms anger- they'd never seem to be compatible.

In years of my childhood. My dad wasn't a college professor. In fact. I hadn't even known he ever was one until now.

He worked much as a business man in my childhood- not a professor in the slightest- meaning I didn't see a lot of him. Tables turn now since my mom stays in her office.

Them splitting up wouldn't matter much to me. But I worried on the effect it would have on my moms attitude towards me. Since I'd caused this argument. Could this of been my fault?

Opening my draws, I rummaged through them to find the tiny slip of paper that Billie had wrote his number on for me. At the start of all this. When it was for 'educational purposes'.

I pushed things aside, failing to find it as I looked in another section of the draw. Then finally, with it all crimped up, I had found it.

I ran quietly as I could into my moms office room, taking the old office dial phone to my ear as I pressed his number in precisely.

"Pick up, pick up, pick up, pick up," I begged listening to the phone ring. Crossing my fingers with my free hand nervously. Praying my mom wouldn't walk in.

"Hello?"

"Billie! Oh thank God- you answered,"

"Mallory? Is that- whose phone are you calling me on?"

"My moms office phone- I can't speak for long, I'll need you to come pick me up now though,"

"Right now?"

"Please. but park up the street a little. So my parents won't see you pull over in front of the house,"

"Okay...?"

"Can you do that?"

"Yes...?"

"Alright- thank God." I breathed. Before putting the phone straight down hearing someone coming up the stairs.

I ran fast, not bothered if my feet sounded heavy on the landing throwing myself into my room.

I heard carefully, someone made their way into the office. The door shut gently. I breathed out finally. It was just my mom.

Leaving my room, I made my way downstairs where I could already see my dads figure. Sat on the sofa, but instead of this time watching shitty TV he had his head in his hands.

I walked in quietly, looking at my phone beside him. But I felt a ping of guilt hit me.

"Hi dad," I croaked up.

He picked his head out his hands, looking up releasing it was me. He gave me a tiny smile. "Hi Mallory,"

I picked the phone up beside him, but instead of walking away with it I sat down. Next to my dad. "I heard what happened between you and mom,"

He breathed out, looking over at me. "I'm sorry,"

"Whatever makes you happy," I shrugged.

He smiled again, not very sincere but I'll take it. "It's probably the best choice,"

"Maybe,"

There was a moment of silence as he looked away from me. Furrowing his face as he thought about what he was going to say next. How to word what he wanted to come out with.

Finally, he looked back over at me. "Be careful though,"

"Be careful?" I questioned confused. "What-? Of mom?"

"No- not of your mother Mallory,"

"Of what?"

"Seeing your teacher,"

I sighed. Pinching the bridge of my nose. I didn't know how much more I could stress this. "Dad- he's not my teacher anymore. He stopped teaching ages ago- he's got a different job,"

"Mallory- I'm not lecturing you. I'm just saying, be careful,"

I looked back. "Why?"

"You don't wanna get yourself- or him- in trouble. Just- y'know, be careful,"

He didn't seem to care much. In fact. He didn't seem angry at all. He seemed laid back about the whole situation. It was almost like I could've told him more and been honest with him. And maybe I would've- if my phone didn't start vibrating in my hands.

I looked down quickly, Billie was calling.

Shit.

"Thanks Dad." I told him, before standing up. "I gotta go run some errands for a friend- you're gonna be here when I get back... right?"

He looked up and me and gave me a shrug.

He didn't feel so useful anymore.

I nodded, getting the hint of how unbothered he really was. I skipped the goodbye, making my way out the living room again and through the front door. Where I could already see Billies car parked down the street.

Billie sat in his car staring down at his phone, as I pulled open the car door he looked beside at me. "What took you so long?" He asked impatiently. Turning his phone off. "I've been waiting forever. You took ages I-"

"-My mom and dad are getting a divorce,"

~

"I don't understand- I don't understand at all," Billie repeated, pacing around his room as I watched sitting from his bed.

"What's there not to understand Billie? My mom found out I'm 'seeing you'- she blew it up and my dad wants a divorce,"

"But- why would your dad want a divorce because of that-? It just doesn't make sense,"

"He wants a divorce because he said he's sick of my mom paying the marriage no attention or something,"

"So what- your parents are divorcing?" He asked finally pausing with walking as he looked over at me.

I shrugged. "I guess so yeah- pretty much,"

"You don't seem very bothered?"

"I mean- their marriage never seemed like it was working out. My dad ignored my moms efforts, my mom ignored my dads needs,"

"So you don't care at all? You've not even thought about who you're gonna live with? When you're visiting the other parent? None of that?"

I shrugged again. "I don't plan on living with any of them,"

"What do you mean?"

"What do you think I've been saving up my work money for. I'm moving out after I finally graduate from school. I'll keep no contact with any of them. My dad doesn't care and my mom only cares for herself,"

Billie squinted at me, before making his way over as he sat on the bed beside me. "You're hearing yourself- aren't you Mal?"

"What do you mean?"

"You don't care about your mom and dad because they don't care? You do realise that sounds a little..."

"...a little what?"

"Y'know..."

"...No?"

"I don't know... hypercritical? It just sounds a little bitter you're moving out and only caring about yourself,"

Weird. Sorta reminded me almost on what my dad said earlier.

"You're a narcissist, you're a hypocrite, you're cynical, bitter and mean- you dont interact with me anymore unless we're arguing, it's almost like you don't care for anyone but yourself,"

About... my mom.

Maybe I'm more like her than I thought.

More than I intended to be.

"No- no no no- no I'm not- I'm not a hypocrite at all I do care for other people. I don't just care for myself I don't-"

"-Mallory, I wasn't saying you do I was just saying how it sounded. Chill out- what's wrong with you?"

"I don't just care for myself- y'know that right? I care for you- and I care for Esme. I care about other people's needs,"

"What are you trying to prove here?"

"Nothing- I'm just making it clear. Y'know I care for other people, don't you?"

He looked at me slowly. Although confused, his eyebrows drawn down, he still nodded slowly. "Yeah... why?"

"I just... I just want you to know. That's all,"

He shook his head. "So anyway- after graduating from school let me get this straight." He started. "You're moving out?"

I nodded.

"By yourself?"

I nodded again.

"Into where?"

"Some shitty flat. I don't care where,"

"So you're moving out? By yourself? Into some shitty flat?"

"Precisely,"

"And how far away are you from graduating exactly?"

I looked away calculating quickly the tests I'd have left. "Three tests away. Depending on my scores- I either flunk high school or finally graduate after being held back so long,"

"You'll graduate,"

"I'm nearly twenty Billie- If I don't graduate then I'm a professional loser,"

He chuckled before shrugging. "Could be worse. Could've dropped out of school,"

"I tried." I breathed out turning on the bed as I laid my head back in his lap, looking up at him. "Someone wouldn't let me,"

"And for good reason," He smiled.

"Whatever- I'm nearly done anyway. Wether I fail or what. How's your album?"

He squeezed his eyes shut. "Don't remind me,"

"Stressful?"

"Painfully,"

"It'll be worth it- hey, you've not even told me anything about your album. What's even the name?"

He sighed, threading his fingers through my hair as he looked down at it. "Still figuring that out,"

"You'll find it- don't stress,"

By my knowledge- Billie was back in the studio tomorrow. And I was back to school. Sucks. But with both of us nearly coming to ends of these important parts of our life's, things would soon look better.

"Hopefully,"