“I know, and I’m thankful for you,” Tori conceded. “I just don’t know if I’m capable of taking care of myself.”
“Finding a job won’t be that difficult, and you have a little money to get started,” Chloe replied. “You’re going to get through this, and I’m going to be right here with you.” She kissed her forehead, hoping that Tori would respond.
Tori sighed heavily. She wrapped her arms around Chloe and started bawling. Her shoulder heaved with every sob as Chloe held onto her tightly. “I—I just can’t believe my parents d-did this to me,” she wailed. “How can they h-hate me so much? How c-could they just t-toss me on the s-streets? W-why did they d-do this to me?”
“Because they’re closed-minded assholes who don’t deserve such a wonderful, beautiful, intelligent, unique daughter,” Cynthia replied matter-of-factly.
Chloe kissed Tori’s forehead and rocked her gently. “It’s going to be okay,” she whispered, thankful that Tori was finally responsive. “We’re going to get through this. They’ll suffer more than you when they miss out on all the great things you’re going to do with your life!”
Tori scoffed. “I doubt I’ll do anything noteworthy or worth their regret. I’ve jacked up my grades royally, I’m missing a whole week of school because of this stupid suspension, and I’m not smart enough to get a decent job. I won’t even be able to adopt a kid or get married!” She started sobbing again, tears streaked across her face and puddled on Chloe’s shoulder.
“Your grades have improved significantly this year, and you’ll have four more years to improve your grades in college,” Chloe replied.
“Besides, Tori,” Cynthia added, “most jobs don’t look at your grade point average; they just want to know you got the piece of paper.”
Chloe nodded. “As for marriage and kids, you never know what the government’s stance will be on that when we’re ready for it to happen. You still have plenty of time until that becomes a serious issue. Right now, we just have to worry about getting situated. We’ll go to the mall tomorrow and try to get you a job. That’ll be a good start.”
Tori’s sobs had finally subsided, leaving puffy eyes and sniffling in its wake. “Yeah, we can do that.”
Chloe nodded, glancing at her mother.
Her mother smiled sadly. “Why don’t you guys head to bed? You girls have had a hard weekend.”
“Can I stay home tomorrow, mom, so we can go to the mall?” Chloe asked. “I’m off work, anyway, so we can have the whole day to get Tori situated.”
Cynthia thought for a moment. “Yeah, that’s fine,” she replied. “You’ve barely missed any school this year.”
Tori shook her head. “You shouldn’t miss school because of me,” Tori insisted. “You already missed work just to watch me mope around all weekend. I’ll be fine here on my own. We can go to the mall after school.”
“I’m not looking forward to going back, either, Tori, trust me,” Chloe muttered. “Besides, I certainly wouldn’t mind staying home with you for an extra day.”
Tori grinned for the first time all weekend. “Well, if you insist,” she conceded jokingly. They both stood up, hugging Cynthia before making their way to bed.
* * *
Cynthia took a personal day on Monday so that she could help Tori get her life together. Cynthia pitied Tori more than either of them knew. She couldn’t fathom the pain and anger Tori must be feeling. From what Chloe had said, Tori’s parents had just handed her anything she ever wanted; she’d never had a job or had to earn anything for herself. Cynthia knew that Tori’s mindset would have to change drastically due to her new living conditions, and she was confident that she and Chloe could help her adjust. Being on the cusp of adulthood was difficult enough without having a competent adult role model to show Tori where to start, and Cynthia feared that Tori would never get herself together if left to own devices.
Cynthia had spent the last few evenings researching information for Tori, especially regarding how she could become emancipated from her parents. She knew that Tori’s parents would no longer assist with finances that Tori wouldn’t be able to handle independently until she turned 18, such as getting a car and buying a new cell phone plan. Tori couldn’t apply for financial aid without a parent’s signature, either, so emancipation was the best option and would allow Tori to take care of herself while still a minor.
