A/N: Hi guys! So I'm alive hooray! My exams are over and I had two weeks of vacation, before I start my new grade on Monday. Yay.

Also the photo hahaha I'm wheezing.

I realised my book isn't getting a lot of reads, and then I realised it's probably my fault since I update so irregularly haha. Howeverrr any share and votes/ comments are appreciated:)

Aaah anyways without any further ado, here's the chapter!

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As I head home after school, I receive an email telling all the students that we have 3 days of holiday and then the weekend off, because a pipe burst in one of the washrooms. I grin at the thought of the long weekend and the amount of episodes of The Vampire Diaries I can watch.

To be honest, sounds absolutely perfect. No, wait, we're missing something! Okay add in tons of snacks and some chinese takeout and we're perfect.

As I walk down the street in my food paradise, the ringing of my phone brings me back to my senses. I see that it's Bella calling me and immediately pick up.

"Hey bestie"

I laugh at her favourite way of greeting me and reply, "hii, what's up?"

"Okay, so you heard about the long weekend right?" not waiting for me to reply she continues, "So I was thinking you've been in town, what two weeks now? Maybe more even. Anyways, you should really get out and explore, so we could even have a little date or picnic day if you want!"

I internally awww at how sweet she's being, but then immediately think, what if it's a dare? Or even worse, what if she took pity on me and decided to talk to the new loner girl? How do I know this isn't a joke and I'll end up there stranded and alone, and then I'll be the joke of the school, and everyone will laugh at me, no, I can't have another repeat, I don't want to move ag- 

"Helloooo Scarlett are you there? Ugh is this my stupid net again? I need to get it changed again, it never works." 

"Isabella?"

"-I hope she heard me though, and figures it out and calls me back-"

"Isabella just put the phone to your god damn ear!"

"- I was looking forward to going out, not to mention I'm in desperate need of a girl's nig-"

"ISABELLA" I yell for the umpteenth time, cutting her off mid sentence as she finally hears me. "Finally" I exclaim. "Oh and yeah I heard you, I would love to go with you, just let me ask my mom." I don't know what came over me, but hearing Bella made me believe she genuinely wanted to spend time with me. 

"OMG yayy okay! I can't wait, I already have it all planned out in my head, so first you can come over to my house and then we can get ready together and then we can-"

I cut her voice off in my brain as she continued rambling through the phone. Now I needed to figure out the best time to ask my mom if I could go out. You see, my mother was adopted at a young age by an old Asian couple, and her upbringing was very strict, and she didn't hesitate in being the same with me. 

Okay so thinking according to her timetable, she would be back home by 4:30 and then have her coffee and read a book, before starting dinner. She hated to be interrupted in her relaxing time, so my best bet was probably while she was slightly distracted making dinner, then she wou-

"-so is it okay with you?" I'm cut off yet again, as Bella finishes her long rant. 

We both were really a couple of ramblers, huh?

"Oh, uh yeah just text me the details and the time, and who all will be there. I kinda have a strict mom." I say sheepishly, feeling bad for not listening to her.

"Yess will do! And let me know if you agree with the plan, I mean I just took a guess of the stuff you like, so if you don't like it, please don't hate me, please plea-"

"Isabella! I'm sure I'll enjoy whatever you plan okay? Don't fret it, we'll just go with the flow."I say with a smile on my face, stopping her before she can break into speech.

Damn, does that girl talk a lot.

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I reach home before mom does, and quickly clean my room, do my History homework and the rest of my chores. I want her to have nothing to complain about when she comes back, so hopefully she'll let me go.

Honestly, having strict parents is tough, not to mention intensely annoying. Our entire lives, we live shrouded by the fear of what our parents would do if we disobeyed them, or even put one foot out of the line. It consists of a life of constantly sneaking around, and lying to your parents. You don't get to have that coveted mother-daughter bond, you already know all the 'talks' before you receive them, because it's too awkward between your parents and you. And, well it hurts. It hurts seeing other kids so close to their parents. Be it fishing with their dads, or cooking classes with them. Or yoga with their mom's and and the whole mani-pedi, spa day deal. I've never gotten to experience those, and quite frankly, I'm insanely jealous of those who do.

My mom is amazing, she is. She's worked hard her entire life, and even now, she's the one holding us together. She's made of steel, and awesome and powerful, and I'm so grateful for her. It's just complicated. She works on tough love. She won't ever compliment you straight out, at least not me, with Chloe, it's different.

Every time I go to show her any affection, or need someone to talk to, all she does is rebuke me. She hugs me back as a formality and then pushes me away in a second to ask me if I've done my work, well that, or she makes comments on my appearance or my grades.

Call me a sensitive baby, but it hurts to be.... rejected, by someone you care about every single time, no matter how hard you try.  

Wow, I should become a motivational speaker.

I hear the door shut downstairs, and run down instantly, thundering down the stairs in anticipation, forgetting my previous woes. "Hi mom! How was your day?" I greet as I hug her hard. 

She pats my back and then says, "Walk softer from next time Scarlett, it's extremely annoying. And my day was good honey, how was school? Did you submit all your assignments?"

Yup, there it is.

"Yeah mom I did. You know me, I always have my work done. I'm gonna head up to my room now, my show is waiting." I say, all traces of a smile wiped off my face.

~~~~~~~~

As I hear the loud banging of pots and pans downstairs, I decide it's time to put my plan into action. I head down with my whole speech rehearsed in my head. "Hey mom! What's for dinner? Oh and I completely forgot to tell you, the lunch you packed for me was so good! I loved it, and so did all my fri-"

"Not now, Scarlett can't you see I'm busy?" she says as she puts the rice in the cooker.

"Right" I say in a small voice. "I just wanted to talk to you. But I guess there's always time for that later right?"

Not in her (relatively empty) schedule there isn't. Well, not for me at least. 

"Well I just wanted to ask if I could go out with my friend tomorrow? She says she's taking me to explore the town and we'll probably stop at a coffee shop or the mall or something. And I'll keep my phone on at all times, and send you my live location, and I'll give you Bella's number as well as her parents. I really hope you let me go, I'm so excited it sounds like so mu-"

"Okay Scarlett, you can go, just stop talking now. I'm busy trying not to burn the rice for your dinner."

"Oh, okay thanks mom, I love you."

I'm met with silence.

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A/N: Sorry if I got a little carried away with her thoughts today, I just wanted to give you an inside look at her home life. I feel bad for her tbh :// 

Question of the day: If you knew they would be honest and the answer would be 100% true, what would be one question you would ask your parents?

Let me know in the comments! And please make sure to leave a vote and a comment, it makes me motivated to think people are actually reading my story🥺

What do think so far? Is the writing and grammar okay? Are we moving too fast/ too slow? All feedback is appreciated :))

-xoxo, hails✰