Biker Chick by Dakota Knight

glare was so hard, it felt like she had slapped me again. “Don’t you dare bring him into this. He had nothing to do with it.”
    â€œHow could I not bring up the man you’re replacing my dad with?”
    Another slap did come. I don’t know how she got from her chair to where I was standing so quick, but she did. Then, just as quick as she rose, she walked to her chair and sat back down, heaving up and down as she tried to catch her breath.
    â€œLord knows, I’m sorry. And I pray I’m doing the right thing. The choice I’ve made may be hard on you, but don’t you ever question the love I had for your father. I stuck by him through thick and thin. But he’s gone now, and God has brought someone new into my life. Someone living the kind of life I want to lead. That’s more that I can say for you.”
    She rose from her chair again before continuing. “I wish you the best, but you want to make your bed, and I want you to lie in it. I’m about to go to shopping. I’ll be out for a while. When I return, I don’t want to see you here. Make sure you leave my key on the table. I’ll be changing the locks tomorrow.”
    â€œCan’t we talk about this?” I asked with a sense of urgency. “I mean, you sound like you’re cutting me off or something.”
    â€œGood-bye, Crystal,” Mom said before she walked toward the kitchen. A couple minutes later, I heard her car start up. I was in the house alone.
    It took me at least ten minutes to absorb our conversation. I wasn’t dumb enough to think Mom was playing with me. I could tell by the tone in her voice that she was beyond pissed. I just hoped it was a passing phase. She would get over it in a couple days and then call me and tell me to come over so we could talk.
    I went into my room and looked around. Most of my gear, clothes, shoes, and such, were already at Ray’s house. Of course, I still had stuff there, posters on the wall, pictures of me and my friends, the large stuffed rabbit my dad gave me for my eighth birthday. Surely Mom wouldn’t get rid of that stuff , I thought. I decided against taking anything with me, not that I had anywhere to put anything on Foxy Baby. I convinced myself Mom was just upset. I did however, put the key on the table. I had a feeling she was going to change the locks. The key was my attempt at a peace offering.
    I didn’t really start getting upset until I went back to Ray’s. He wasn’t home yet. As I sat in the den, a sense of loneliness washed over me. I couldn’t explain it. I shook it off, ordered take out, and had the table set before Ray came home a couple hours later. As we sat at table, I picked at my food. I had lost my appetite.
    â€œSomething wrong?” Ray asked as he finished off a piece of fried chicken.
    I nodded. “I told my mom about school today.”
    â€œUh oh. How did she handle it?”
    â€œShe smacked the shit out of me, that’s what.” I pointed to my bruised cheek for emphasis. “And then she told me to get out of her house and that she was changing the locks.”
    Ray eyes widened as he sat back in his chair. “Whoa, Cristal, that sounds pretty major.”
    I tried to play it off. “She’s just angry I dropped my classes. She’ll get over it in a few days. I’m not that worried about it.”
    â€œOh, and that’s why you’re over there moping over your food, right?”
    â€œWell, I don’t want her to be mad at me,” I said.
    â€œI got you. If you think you’ll be fine, it’s all good.” His attention returned to his food.
    â€œPlus, we’re making changes,” I said. “We’re both going legit and we’ll be successful. I’ll prove to her that I made the right decision.”
    Ray stopped chewing and looked at me strangely.
    â€œWhat?” I asked.
    I watched as he chewed and