Chapter Two

"You didn't come home last night,” my mother said, staring at my father as he walked into the kitchen. Her face showed no emotion besides curiosity

"Yes, I know I'm sorry, sweetie, I fell asleep at the office,” my dad said, looking sincere. My mom only nodded.

"Are you going back?" she asked him.

"Yea they are still doing registrations today and tomorrow so it's going to be busy,” my dad said and mom nodded.

"Okay, I'll pack a lunch for you,” she started to take out lunch meat from the refrigerator and dad hugged and thanked her before heading upstairs to change.

"Dirty rotten liar,” I heard mom mumble, causing me to raise a perfectly plucked eyebrow. She threw the butter knife on the counter causing me to jump a little.

"Something wrong, Mom?" I asked and she huffed giving me one of her famous death glares.

"Claire, honey I think your father is cheating on me,” she told me all of sudden causing me to choke on my cereal. A few minutes later after almost dying from choking, I finally regained myself.

"What are you talking about, Mom? That is ridiculous. Is this because of him sleeping at the office?" I asked her and she just shook her head.

"No, he smells like another woman! His tie was all out of place and- hello honey!” Mom said stopping what she was saying as my father walked into the room wearing a new professional looking outfit.

"New outfit?" Mom asked, and he nodded.

"Work decided to give me a raise,” he said, and she smiled.

"That's great! Oh and Claire has found a college she is going to!” Mom said all of a sudden.

"I have?" I asked through a bite of cereal.

"Where are you going?" Dad asked and I was about to tell him I had no idea but mom interrupted.

"I can't remember the name but she is going to one of the colleges in Chicago!"

"Oh wow! When do you leave?" he asked me. I sighed and just let my mom answer. "Tomorrow morning, isn't that right, honey?" she asked me and I just nodded slowly.

"Yea um... tomorrow?" I agreed, but it sounded more like a question.

"Oh, I'm sorry I can't see you go! I'll make sure to try to get home tonight earlier and we can all have a family dinner. Shannon, please make sure Jeffery is home for dinner tonight. I got to go but bye love you both. I'm proud of you Claire." Dad told us, kissing mom and my forehead before leaving with a wave.

"Mom! What the hell was that about?" I asked her, and she just smiled.

"Claire, I know which college you're going to,” she told me and I raised an eyebrow in amusement.

"Oh?" I asked, and she nodded.

"You are going to the university where your dad works,” she told me and I shook my head

"No, I am not. That’s an all-boys university and second of all, it's barely even a university. They accept sixteen-year-olds there,” I said looking at her amused. She couldn't actually think I could go there, right?

"I know. That is why when a petite boy with a small set of boobs comes in they won't even question it,” she said waving me off.

"I don't know if you noticed, but my boobs aren't exactly small," I said causing her to glance up from her laptop.

"They will be once you put some wrap around that chest of yours."

"You must be high," I said, shaking my head at her craziness.

"Oh, shush. I'm registering you online right now,” she told me and I scoffed. She couldn't be serious.

"Why on Earth would I do that? Why would I waste a year in college as a fake person? I wouldn't get any credit for going there,” I said and she shook her head, a smile sliding up her face.

"You, darling, are going to find out if your father is cheating on me,” she said looking determined.

"Mother,” I snapped. "This is ridiculous!"

"Listen, I'll work it out in the end. I'll talk to someone and make sure you get credit for any classes you take there. We can say you're a transgender or something,” she told me before heading upstairs.

"Mom! “I yelled storming after her. "What is wrong with you? I refuse to go to that university! Send Jeffery if you really think Dad is cheating on you! Which he's not,” I said, following her upstairs.

"Do you know that for a fact? No? I didn't think so,” she said, before clicking one button on her laptop and closing it. "Jeffery isn't mature enough for this and your father teaches college level classes, not the younger ones.” I let out a deep breath.

Don't yell. Don't yell. Don't yell.

"Hey, I'll give you some money and you can invite Mia over to go with and help you get some clothes. Maybe even Nathan will help. Just make sure to buy some Axe or something that will make you smell less girly!" she told me setting down her laptop and grabbing her purse. “I'll give you $150. No actually $250 because you need to buy a guy’s luggage carrier."

"I can't believe you. You already thought this through, didn't you?” I said, shaking my head as I paced back and forth. “Mom, just think about your daughter for a second. This is probably illegal to go to an all-boys school if you're a female! Which is something I am,” I yelled at her and she just raised an eyebrow.

"Like I said, we'll use that you're a transgender or something."

"But I'm not and it's terrible to lie about that. You act like it's some joke,” I snapped, glaring at her.

"Claire Martez, don't you dare talk to me like that. You may not be happy with this idea, but I am your mother. I'm not forcing you to do this, but I am begging you. And remember I spent, at least, nine hours trying to get you out of my body eighteen years ago! The least you could do is repay me by finding out if your father is cheating on me!" she yelled, tears welling up in her eyes making me release an irritated sigh. I walked over and sat by her and pulled her into a hug.

"Okay, Mom, "I muttered. “I’ll do this just till I find out! But once I find out I'm leaving and going to my choice of a college!" I told her and she smiled her tears just suddenly disappearing.

What a faker.

"Thank you, Claire! I always knew you were my favorite!" she told me, grabbing her laptop and pulling up the registration application and clicking send.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," I muttered, waving her off as I walked out of her bedroom. I slid my phone out of my back pocket and dialed the number I knew from heart.

"Hey, bae," Mia said in a high pitched voice making me laugh. Mia had been my best friend since elementary school. Although we did get in fights sometimes I still loved her as if she was my own family.

"Are you back from Florida?" I asked her as I looked down at my chipped nails. I guessed this polish would have to be taken off.

"Sadly yes. I'm back in the nice and chilly Seattle, Washington,” she told me and I smiled just imagining her rolling her eyes.

"I'm appalled you didn't call me once you arrived back home," I said, turning on my TV with the remote.

"Sorry! I've been packing for college all week. You know I leave Thursday. Speaking of, tonight we have to go out to that club a few streets away,” she said and I bit back a smirk. I knew exactly which one she was talking about. It was actually right by that university. Or well by both universities since there was one for boys and another for girls. Why my father couldn't work at the girls’ one? I don't know, but whatever.

"Sounds good! I leave tomorrow morning, so it will be a way for us to get together before we both are off to college,” I said while trying to pick my black nail polish off my fingernails.

Couldn't you just use nail polish remover?

"Did you get into Princeton?" she asked, and I frowned.

"No, I wasn't accepted," I told her sadly. My poor baby would be missing out on a quite fantastic person.

"Aww, it's okay! I'm sure whatever college you go to will be better!" She said encouragingly. "Wait, you are still going to college, right? Because I know that was your number one choice, but you wouldn't be that stupid to just not go. Right?"

I shook my head at my friend, putting her on speaker as I changed into a pair of white skinny jeans. "That's actually what I called you about," I yelled, almost falling over as I tried to pull the jeans up my legs. "Yes, I'm still going to college, but come pick me up and we'll go to the mall. I'll explain everything there,” I told her and she quickly replied with an 'okay.'

"Be there in ten,” she added me before hanging up. I pulled on a black blouse and slipped on some flats. I decided to just put my blonde hair in a fishtail braid. By the time I was done, Mia arrived and we were soon on our way to the mall. This whole process would be interesting.