Becoming The MC Princess

Ah, the epitome of an average person's day. Or so I would like to imagine. Picture this: I gracefully arise from my slumber, rejuvenated and ready to conquer the world. I commence the ritual of showering, fixing my fabulous hair, slathering on makeup (to enhance my already impeccable features, of course), and carefully selecting an outfit that screams "I'm effortlessly stylish." Once I've completed this dauntingly glamorous process, I gather all the necessary tools for my day of intellectual enlightenment. And now, the moment arrives where I must venture beyond the safety of my bedroom, bravely stepping into the unknown abyss - also known as the rest of the house. With a calm grip on the doorknob, I can't help but notice the frigid touch of the copper metal against my delicate skin. And so, I utter the prayer that has become an all-too-frequent chant: "Oh dear, may Mother still be absent or at least lost in the realms of deep slumber." Summoning every ounce of courage, I swung open the door and cast my eyes downward, traversing the treacherous stairs, passing through the perilous kitchen, and finally resting upon the gateway to our noble chariot - the garage door. A sigh of immense relief escapes my lips, as if a forgotten breath from long ago. The duct tape, valiantly holding the all-important blue yarn to the wall, stands steadfast. The blue yarn, symbolizing the status of the doors, remains triumphantly tied to the majestic front door. You see, dear reader, had the doors been carelessly left open, the yarn would have been cruelly ripped from its humble tape abode. With a sense of accomplishment and a growling stomach, I descended the stairs, not forgetting to snatch an apple from the kitchen counter - my veritable sustenance for this momentous journey. And just as the universe conspires to challenge my nerves, the ominous sound of a phone's ringing interrupts my courageous stride... Oh, fantastic! Just what I needed - a phone call from my Mom, because who wouldn't want to accept charges for this delightful conversation? I mean, how could I possibly ignore her? Walking three whole steps backwards and ever so graciously picking up the phone, I excitedly greeted the automated voice at the other end, eagerly awaiting the thrill that was about to unfold. "Please hold while your call is connected," the mechanical voice declares with such enthusiasm. Oh, the suspense is absolutely killing me! Finally, the long-awaited moment arrives. My dear mother’s melodious voice fills the airwaves, demanding my immediate assistance in escaping her wretched confinement. Naturally, the first question that springs to mind is: "Mom, pray tell you, what brought you all the way to Colorado? This is truly a fascinating turn of events, I must say." But oh no, dear reader, how foolish of me! That question, apparently, is none of my business. Silly me, daring to inquire about my mother's whereabouts! Undeterred by her lack of information-sharing skills, I pushed forward. "Well, Mother dearest, I would absolutely love to bail you out. But could you please enlighten me as to how a mere thirteen-year-old child like myself could possibly accomplish such a feat? And just out of curiosity, how steep is this bail mountain we need to conquer?" Her response, surprisingly calm this time, informs me that a bail agent could work their magic for a mere $32,000. Just pocket change, really. Nothing to worry about! Feeling slightly overwhelmed by the situation, I mustered up all my courage and asked the most crucial question of all: "Mom, I hate to bother you with such trivial matters, but could you kindly enlighten me on the whereabouts of the elusive E.B.T. card? You see, our bills are fashionably three days past due, and our food stamps expect their grand entrance today." To which my endearing mother responds with yet another outburst of passionate enthusiasm, exclaiming, "Why, my dear child, the E.B.T. card is safely secured on my property, right where it shall stay until my triumphant release!" And just when I thought the rollercoaster ride couldn't get any more thrilling, I dared to utter those fateful words: "Mom... who, by chance, might be the lucky gentleman we refer to as my father?" Well, let's just say that my expectations for a straightforward answer are unsurprisingly low. "Oh, yes, your father... Go to the HellFire M.C. compound, and into their bar. Ask for P... Then, when he comes, tell him who you are," she said before adding, "Tell him I need to be bailed out now!" She is bat s**t crazy, "Sure, Mom", then I hung up the phone, ending the call. Ignoring the ringing of the phone, I leave the house and head to school. She must think I am a blond to ask me to go alone to the biker bar on the biker compound. It's not going to happen. I will just go to the biker kids at my school and ask that senior bad boy, Kevin. I finally reached school after 15 minutes of walking and headed straight for the covered benches at the side of the school's main entrance, where the M.C. kids can always be found. Once I rounded the corner of the building, a group of biker kids came into view, spread out along all four benches. Kevin is off to the side of the front table with Britney stuck to his face. Planting my feet firmly in front of him and spoke as if Britney were not attached to his face, 'I need to speak to you in private, please.' Kevin stopped kissing the witch to look at me with one brow raised. 'Wench, can you not see we are freaking doing something?' Britney snarls. 'Britney, if I were to wait for you to not have a guy stuck to your face... well, I would be waiting a lifetime, and I just really do not have that kind of time to be waiting,' I snapped right back. Kevin laughed, standing up, causing her to fall from his lap. 'I will teach you your damn place, Raina,' she says just as a burning, stinging pain spreads over my cheek. 