Unconditional Validation

Chapter 8

"Sweetie calm down. I don't think we need to go that far. You need to remember they are still young, they still deserve to be able to live their lives. We can't control everything." I knew right there he had said the wrong words.

"Oh so we should just allow them to go get drunk and possibly do drugs in front of these random people? What if someone recognizes who they are? Any one of those people could post something of them drinking or smoking or snorting something and demolish their entire career! I think you need to take this more seriously" Did she really think we were going to get drunk and do drugs? Maybe have a few drinks but come on. Skyler and I knew better

"So we're expected to sit there and not be teenagers yet you'll let Ryder do whatever he pleases?" Skyler piped in with a slight hesitation in her voice. She wasn't wrong, Ryder was allowed to do whatever he wanted. The main reasoning for us even starting school was because we wanted to live more like him

"Ryder is not like you two! He is normal, he lives a normal life. You guys basically have jobs, you have standards! How dare you sit here and compare yourselves to him!"

"Honey, why don't we take a breath. They are young, I'm sure one little party with a few harmless teenagers won't hurt anything. We can ask Ryder if he will be there, I don't see why he couldn't keep an eye on them." My mothers eyes looked like they were going to explode from rage at my fathers comment.

"Carter. Can we please speak in the hallway?" With that they walked out of the room and shut the door. Skyler and I let out the air we were holding in and sat down to try and collect our thoughts.

"I really hope this party doesn't make our reputations go south," Skyler whispered to me. I just slowly nodded.

"Kids!" I heard our mom storm back into my room with our dad trailing quickly behind her. I started to hold my breath again because I hated when our parents would get all heated up in their emotions. My mom looked at the both of us with a frustrated look and gave us an exasperated sigh. I started to think that my dad might have come through to help us have fun, but I had no idea to be honest.

"Look, I know you two really want to have a normal teen life. It isn't something that will come easy but we don't want to stand in the way of you trying. So, we'll let you have a little break." our mom started to tell both me and Skyler.

Yess! I excitedly thought to myself.

"However," Mom started to continue her speech to us.

Ugh! What the fuck! Not the "However" part. I groaned in my head.

"Let me be clear with my wording. If anything you do in or outside of school is able to affect your careers, it's right back to work. You will not be putting your reputations on the line for a normal life. Capeesh?" Our mom said with a really stern voice.

"Yes, ma'am of course," Skyler and I both responded simultaneously. Although I said mine through gritted teeth.

"Tyler," Mom narrowed her eyes at me.

"Fine! Fine! I hear ya!" I threw up my hands in desperation.

"Good, I hope you two have fun and stay safe. Your father and I have a date later tonight." Mom smiled at the both of us.

"We will. I hope you guys have fun on your date too!" Skyler smiled back.

"Oh Tyler, remember you have your new clothing collection drop tomorrow," Mom said with her hand on her hip.

"Oh, yeah, I'll be home at a good enough time," I replied.

After our somewhat heated family argument, our parents left my room to go do whatever they needed to do for the day. I noticed that Ryder was never around when we had family conversations or arguments at all. I felt bad because he's our sibling and family member too. He shouldn't be left out of things that are important. However, it is his decision to not be here as well.