“So then she slams her fist into his nose. Wham, bam, thank you, ma’am!” Simon’s telling the rest of the group about my so-called fight with Max from this morning. We’re at lunch, and thankfully, the rest of the morning has passed uneventfully. Word of my fight spread quickly, though, and I’ve spent most of my time this morning either ignoring remarks from Max’s friends or fending off congratulatory applause from others. It’s a strange feeling being called a whore in one breath and a rockstar in another.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9NDwvPCKZ
“Atta girl,” Cyrus says. “I always knew you had it in you, kid.” He smiles and winks at me while taking a sip of his soda.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOF8xKfwBgY
“Do not condone her behavior, Cyrus. She could have gotten expelled!” Romina’s eyes are wide and bright. “Ellie, what on Earth were you thinking?”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMulVN56uT2
“I was thinking that his stupid face needed a makeover.” I grimace, remembering how angry Max made me. I scan the cafeteria, searching for a sign of Max and the Bitch Trifecta through the throngs of noisy students. Luckily, they aren’t in any of my other morning classes, and it would be just my luck to have them pop up in what’s supposed to be the best time of the day, lunch. While half of the school is here right now, munching on lukewarm spaghetti or hamburgers resembling hockey pucks, Max and the Bitch Trifecta are anywhere to be seen. I breathe a sigh of relief and focus back on my friends.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4STiQcwGX5
“Your mom is going to flip.” Lindsey shakes her head and twirls her pasta onto her fork. “You better not miss my party this weekend.” Every year, Lindsey throws a back-to-school bash over Labor Day weekend. It’s usually just the five of us, plus our families and a few other friends from school. It’s a big deal, though, and if I miss it, Lindsey might never forgive me.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6TvgfMted
“I won’t miss it, Linds.” I draw a cross over my heart. “Lamontagne said I’m not suspended, anyway. It’s likely my mom won’t even find out.” I take a bite of my turkey sandwich and lick the little glob of mayo that spurts out, smacking my lips in the process. Delicious.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacgFoy4Qdf
Romina frowns at me and leans in. “You do realize that your mom has to sign off on the counseling sessions, though, right? You’re not 18 until next week. You have to have a parent sign off if you’re under 18.” She pushes her glasses further up on her nose. Romina’s always been the mother of the group, so expecting her to be chill about my fight is a long shot.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCPKbFHEiz
I shrug and the air deflates from my lungs. “Maybe I can wait until next week to start? Or I can tell her it’s something I’m choosing to do. You know, heal myself and forgive Max. She’ll eat that shit up.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1p0YCMnan
“Or, you can always punch your mom. That right hook of yours could be quite persuasive.” Simon laughs and pokes my cheek.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypE9AqwSQF
I swat him away and toss a potato chip at him. He blows me a kiss just as Marcus walks by. Simon stiffens and blushes, redness creeping up from his neck to his earlobes. Marcus raises his hand briefly in a wave before leaving the cafeteria. Groaning, Simon puts his head on the table, pounding it against the laminated wood.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnH33WTckA
“Ah, trouble in paradise?” Lindsey asks, wiping her hands on her napkin and throwing it on her tray.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGfTiuZdJR
Simon groans again. “I wish he’d come out to his folks already. It would make my life so much easier.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTK570J3fd8
Lindsey nods. “I’ll invite him this weekend. Let’s make the magic happen.” She smiles, and it sends shivers down my spine. I’ve seen this smile before, and judging by Lindsey’s ability to make things happen, Marcus and Simon will leave the party as a couple.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfCB0VimDs
Simon nods as the bell rings overhead. “Abracadabra.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwLIngReee
---
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0EldQlwOU
The rest of the day goes by without incident, and I soon find myself standing in my driveway, staring at my mother’s SUV. Fear trickles down my spine. Its shiny black exterior gleams in the sun, recently washed and waxed. My mom usually works long shifts at the hospital on Mondays.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqrfUrN4np
Maybe she just took half a day.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiVET9900y
Or maybe she heard about the fight and came home to end my social life as I know it.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxcVrrZ45a
My stepfather’s car is thankfully not in the driveway, meaning he hasn’t made it home from his law office. If both of my parents were home, it would certainly spell trouble for me.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Sn128r6qZ