'Oh, I know she did not just slap me,' I think, and before anyone had a chance to react, I shoved my bag into Kevin's arms as my fist connected with... Britney's face. The sound of snapping cartilage followed by her screams has the most satisfying effect on my mood. She grabs her face with both hands bending over, "Wrong move Brit," I say as my knee comes up. At the same time, both my hands push down on the back of her head, helping her face meet my knee. I feel great putting her in her place for once, as I watch her fall backwards onto the ground unconscious. Someone pouring cold water over my hands has me snapping back to reality as the hottie says, "I need to get her blood off of you, so there is no visible evidence left on you." "Luke ... I think she is good now." Kevin laughs. Luke's cheeks turn a bright pink as he says, "Right." "Let us walk and talk," Kevin says, walking off with my bag. I, of course, ran after him, "I was hoping that you would help me get in touch with one of the members of your club." He stops looking at me for a second before reaching into his pocket, pulling out his phone, and dialing a number as he holds it to his ear. Wait a moment, "Hey, I have someone here that is looking to get a hold of you ... Yes it is ... Okay, I will." "How do you know that the person you just spoke to is the same person I am looking for??" I asked, raising a brow. Kevin freaking laughs and says, "You are looking for your Dad, correct ??" Blinking rapidly up at him a few times before I replied, "YES... yes I am." "Well, he is just around the corner and said to tell you he will be here in less than two minutes", just as he finishes speaking, as a man on a Harley pulls into the parking lot and over the curb, coming to a stop right in front of us. I thought that I was going to take a few steps back, only to find that Kevin had decided otherwise as he pulled me forward, "That fast huh ... I thought maybe he would call me later or something." The man on the bike stared at me for a long moment before climbing off his bike and coming to stand in front of me. I realized as Kevin pulled me once more in front of him, that I again was backing away from the man, "Raina ... I would never hurt you, Baby Girl." He pulls off his sunglasses and I see my own eyes looking back at me as a single tear falls from each of his eyes, "You know my name? Who I am ??" "You think that I would not have tabs on my only daughter, my dear Raina ??", he asks me with mock pain covering his heart with his hand. "I had no clue who you were till this morning ... So ... NO," I answered with the truth. He rubs the back of his neck, "What finally convinced her to tell you who I was ??" My body moved on its own accord as I flew forward, wrapping my arms around his waist and, without thinking I was vomiting the words, "I have wanted to know who you were since the first time I found out about Dad's!! My Mom's reasons for finally telling me who you are had nothing to do with me wanting to meet you or start a relationship with you. Please do not leave me now that I have finally found you !! I swear I am nothing like her and I really need you !!" I finally break as I cry into his chest, and he runs his fingers through my hair, "Raina ... There is nothing on this planet or any other, that could get me to walk away from you now or ever, now that you have found me !! Am I clear ??" "Promise me??" I asked with tears streaming down my cheeks. "That is on my life, my heart, and my club Baby Girl, I promise you," he says, hugging me tightly. "My Mom told me to go to the bar on the compound and ask for you, because she needs bail money. She has our E.B.T. card with her and won't let it go till she is out of jail... not like I could get to Colorado to pick it up anyway," I told him. "Well... Wait ... What the hell is your Mother doing all the way in Colorado in the first place ??", he asks. "I do not know, I have only seen her three times since she got out of prison this last time," I told him. "How many times has she been to prison?? When was the last time she got out??" he asks me. Thinking for a moment, "Almost four months ago, she was in and out of prison and jail my entire life. It only became harder after Mrs. Smith passed away, because then I was alone most of the time." "When did Mrs. Smith pass away??", he asked. Looking down at my feet, "Four years ago. She always took good care of me when Mom was not around, and she made sure that I could take care of myself by the time I was 8, the basics to survival, you know. She wanted to make sure that I could take care of myself when she found out that she was sick, before she ended up being taken by the sickness. She also made sure that I could defend myself and took me to firearms classes. I had my firearms license by the time I was 10 years old, and I just got my concealed weapons permit when I turned 13 years old." "How is that even possible ?? You are not even 18 years old yet," my father asks as he leads us to sit at the table under the gazebo. "Mrs. Smith has a brother who works for the F.B.I. He has the highest rank in the F.B.I. He put Mrs. Smith in self-defense training and when she took me from the social workers, I went with her. So, I have been being trained since I was born," I explained. He has a look of realization as he asks, "What is his name ??" "Jack Smith," I said with a rased brow. "Okay... so am I to understand that your mother gave you to someone, not me, to raise you for the first 6 years of your life and ... You know what ... Let's, go to your place, you can ride with me," he says, getting up and pulling me to his bike. School had already started and switched to second period, so I decided why not. He helps me on the back of his Harley and puts his helmet on top of my head, before getting on and driving away from school. We pulled into the driveway and climbed off the bikes. I unlocked the front door, walking in with my father hot on my heels. He walks straight to the ringing phone on the kitchen wall and answers it, "Hello ... Yes .... Candy, I have to say this has been a surprising morning .... I would not be here if she had not .... You are going to have to blame that on me .... She did tell me that .... How much is your bail Candy ??.... 35,000 ?? What did you do, Candy ??.... I will have to talk with Zara and see if we have that much on hand.... Ya, she is right here. Hold on." He hands me the phone, "Hello." "I have already talked to Snake, and he said he would bail me out tomorrow morning. Tonight he will be there to spend time with you, so you had better be ready for him when he gets there. You understand what I mean??" She says, making my blood run cold. "I understand what you said, Mother," I said without any emotion. While I am on the phone, my father is going through the empty cupboards, fridge, and taking notice of everything I am out of. Just then, the phone cuts out and the power goes out, leaving me to hang up the now-disconnected phone. I open all the windows to let the light in. Instinct takes over as I go through the house, pulling out all my emergency candles and oil lanterns for when it gets dark tonight. "I think I am going to take a shower and then lay down for a bit before this migraine gets any worse, but may I see you tomorrow??" I asked. He nods and says, "I will have Kevin come get you in the morning and bring you some food for tonight. Love you Raina." And then he is gone, and I am left alone to prepare for Snake.