At the same time, Tori turned eighteen in October. Though she might not be able to get financial aid right away, she’d be able to apply for it herself during the fall semester. Tori could easily stay in Cynthia’s home until she became a full-fledged adult so that she could save money for college. She didn’t plan on asking Tori to pay rent or anything, but she hoped that she’d offer; it was hard enough to make ends meet as it was without the extra expenses. Cynthia refused to bother her about it, though, as Tori had enough on her mind, and she didn’t want her to worry about getting kicked out again. She decided to talk to Tori in the morning to discuss her options.
* * *
Tori groggily opened her eyes and began to panic. She wasn’t sure where she was or what was going on. She sat up and scanned the room. When she saw Chloe sleeping in bed next to her, all of her memories flooded back. Her heart felt like it broke again as she replayed the incident with her parents—her father’s cold glare, her mother’s futile attempt to make up for deserting her only daughter by thrusting a wad of cash into her hands. She fell back onto the bed, stifling tears while she stared at the ceiling. I hoped the weekend was just a dream, she lamented. But it wasn’t. What am I going to do? I don’t know how to make it on my own, but I don’t want to burden Chloe and Cynthia more than I have to. How could my parents feed me to the wolves like this? Don’t they care about me? Don’t they love me? I wonder if they’ve even thought about me, if they’re guessing where I am or care if I’m still alive.
Tori yelped, startled by a touch on her leg.
“I’m so sorry!” Chloe exclaimed. “I didn’t know you were awake.”
Tori smiled half-heartedly. “Yeah, I just woke up a few minutes ago.” She leaned over and kissed Chloe’s forehead. “How did you sleep?”
Chloe smiled. “Feeling you next to me? Like a log,” she replied coyly, wrapping an arm around Tori’s waist.
Tori grinned. “I like sleeping next to you, too.” Her smile quickly faded. “But then I woke up and started thinking about everything…got bummed out all over again…” She sniffled, wiping a tear from her cheek.
Chloe sat up, pulling Tori towards her. “I’m sorry, honey.” She wrapped her arms around Tori’s waist and rested her head on Tori’s chest.
Once Tori got her bearings, she and Chloe ventured downstairs. They were greeted by Cynthia’s warm smile as they entered the dining room—along with a skillet of scrambled eggs and a griddle of steaming French toast.
“Good morning!” she greeted, handing them plates. “Eat up! I have some water on for tea, too, if you’re interested.”
Chloe and Tori looked at one another with the same befuddled expression. “What are you doing here, mom?” Chloe inquired. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”
“Oh, well, I took a personal day,” Cynthia answered casually.
As they ate, Tori felt that it was a good time to bring up payment arrangements. “Cynthia, I really appreciate you helping me out.”
“It’s not a problem, dear,” she replied. “Actually, I’ve started researching information for you so that you can get things done without relying on your parents.” She summarized the emancipation process and suggested ways to save money for college and a car.
Tori smiled. “That’s great!” she exclaimed, feeling hopeful for the first time since her life fell apart. “I think, with your help, I could emancipate myself. I’ll be able to pay for the court costs, I’m sure.”
“You’ll probably want to get a job before you start the emancipation process,” Cynthia suggested. “You’ll have a better chance o
f success that way. You’ll have to show the courts that you can support yourself, so pay stubs will help your case immensely. I can also go to the hearing to confirm that you’re living here. I’m willing to cosign on a banking account, too, and I’ll put you on my cellphone plan, so you won’t have to worry about that. Then, once you get emancipated, we’ll switch it all into your name only.”
“I want to pay rent here until I get my own place,” Tori insisted. “I’m going to be using food and utilities, and I have a responsibility to reimburse you for that.”
Cynthia smiled, impressed with her mature attitude. “That’s not necessary, Tori, but it’s appreciated. You can give me what you can when you can; I’m not going to set an exact date and amount for you. That way, you’ll be able to save as much as possible.” Tori nodded. “I’ll start recording everything you pay me to show that you’re taking care of your share of the bills while you live here. I was also thinking about clearing out the attic for you. We can check out sales and visit thrift stores to find you some furniture. It’ll be like having your own apartment until you’re able to get your own.”
