The Boarding School

-9-

"What? What do you mean?" Ashley asks.
"She's the one forcing me to go to a boarding school. She hates me, she wants to get rid of me, kick me out of the house" I whisper.
"But Aunt Lisa is nice, I don't think she would do that" Ashley says.
"She told me herself she hates me. She's... She's jealous of all the attention I get from dad, but he's just been worried about me. I'm just really scared" I whisper.
"I understand. I don't really know much about your anger thing, but I know she's been pretty rude to you" she whispers.
"Yeah... I really don't want to go to the boarding school, I don't want to live away from home... What do I do?" I ask desperately.
"I don't know" she frowns.
"Ashley... Maybe you can help convince dad for me to stay?" I ask.
"I... I don't know, Maddie. I don't want someone to get mad at me, and you never do anything for me" she says.
"C'mon, Ashley. Please help me, you know I don't deserve to go to that school.  No one will get mad. Please, I need your help, I'm your sister" I say, whining.
"What are you going to do for me?" she asks, raising a brow.
"Ugh... I'll do your homework for a month" I convince. She stands up.
"Deal" she says, shaking my hand.
"Thank you" I sigh in relief. I get up and go to my room and sit down on my bed.
"Maddie?" I hear Ashley say from outside my door. She slowly walks in.
"I know that I'm not a great sister. And I'm sorry for always making fun of you.... I will try my best to convince dad" she says quietly. I slowly nod. She was about to leave, but I said her name.
"Ashley," I say, "Thank you" I say quietly. She nods and goes downstairs. I wait till dad gets home. When he does, Ashley runs up to him. I stay at the top of the stairs and listen to their conversation, hoping Ashley can convince him.
"Hey Dad... If Maddie went to the school, I would kinda miss her" Ashley says innocently.
"She will be hear on holidays and things," Dad says, slipping off his jacket.
"Yeah... But I'd get pretty lonely at home by myself when you and Lisa are at work"
"I know, but you'll be fine"
"But Dad,"
"No buts. Both of you will be okay"
"Dad... I want Maddie to stay"
"She's going to the boarding school, Ashley"
"But we wouldn't be as much of a family..." she says. I think that hit Dad, that got him thinking deeply.
"Maybe... Ill give it a second thought" Dad says.
"Good" Ashley says. I hurry into my room before anyone notices I was stalking their conversation.
"Where is Maddie?" Dad asks.
"Upstairs" Ashley informs. He nods and comes upstairs and comes into my room.
"Maddie" He starts. I frown and look down.
"How are you today?" He asks. I don't respond. He sits down on my bed next to me.
"You are not in punishment anymore, you don't need to hide in here anymore" Dad says.
"I'm hiding from Aunt Lisa. I know she would yell at me some point today" I sight. He pats my knee.
"Maddie, it's okay. She won't yell at you anymore."
"I don't believe that" I say quietly.
"Try the boarding school, Maddie" Dad says. My eyes get teary.
"I dont want to go!" I shout, wrapping my arms around Dad desperately. He hugs me, continuing to hold me
"I thought you told me you'd try" He whispers. I shake my head.
"Maddie..." He says slowly.
"I don't want to go!" I sob, tucking my head in his shoulder a little bit.
"Okay Maddie, we will talk about this later" he says, standing up. I hold onto his arm.
"I don't want to go" I look up at him with big, teary eyes. He pulls his arm away and walks out. I know there's nothing I can do now. I lay down, silently, just thinking for a while.
Later, I come down for dinner. I stay distracted. I didnt want to eat much, Even though Dad made my favourite, fettuccine alfredo.
"C'mon darling. You haven't been eating lately. I'm worried about you, please eat your dinner" Dad says to me. Aunt Lisa stares at me. I glare at her.
"I don't want to eat" I grump. Ashley looks at me, and says "I'm sorry" with her lips, but not saying it with her voice. I sigh and leave the table. After dinner, Dad suggests we go to the movies as a family. We go see 'fast and furious' when the movie was over, and we started to leave, I saw Devon. He still has the cast on his arm. I feel my rage grow in my heart. We walk past him in the theater foyer. I can't help it. I run over to him and tackle him to the ground. Dad gasps and runs over to me. I punch Devon in the face.
"Your the blame for this!" I scream in his face. Meaning he was the main cause for me to go to a boarding school. Devon's friends watch.
"I've always hated you!" I yell at him. Everyone around watches. Dad runs over and pulls me off of him. He pulls me away. I kick and scream at Devon, trying to get out of Dads grip, but dad keeps his arms tight around my waist, holding me back.  Everyone stares as I scream and Dad holds me tight, walking me away from Devon. I continue to scream and try to get away. He holds on to me and walks me out to the car. He gently sets me down in the back seat and clicks in my seat belt. Everyone else gets in the car.
"God forbid Maddie! It's like watching a five year old!" Dad snaps.
I cry and sniffle. Ashley just stares at me.
"This is why she should go to the boarding school asap so they can watch her, instead of us. She's causing you too much stress, John" Aunt Lisa says to Dad. I cry harder when she said that. Dad just focuses on the road.
"I'm really sorry, Dad" I cry, I'm crying so hard my voice is barely audible. He sighs but doesn't say anything. He looks at me by the rear-view mirror, then looks away. I sit in the back, silently, crying, feeling bad about myself. When we get home, Dad grabs my arm and brings me to my room.
"Your grounded for real this time"  Dad says hoarsely and closes the door. I cry myself to sleep once again.
I wake up really early in the morning again. I walk downstairs, Dads awake, making breakfast. I silently sit down at the table. He looks over at me, and ignores me and continues with what he was doing. He looks back over at me, tossing me a med bottle. It's my disorder meds. I stare at it, then sigh and take one.
"Maddie... Whats going on with you?" He asks, not looking at me. I look down at the floor, not saying anything.
"I... I don't know"