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[right][color=dimgray]Thursday night...[/color][/right]
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[indent]This day was [i]rough[/i] for Beatrix. Sitting at the dining room table, where she left her laptop open, that stored her incomplete, open apology for the school newspaper, the young latina fixed her gaze on the only other person in the room. Her mother. She was standing with crossed arms, on the other side of the table. Like some western stand off. Her mother would challenge her daughter with choice words. It was only a matter of time. Trixie could feel it. 

Her parents had arrived this very morning from Alaska, but she hadn't greeted them until ten minutes ago when they got back from their dinner. She was preoccupied! And not even here. At the time, she was at the Lyons. Now, she was here, waiting for her mother to scold and lecture her. Downstairs, the boys, as in Owen, her father, and Uncle Ty were in Ty's man cave. His den. A place that consisted of video games, pictures of him and his children, and anime art, everywhere. Her aunt, however, was napping. BUT, all of them were avoiding the inevitable. The fury that was Isabel Kingsley. 

If her mom was going to play this game, she was ready. All in or nothing. Balls blazin'. Bring the heat. She was a Kingsley, after all. They weren't known for being compliant, [sup]well, minus the time Trixie was Hailey's bitch, but you know. Who's counting?[/sup] 

Never wavering her aggravated stare from her mother's wrath, Trixie matched the woman by crossing her arms. Bring it. There was no way in hell she was going to make this easy for her. They hadn't seen each other since [i]Christmas[/i] and the first thing her mother wants to do is fight? HA. 

[color=872657][b]"What do you have to say for yourself?"[/b][/color] Oh. 

Her mother played a rare card. Isabel expectantly waited for her child to start their conversation. She was allowing Trixie to go first, which wasn't something Mrs. Kingsley did. If anything, she tells you why she's upset and calls it a day, letting the guilt eat you alive until you end up talking to her again for comfort. Lose-lose situation. But this, this was different. 

[color=15603A][b]"What do you want me to say?"[/b][/color] Trixie snapped back, causing her mother to hold her tongue. The tension was there and neither women were able to ease it. Not yet. Neither was going to back down. That's simply how they were. Like mother, like daughter. Trixie's stare was caught in the web that were her mother's eyes. Those eyes that scrutinized all those that disappointed her. [color=15603A][b]"I fucked up. It's as simple as that. Do you want me to say sorry? Do you want me to regret what I did? It's not like I can rewrite the story! It's already been written."[/b][/color] In frustration, Trixie broke her stance to close her laptop. Looking at the words on her screen, that weren't even fully formulated, was making this worse. First, Ophelia told her the truth. Second, Jamie aired out her dirty laundry because she gave him permission to before she realized how bad the truth was. Third, Owen was punishing her. Fourth, because of all this, and the severity of how much damage she's done to herself in high school, her parents, her mother, felt inclined to visit. 

Why wasn't she responding?!

[color=15603A][b]"Why the hell are you giving me grief? I'm just living my life and when I'm hurt, I don't forgive, I get even. I obviously get that from [i]someone[/i] if I'm like this!"[/b][/color]

Still nothing. 

[color=15603A][b]"And seriously? Don't act like you haven't royally screwed someone over. Lookin' at me like I'm some good for nothing when all I do is make sure I can get into Ivy League, while not letting people walk all over me. That's just how high school is. Screw or get screwed. Now, can you stop looking at me like that so I can go back to my bedroom and figure out how I'm going to clean my mess? Like jeez. I know I should've known better, but I didn't. I'm not perfect."[/b][/color] 

Catching her breath, Trixie realized her mother was now sitting with a strained expression on. [color=872657][b]"The last time we talked was on New Years Eve. You act like I didn't notice. You act like I don't see. I might not be here, but I'm not stupid, Beatrix. Just listening to you..."[/b][/color] Izzy shook her head, contemplating her parenting, [color=872657][b]"Was it a mistake? Sending you here?"[/b][/color] 

Trixie peered down at the table. [color=15603A][b]"No... I wouldn't have Owen."[/b][/color] Or even have much fond memories to look back to. Even if right now things were shitty, there was a time where she was happy with everyone and HOT wasn't all that tyrannical every single moment of the day...  

[color=872657][b]"Then don't blame me. Going to school here was [i]your[/i] idea. And because of that, you've fallen in love, you've become confidant and stronger, you've become wiser, and you felt the pains of being heartbroken and losing friendships. You've felt remorse. You've grown."[/b][/color] 

Why was her mother calm? 

Why was this making her sad? 

Why weren't they screaming? 

[color=872657][b]"I'm your mother, so I won't tolerate the disrespect,  understood?"[/b][/color] 

[color=15603A][b]"Yes ma'am."[/b][/color] Trixie was losing the battle. Her heart was not prepared for this. Not prepared for her mother to get [i]sentimental[/i]. 

[color=872657][b]"Realize, I am here for you. That's why I'm here now. If you won't tell me anything on the phone, I'll come here and show you that you aren't alone. You've never been alone. I don't know where I went wrong because... your brothers, they cherish you. Your father, you're his babygirl that can kick someone's ass and make him proud. And me? You're my everything. NOT my mini-me. You are you're own blazing fire. Stronger than you think."[/b][/color] 

[color=15603A][b]"I guess."[/b][/color] 

[color=872657][b]"Enough."[/b][/color] Standing up, Isabel made her way to her child, kneeling down and turning Trixie's head, so that they faced each other, [color=872657][b]"Okay, so you thought being popular would make you happy, but it just made you mean. So what. You did it. It's time to own it and change things up. Make things better. I want you to work on becoming positive. Because this here."[/b][/color] The mother lightly tapped Trixie's noggin,  [color=872657][b]"Is the enemy, no one else."[/b][/color] Izzy didn't understand why Trixie always needed validation about her self worth, but then again, she was a teenager. Teenagers sucked. [color=872657][b]"You [i]know[/i] how good you are. You won't take shit from people, but also? You care about them. If you didn't, you wouldn't be writing an apology. I want you to look into the mirror every morning and tell yourself something good. You're smart. You're beautiful. You're loved. Because baby, believe it or not, I'm proud of you. You've come a long way and that's thanks to all those in your life."[/b][/color] 

Her mother's words made Trixie realize something. All those that were close to her taught her something different. They were all flawed, but they weren't bad people. They taught her values that has made her become someone worth admiring and worth looking up to. 

Why hadn't she talked to her mom sooner? 

[color=15603A][b]"Mom... we should go ice skating. Like maybe this weekend?"[/b][/color] Trixie's suggestion made her mother smile. Ice skating, no matter the year or season, was always her mom's passion. Although now she focuses her energy on being an innkeeper. 

[color=872657][b]"Sure thing. Maybe I can rent the rink, like I did for practice."[/b][/color] Isabel's eyes were soft, kind, and welcoming, not like they had been when their confrontation started. Was this her mother's intentions along? To make her realize all the people she cared about?

Trixie pulled her mother into an embrace. Tightening it when there was no more space between them. [color=15603A][b]"I needed this."[/b][/color] 

Isabel held her daughter close and kissed her on the cheek. [color=872657][b]"I know. Me too."[/b][/color]
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