Tori’s eyes lit up. “That would be great! I don’t want to bog down you or Chloe too much.”
“You’re not bogging us down,” Chloe insisted.
“Not at all,” Cynthia agreed. “You’re welcome here for as long as you need. Don’t feel pressured to try and find an apartment on your 18th birthday, okay? You can even stay here until you graduate from college. It’s your decision.”
Tori’s eyes brimmed with tears. She walked over to Cynthia and hugged her. “I can’t thank you enough,” she said. “You know, in the past few days, you’ve been nicer to me than my parents ever were.” She chuckled sadly, stifling tears.
Cynthia frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that about them, but I am glad that I’ve made you feel welcome.”
* * *
Once the three of them were washed and dressed, they started getting Tori settled into her new life. They went to the bank and opened joint checking and savings accounts in Cynthia’s and Tori’s names. Tori deposited most of the cash that her mother had given her, save for a few hundred to buy herself furniture. Cynthia gave Tori all of the documentation, the checkbook, and the ledger journals, and she and the bank teller gave Tori a quick education about the responsibilities that came with balancing her checkbook, how to write checks, and making sure that she took precautions to keep her debit card safe.
Their next stop was Cynthia’s insurance agent, and she put Tori on her car insurance, just in case she ever needed to use the car. The premium rose slightly, but Tori agreed that she’d pay the difference.
Their last stop was Cynthia’s cell phone store where they transferred Tori’s phone over to Cynthia’s family plan, and they got her a new phone number so that she would no longer be harassed by her classmates and former friends. Because the monthly payment increased with an additional line, Tori agreed to pay the difference in the bill. Tori thanked Cynthia several times for the assistance that she was providing, making sure that she would remember her kindness and pay her back when she could.
Once Cynthia was done with her part, Tori and Chloe dropped her off at home and ventured to the mall. Tori applied at nearly every store with a job opening except for a few that she wasn’t qualified for—men’s stores, salons, and maternity shops. By the time they finished making their rounds on the first floor, Tori’s hand was cramped, and she felt overwhelmed and depressed.
Every application that she submitted reminded her that her parents didn’t want her around anymore. She kept thinking about how much more difficult her life would be now that she’d be working several hours after a full day of school, saving money rather than spending it on whatever her heart desired, and making sure that she paid her bills on time. She knew that she was going to have to grow up eventually, but she didn’t think that she’d be thrown into it quite as quickly as she had.
They decided to take a break from job applications in the food court, purchasing milkshakes and Chinese food as they rested their feet. Chloe could tell that Tori was upset; usually, Tori would devour Chinese food in under a minute, but most of it went untouched. Chloe brushed Tori’s leg with her shoe, and Tori glanced up sadly. “You okay, hun?” Chloe asked.
Tori struggled to smile, but her eyes betrayed her inner turmoil. “I guess,” she replied unconvincingly. “It’s a good thing I spent so much time shopping in the past few years; I won’t have to worry about spending money on nice clothes for a job.” She chuckled wearily.
“It’s going to get better. Really,” Chloe said. “Once you get used to working every day and paying bills, it becomes routine. You’ll barely even think about it after a while.”
“Oh yeah? What bills do you pay?” Tori snapped.
Chloe frowned, noting the hostility in Tori’s voice. “I pay for my part of the cell phone bill, my car insurance, and my car payment,” she responded. “I help my mom out with the utility bills and food, too.”
Tori did the math in her head and calculated how many hours she’d have to work to pay for all of that. “No wonder you work so much.”
Chloe shrugged. “Like I said, once you get used to it, it’s not so bad.”
