My mother and I have been in the new house for a week now. The furniture is arranges in all of the rooms; all done by me of course. I went shopping for clothes the other day using some money my mother gave me. I always insist on using my birthday money but she never wants me to. She says that I should use that money to go out, have fun, and be more social.

It doesn't surprise me that she’s that way. After all, she was one of the most popular girls when she was in high school. So of course a once popular girl would never understand a loner like me. Even if that loner is her own daughter.

School is tomorrow. I can’t stop thinking about it. I try not to, but it never works. The more I think about it the more my anxiety kicks in. Breathe. I just need to breathe. I close my eyes and begin to take a deep breath and slowly let it out. I continue doing this for a while as I sit Indian style on my bed. I eventually stop once I feel like I can continue on without having a breakdown and look at my clock. It’s five-thirty in the evening.

I figure I need to eat so I go downstairs and fix myself a BLT with chips. I go back up to my room and quickly eat. As soon as I finished, I began looking in my closet for what I’ll be wearing tomorrow. After I finally decided on the outfit, I try to decide what to do with my hair.

I have an idea. I quickly go the bathroom and discover that I still have some washout hair dye. I look at it for a moment and debate whether or not I want to do something so dramatic. I eventually decide to just dye a portion of the bottom of my hair. By the time I’m done, it’s already eight o’clock. Suddenly I hear the front door slam along with the sound of my mothers high heels walking across the floor.

I let out a heavy sigh and prepare myself for her reaction to my hair. I know she’ll hate it. But I don’t care becasue I love it. Plus, it’s my hair. She has no right to say what I can and can’t do to it. But before she sees my hair, I’m going to gather up some stuff to take me with me for when I go to sleep in my cottage bedroom. I just got everything set up in there the other day and I love it. Sure, it isn’t as large as this bedroom, but I don’t care about that. My second bedroom is cozy and has the most awesome sunroof right above my bed.

I quickly grab the clothes I sleep in, the clothes I’ll be wearing tomorrow, my makeup, brush, and put them all in a medium sized bad. I throw the bag over my shoulder and make my way towards downstairs. I stop for a moment to take a quick glance at my hair one more time then begin going down the stars. As I do, I say, “Mother, I’m going to be sleeping in the cottage."

I get to the bottom of the stairs but I don’t see her. I begin looking around but she’s no where to be seen. I get louder and say, “Mother!" there was only a slight pause when my mother yelled back, “I’m in the downstairs office!" Of course. I really should have known. I begin towards the office when once again I say, “I just wanted to let you know that I’m sleeping in the cottage tonight." Not that she even cares.

As I approach the opening of the room she replies, “Sure, why not? Just make sure you get to school on time tomorrow." I gave her a blank stare but she was too busy in a daze staring at her laptop. I wait a moment before I leave, but when I do; she finally looks up. “MEGAN! WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR HAIR!?"

Not only does she yell, I can hear the tone in her voice that says, “my child is literally insane" I stop mid-step and turn towards her with a blank look. “It’s called wash out hair dye." She looked at me like I belonged in an insane asylum. I gave her the same look back. She let out a deep sigh then gave her attention back to the laptop. “I will never understand you, Megan." she said under her breath.

I stood there a moment longer then began to slowly walk away. “Same here, mother." I said under my breath also. “Same here."