She frowned slightly and gave me a kind look. "Is there a problem at home? You should really talk it over with your parents. They just want what's best for you."

I had no choice but to take the form and leave.

After school, I came home and found the front door locked. Without my keys, I turned around and went down to the card room. The air was thick with smoke, but I spotted Mom right away.

"Mom, I forgot my keys," I said quietly.

She rolled her eyes. "Seriously? What's wrong with you? Can't even remember a key? Raising you is worse than raising a pig!" She cursed under her breath while digging through her purse for the key.

I stood there silently until a greasy voice broke the tension. The man across from her leaned back in his chair and grinned. "Is this your daughter? She's a real beauty."

Ignoring his disgusting stare, I snatched the keys from my mom and got out of there as fast as I could.

When I got home, I dropped my backpack and headed straight to the kitchen to start prepping dinner. If I didn't have everything ready by the time my mom came back with my brother from his tutoring class, and her precious baby was hungry, I'd be in trouble. Again.