“Well, if I’m living with you and work as much as you do, you’ll both save money. I’ll make more than enough to help with utilities, especially if I don’t get a car right away. And I can help you with gasoline, too, since I’ll be going everywhere with you.”
Chloe grinned, relieved that Tori’s anger quickly lapsed. “Definitely,” she agreed.
Tori massaged her palm and shook it to increase blood flow. “I guess we should head up to the second floor?”
Chloe nodded. “I’ll toss our garbage. Lead the way!”
* * *
Katie frantically dialed Sabrina’s number, eager to spread the latest gossip about Tori. Sabrina barely had time to answer before Katie started talking. “Sabrina! I have news!”
“What?” Sabrina demanded, annoyed at Katie’s loud, abrupt greeting.
“Okay, so, I tried calling Tori’s cell phone to see if I could find anything out from her, but the number is out of service, so I called her home phone. Her dad picked up and said that she doesn’t live there anymore!”
“What?” Sabrina shouted, her stomach wrenching.
“Yeah! He said that she’s no longer welcome in his house and that he doesn’t know where she is. Isn’t that crazy?”
Sabrina sat down on her bed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Oh, my god,” she muttered solemnly. “So-so they kicked her out?” She began feeling nauseous.
“It sounds that way,” Katie replied. “Isn’t that crazy?”
“Yeah…yeah, it is,” Sabrina agreed with a sigh. Her parents kicked her out! She recalled the anger that Tori’s mom expressed on the phone when she’d told her about Tori being gay and hitting on her in the locker room. She thought that maybe she’d get Tori in trouble—get her grounded or have her daddy take her credit cards for a while at the absolute worst—but now Tori was a martyr for the gay cause. Though she felt a little remorse over being the reason that one of her best friends was kicked out of her home, she had to make sure that the news didn’t spread.
After a moment of silence, Katie cleared her throat. “You still there?”
“Yes,” Sabrina answered. “Look, Katie, I want you to keep this between me and you, okay?”
“Why?” Katie inquired.
“Because everyone’s going to feel bad for her,” she replied. “Right now, everyone in that school thinks she’s some perverted nutcase. If they know she got kicked out and still goes to school, people will look up to her. The last thing we need is for Tori to become some sort of town hero.”
“Okay,” Katie agreed reluctantly. “It’ll stay between us.”
Chapter 28
“Is it true that you’re dating Tori?” someone shouted at Chloe from across homeroom.
“What’s it like knowing your girlfriend tried to force a straight girl to have sex with her in the locker room?”
Chloe growled under her breath but continued to ignore him as well as tune out the stifled giggles from others in the room. She wasn’t in the mood to add fuel to the fire or contribute to high school politics; she had more important things to worry about. Chloe just hoped that they would find a new subject to obsess over soon and forget about Tori’s and Chloe’s relationship.
Hopefully, that time came quickly, though, because her patience was already wearing thin.
“Jesus Christ, David, would you leave her the hell alone?” Mark bellowed, standing up.
“Yes, that will be quite enough,” the teacher chimed in. “Everyone, please stay quiet until the bell rings.”
Mark sat down next to Chloe. “You okay?”
Chloe sighed. “Yeah,” she whispered. “Just annoyed, obviously.”
“Obviously.” He shuffled in his seat. “I’m sorry that you’re getting caught in the middle of this.”
She shrugged. “What they’re saying she did isn’t true at all.”
“I figured as much. I’m just sorry that you’re being tormented because of her.”
She looked over at Mark. “She’s worth it.”
Mark frowned. “I sure hope so.”
* * *
“Mr. Thompson?” Chloe called as she approached his desk after class.
“Yes, Chloe, what’s up?” he asked.
She paused until the rest of the students were gone. “I wanted to know if I could have an extra copy of the homework so I can give it to Tori.”
Mr. Thompson nodded, frowning, as he retrieved another packet from his desk drawer. “Is she okay?”
Chloe nodded. “She’s fine,” she replied simply. “I just don’t want her to get behind this week.”
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