My Forbidden Mate

Chapter 1 The car ride home was silent. Annie didn’t know if she wanted her dad to say something or just remain quiet. She had been in this situation too many times to know that he may or may not take this well. It happened again. Her principal had just added his name to the list of numerous people that she didn’t like. It was very obvious that he was behind it but she couldn’t prove it. She couldn’t prove that her principal had planted her friend’s phone in her bag and when the search for it beegun, he hadn’t asked for anyone's bag except hers just so that he would accuse her of theft and then she would be expelled because she had seen him with another student making out. She would have fought but then she would be asked why she didn’t come forward sooner, why she waited till she was on the brink of expulsion before she said the truth. People would say that she was lying, that she was just trying to get out of the punishment. No one would believe her. They never did. The car stopped in front of the house and her and her dad got out of the car and walked into the house, all the while maintaining the same decorum. They sat down on the couch, neither saying anything to each other because there was nothing to be said. The deja vu was hitting one too many times and it was like the scenario was an annual thing. “Dad, I didn’t do it.” She started. She didn’t know if explaining was going to do her any good but she just needed to say something. She expected him to say something, tell her how he didn’t believe the principal and how he trusted his daughter. “Dad-“ “I don’t know what to believe, Annie. Another school, the sme scenario. You are being accused and you always say you're innocent but then you were caught with the proof. How do you explain that?” Annie was almost speechless. “I don’t know, he planted the evidence. It’s not my fault that-“ “That is what you always say.” He rose to his feet “ Who’s fault is it, then?” “I don’t know but I mean it. These things just happen.” Her dad ran his hand through his hand and he was pacing. “The fourth school, Annie. The fourth time you're getting expelled. What a record. How do you think this is going to look on your college applications?” She opened her mouth to explain, to apologize, to tell him what had really happened to tell him that he was a good father and he was trying his best but he didn’t let her. “Go to your room, Annie. You’re grounded for a week until I can think of something or a place where they will accept you. And even if it takes six months, you’re going to still be grounded until then. “ Her mouth fell and it took a tear dripping down her face to draw her back to reality. He stormed upstairs, tired of her father’s unbelief in her. Making her feel less important. She threw herself on the bed and cried into her pillow. She poured out tears from her eyes for half an hour and then wiped her eyes, turned over and then picked up a picture of her mother from her nightstand. As she stared at it, fresh hot tears began pouring from her eyes and then the feelings that she had been trying to store away were now resurfacing again. The scene flashed before her eyes and it was like it was happening all over again. The curtain going up in flames, her running upstairs to her room to get her doll while her mu told her to run outside. By the time her mum could finally locate her through all the smoke and fire, the entire house was almost engulfed in flames. Her mother threw her out of the window and the neighbors were able to catch her but because the window was too small for her to climb out of, she had to wait for the fire department to arrive and by the time they did, it was too late. That had been the major deterrent in her life and it had been like life had been taken away from her. Things have stood still since that point and it was very obvious that her mum had been the major pillar in her life. The picture she was holding was the last picture that she had taken with him. They had gone out to the water park that day. When they got there and her mum asked her to get in the pool, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She started crying and she held on to her mother. “Hey baby, I'm here. You’ll be fine.” She held her face and looked her in the eye. Very slowly, she began loosening her hands and began to float on the water. Her mum stayed close and reminded her that she would always be there when she needed her. That was actually something that she loves about her mum. She always made herself available for her.Now she wasn’t sure how her life was turning out. Things were spiraling out of control and Annie didn’t know what to do. She just hoped that things were going to eventually work out because not only was this situation taking a very heavy toll on her it was actually tearing her and her father apart. It was like he was starting to believe what everyone was saying about her. They called her troublesome, rebellious, evil and a bully. Those were just the nice ones and the ones she was privileged to hear. Annie felt very alone and numb. If she could go back in time and change a lot of things, she would just so that everything would eventually work out for her.