Chapter 16: Lisa

I’d finished classes, and I had that giddy Friday night feeling of not having to worry about going to class for a whole two days. No practice and no stressing about two days made me realize why I loved being at UCLA. It was different from high school in so many ways. It’d been close to three months since I’d been here and already, my life was so different. I was busy between working at the library, the cheerleading squad, and making a couple of friends from working at the library, the squad, and getting closer to Bianca and Tanya. Oh, and let’s not forget the biggest news of all, I had a boyfriend. We’d only been officially dating one night, and I managed to lose my virginity before the relationship started, but I was so excited about everything turning around so soon that I decided to call Mom and Nan.

“Hey, Ma,” I said as soon as she picked up the call.

“Lisa, is that you?”

I smiled. “Yeah, so good to hear your voice. What are you up to?”

“Well, just came in from working on the farm. Can you go on video? Everyone would love to see you.”

By everyone, I knew she meant my grandparents, and most likely, my aunt and uncle, too. Friday was the day they came round and had a big feast. The country air, family feeling took over my body and put a smile on my face as I called back on Whatsapp and turned it to a video call.

Everyone waved as I sat back on my bed and waved. I could tell they were all happy to see me, and I felt the same seeing their smiling faces.

“Mom, I’ll call back another time. Sorry, I didn’t mean to call during dinner.”

“We know you’re busy with college life. Partying. Boys. So, we need to speak to you when we can,” Grandpa shouted. He always shouted on WhatsApp. He felt the need to shout, as if his voice needed to be carried all the way to LA and I couldn’t hear him otherwise.

I shook my head, but then giggled.

“You’ve got yourself a boy, dear?” Grandma asked, and I didn’t want to tell the truth with the whole family there, but then she took the phone and walked away from the crowd.

“Yes, Nan, I have a boyfriend.”

Her silver bob bounced up and down as she took off her glasses and laughed. She propped the phone on the table, no doubt she was in the study, and then sat down. “I’m so happy. Now tell me, is it one or two?”

“What, Nan?”

“Boyfriends. I heard nowadays it is fashionable to have more than one boyfriend, so I hope you’re stocking up.”

“Nan, they’re not cattle. I’m not stocking anything up. I’m just enjoying being with my hot quarterback boyfriend.”

She sighed. “He’s a football player. Oh dear, don’t let your grandpa hear you say that. You know he’s a baseball fan!”

I shrieked with laughter as she reminded me of the reason why I loved speaking to her so much—she always had a way of making me laugh.

“But how come you’re not out with your hot new boyfriend on a Friday night and talking to us ole folks?”

The explanation was simple. “He has a big game tomorrow, and he needs to focus.”

She smiled, and then just stared at me for a split-second. I wondered what was going through her mind.

“Nan?”

“Yes, sorry, I’m just so happy to see you happy. It has been a long time since I saw you with a big smile on your face. Your mom is smiling and laughing all the time now, too.”

I nodded, taking in what she was saying. “That’s good. At least she’s getting on with things.”

“Life on the farm keeps you busy. I just don’t want to spoil the fun by telling you some news…”

“What?” A cold shiver ran down my spine. I knew whatever it was, it had to be serious. No more was she smiling, but she had a frown on her face. She wiped her glasses and my heart beat out of control, waiting for her to tell me the news.

“It seems your father has found a fall guy for what he did.”

“A fall guy?” I didn’t understand what she meant, it was as if she was talking in riddles.

“You know, someone else to take the blame.”

I still didn’t follow. How could Dad get someone else to take the blame?

Shit!

Of course, he pleaded not guilty. This was why I hated him, not only for taking the money, but not even owning up to it.

“He said he didn’t do it. He lied in a court of law, but we all know the truth. Now, he has someone to blame, so he’s appealing it.”

I shook my head. “But he has appealed before, and it was thrown out. What makes it different this time?”

“Well, who knows who he is blaming, but it seems he could have a case.”

“And Mom?” I asked, wondering how she was feeling about all of this. At first, she supported him and told me it was all a big mistake. But as the trial went ahead, the more evidence which was presented told us otherwise. We were the ones who were the fools, believing Dad was a hero, a guy that could do no wrong. As soon as the shit hit the fan, he showed his true colors and Mom admitted her happy marriage wasn’t the rose-colored glasses marriage she played it out to be. Nan was happy that she finally woke up to Dad’s ways. They spared me the details, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out what Nan meant. Things like our trips to the farm went from scarce to non-existent, and I never knew why until Dad said it was because we’re city folks, not backward like the farmers.

Farmers.

Mom’s part of the family.

Mom said nothing at the time, and I was so stuck-up at the time that I believed him. He was right about everything, but the moment he was arrested, I realized I’d been living a lie. There was nothing backward about Mom’s family, they were loving and warm.

“Anyway, I want to hear more about your hot boyfriend…”

“Oh, and before I forget to tell you, I’m on the cheerleading squad and I’m captain!”

She clapped her hands. “Get out of here. Didn’t I tell you UCLA would be a new start for you? A fresh one that you deserve.”

I nodded in agreement. “You did tell me, and until I got here, I didn’t realize you were right. I suppose I was so nervous about the past.”

She waved her hand. “Put the past behind you. Besides, you did nothing wrong. It was your jerk of a father. I just wanted to warn you, your mom didn’t want you to know, but it looks as if he’s going to make frontline news again.”

I covered my face and dropped my phone, thinking not this again. Since he didn’t make any headlines lately, it was as if everyone had forgotten about him. His appeal would drag it all out again, and I didn’t want that. No, I didn’t need it.

“Lisa, you there?”

I sighed. “Yes.” I grabbed my phone and faced her once again.

“Maybe seeing as you have a boyfriend, you could talk to him about it. Let him know the truth and your roommate, too. I mean, I’m sure if you tell them—”

“No way!” I shouted. “I mean, Tanya’s family are all vets, and I’ve only been dating Dane a little while. It’s too early to tell him all the problems of the past.”

She sighed. “Yes, but keeping secrets doesn’t help anyone. Look at your father. You should tell them in case they find out. Your dad’s past is going to be headline news again.”

“We changed our name. I even dyed my hair…”

“Yes, for everyone to think you are someone else on the outside, but inside, as much as I hate to say it, you’re still the same person. Think about it. You don’t need to do it today, but know the appeal is in the works and the press will be all over the story again like rats. They may even find out where you are in UCLA, so you’ll need the support.”

I stood up, pretending I had somewhere to go. “Nan, I need to go. Tanya just walked through the door and well… it’s Friday night and you know students.”

She rose an eyebrow, probably confused about the last statement. She didn’t know about college life, no one in my family did. Mom never went, and they were all brought up on the farm. I didn’t want to hear the truth, it was too painful. I regretted calling in the first place, because I didn’t want to hear about the past, I only wanted to think about the future.

The interviews with the girls I’d bullied in the past, I dismissed their cries, calling them whiney bitches. It was only later that I realized the horrible things I’d done in the past. I was no better than Fiona, and I hated to admit it. Dad wasn’t the only jerk in this story; I was too, which was why the reporters fed on our family. The only one innocent and who never made the headlines was Mom, but she suffered not only in the marriage, but out of it, too.

“Lisa, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. Let’s talk another time when you’re free.”

“Bye,” I said coldly and hung up. I didn’t have anywhere to go tonight. At first, I did think about calling Tanya to see where she was, but now I just wanted to be alone. Nan was right. I’d kept too many secrets and told too many lies. Dad’s appeal could result not only in him getting out, but me having to repeat the same fate I had back in high school.