Chapter Text
“Sit up straight, y/n, stop slouching like that.” Ma chastised, crossing her arms. She stood in front of y/n, analyzing every single detail on their handpicked outfit from her company. She was the CEO of an expensive clothing brand, though y/n considered her company quite…mediocre. People clothing with a brand slapped on it, what a waste. “You look great, dear. Now up, the photographers are waiting in the garden. “Yep, alright ma.” They answered, pushing themselves off their silk bedsheets and onto their feet. “It’s mom, not…maah,” Ma sighed, brushing her hands down her new dress. “Whatever it is you call me, it isn’t proper.” She paused, looking around her child’s room. “And clean your room, it looks terrible.” She complained, causing y/n to smirk. “You wouldn’t make me clean on my birthday, would you, ma?” They answered, earning an unimpressed look from her.
Ma sighed once more. “You’re twenty now, stop acting like a child for god’s sake.” “Well? Come on, let’s go.” She left, continuing to speak as y/n trailed behind her. “Oh and do be careful with those shoes you have on, they were a gift to you from your grandparents, remember?” Ma reminded, rolling her eyes as her shoes clicked down the modern circular stairs. “They always spoiled you as a child, now look at you! Showing attitude at your own mother!” She complained as she reached the end of the stairs. “S’not like you were much of a mom to me anyways.” Y/n remarks snarkily, causing ma to stop and turn towards them.
“Maybe now that they’re gone, I’ll be able to show you how to treat people with respect.” She glared, causing y/n to stop in their tracks. “You have no right to say shit like that, ma!” They yelled, causing ma’s eyes to widen. “Just cause they’re not here anymore doesn’t mean no one’ll put you in your place anymore!” Ma grit her teeth and their statement. “They died last year! They’re no longer important!” She retorted angrily “Would you like to know what is important? Those photographers outside!” ma spat, knowing full well what it would cause.
“Wanna know what else is important? Being there for your child! You didn’t raise me, grandma and grandpa did!” Y/n snapped, interrupting ma once more before she could open her mouth. “I don’t want this life anymore! Not with you or dad! I don’t want the money, I don’t want the fame, and I’m sure as hell that don’t want those photographers anywhere near me!” They yelled, silencing ma completely as she stood in horror. “I don’t wanna have to fake a smile for the sake of the cameras anymore. I don’t care about your reputation. I won’t help make you look good in front of the press anymore either. I'm going back to bed.” Y/n finished, turning away from their mother, taking a few steps back towards the stairs.
“Y-you ungrateful brat! Ive given you every opportunity, I’ve given you everything! And this is how you repay me!” Ma shouted, taking in a deep breath. “Come on dear, you know I love you- I…come, let's go see the nice photographers, and then we can go celebrate your birthday!” She smiled, causing y/n to turn around, looking back at her in disbelief. “We can go to a fancy restaurant, and we’ll go buy you a birthday present!” Ma bargained, turning to looking behind her. “Now, come on, the photographers are waiting, darling.”
Hesitantly, y/n followed her out to the garden, where many people with professional cameras awaited. Silently, they smiled at lenses. “Dear, come next to me, they want a picture with us together.” Ma put her arm around their waist, and gave the camera an award winning smile, though as soon as the camera man was finished, she removed herself from y/n’s vicinity.
“Hey ma? Is dad gonna be here for my birthday?” Y/n asked, hopeful that their father would have shown himself at least once today. “No dear, your father has much more important business to attend, maybe next year, alright?” Ma sighed, smiling for the camera once more. Y/n’s face fell once more. “No, darling, no sad faces in front of the cameras. You should be happy! You’ll be on the magazines! Imagine…’Famous clothing brand’s daughter turns 20’! Everyone will see your gorgeous smile today! They’ll wish they were you.” Ma chuckled. Y/n furrowed their brows at her statements.
After a few minutes, the photographers had finished, and they both headed back inside. “Well then, I’ll be busy for a few hours, don’t bother me darling.” Ma said, turning on her heel, heading towards the stairs. “Wait, ma, could you wait a minute?” Y/n asked, earning an uninterested hum from their mother, who turned to look at them with her arms crossed.
“Ma, I don’t wanna do this anymore.” They decided. Ma turned to them, questioning their statement. “Yes, you told me this a few minutes ago.” She rolled her eyes. “No, I don’t wanna go to that restaurant.” They answered, causing confusion in their mother’s eyes. “Shall we go straight to the gift then? My, aren’t you an impatient little child.” She complained. “You were complaining about me ‘not raising you’, and now that I wish to spend time with you, you decline!” She closed her eyes, rubbing her temples in a circular motion. “Ma, please, can you stop doing that?” They asked, looking to the floor guiltily. Ma always knew how to get to them. “Doing what?! Now I can’t have an opinion?” Ma barked.
“Ma, can I have grandpa’s van?” They asked, interrupting ma before she could continue. “That old thing? Knock yourself out, dear. The keys are on the key rack, do you remember what they look like?” Ma asked, and they nodded. She smiled, though it looked very forced. “Happy birthday, my darling, now, if you’ll excuse me…” Ma said as she quickened her pace, finally walking up the stairs.
Y/n found themselves grinning at the news as they eagerly rushed to the kitchen, and towards the key rack with was next to the fridge. They had always loved the old van. Once, their grandparents had taken them on a week long road trip in that thing. They did lots of sightseeing that week, and y/n kept every photo they had taken. Swiftly, Y/n took the keys off of the rack, and hurried out the front door. Ma always kept old things in the third garage, and it was the last place y/n recalled seeing it. Hopefully it still worked.
It had been a bit of time since they had last driven somewhere on their own, and they silently hoped that their skills weren’t too rusty. Quickly, they unlocked the garage door, and laid their eyes on the van. That big, beautiful, rusty van. Just like how they remembered it. The van could use a wash, tracing a line onto the van with their finger, they stood slightly grossed out by how dirty the van really was. Quickly, they inserted the keys into the van, and pulled the driver’s door wide open.
The smell of nostalgia filled their nostrils as the eagerly took a seat. The engine took a few tries, but luckily, it was still fighting. “Okay…ready?” They asked the van, stopping once they realized they were, in fact, talking to a van. Y/n pushed on the gas petal, overcome with joy as it began to roll onto the driveway. Once it was completely out of storage, they left to lock the garage door, admiring the van once more before getting back in the driver seat.
Soon enough they were on the road, driving past other cars. It was nice being able to be around other people without them knowing you’re related to a huge clothing company. It made y/n feel normal for once. They’d give anything to be freed from the life they had forced onto them.
And just like magic. There it was. The perfect opportunity. A billboard reading ‘COTTAGES FOR SALE’ along with a phone number underneath. The phone number of a company, specialized in selling cottages with huge plots of land that came with them. This was it. This was their escape.
Without second thought, they entered the nearest general store, bought a ton canned food, some tools, and some clothes that weren’t made from their mother’s company. The perks of being rich, huh.
When they got back home that day, Y/n told ma they were moving out, but wouldn’t dare to mention where.
No more cameras, no more fame, and no more ma.