Pushing down a wave of nausea, I climb the stone steps on the porch and tentatively walk through the front door. “Mom?”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5s59ReX6X
I find her sitting in the living room on one of the couches, flipping through a magazine. She’s turning the pages quickly, merely scanning what’s on each page instead of reading. Her lips are turned down into a frown, and her foot is shaking rapidly.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmGGwMt49v
Yep, she’s definitely pissed.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn029eFQfnn
“Hey, Ma.” I drop my bag at the doorway of the living room and plop into the soft brown recliner.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOBcbvmpFl
“Hello, Eleanor. How was school?” She turns a page, nearly ripping it from her magazine.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8D7EX1sAxr
“It was...good. Same old first day stuff.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMfefDree8
She nods. “Anything interesting happen?” Flip.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIVnErVq8a
I gulp. “Not that I can think of.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaf73osdsN8
She nods again. “I had an interesting phone call from your school today..” Her lips purse.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3k46IZeaZy
My palms begin to sweat. Oh shit.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8eVpxwhjS
“Oh?” My voice comes out squeaky.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPhXu5UbpF
“You’ve been recommended to attend therapy sessions?” She looks up at me, her hazel eyes, the same ones I inherited, burrowing into my soul. “Ellie, is everything okay?”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26f3c2ZYeH
I let out a sigh of relief. They didn’t mention the fight. Bless them. “Oh. That. It’s not a big deal, really. See, Max and I broke up, and I thought maybe it might be good for me to talk to someone. The school has a fantastic counselor-”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW80B9viBiK
I’m interrupted by a chirpy ringing. My mother moves to grab her phone off the coffee table. I glance at it quickly, my heart dropping when I recognize Ellen’s name flash across the screen.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZz6wP3Q949
Oh, dear sweet Jesus. Please let this be a book club call.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXqb3zvvJu
“Ellen! Hello! I was just getting ready to call you about this week’s book club-” My mother gets caught off by a loud shriek from Max’s mother. She winces and pulls the phone from her ear.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BjWWjsfnZ
Nope, not about the book club.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SOxbivvoC
“Ellen, honey, calm down and tell me exactly what’s going on. What happened with Max? Ellie was just telling me how the two of them broke up. So unfortunate.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuM0FBQ0Mb
My heart jumps into my throat and I start to get up from the recliner. My mother locks eyes with me and frowns. She holds up a finger on her hand, signaling me to stay put. I sink back down, my lunch threatening to make a comeback.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwipEGcg3C5
“I see. Well, thank you for letting me know.” My mother’s glare burns my skin, and I’d like nothing more than the floor to open up and swallow me whole.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1nfhzOyjR
My mom’s voice gets louder. “Now, Ellen, let’s think rationally about this. I don’t think we need to get the cops involved.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVETpneQwCu
Shit. Fuck. Damn it all to Hell.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmenHuhUQKO
“You’re absolutely right, Ellen. Yes, paying for the procedure sounds fair. Eleanor is probably just going through a rough time. Yes, I will take care of it. Goodbye.” My mother puts her phone down and looks at me. If looks could kill, I'd be six feet under by now.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfj08O7GiEQ
“Eleanor Rose Whittier, care to explain to me what happened today?” Her voice is calm, still. She only ever uses my middle name when I’m in serious trouble.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rs1Fzf7WI
God, if you’re out there, take me now.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIShy7xXhz9
“Oh, you know, we got our schedules and went over what the year is going to look like. Nothing major.” I bite my lip.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7McCR4Dyo
“Eleanor, you know what I’m talking about.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdmDz3xGVU
“Max was being an ass...jerk so I handled it.” Mom flinches at my near swear and sighs. She’s religious, and any swear, or almost-swear, causes her to have a class-3 meltdown.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOQTkWCcem
“Eleanor Rose, you know better than to fight. What came over you? Is it drugs? Maybe you should come to the prayer group with me from now on. Expel some of those demons.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyvqc9I2MD
“Nothing’s going on, Mom. I’m not on drugs, and you can call off the exorcism. Max wanted to run his mouth, so I simply shut it for him.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUjB5D2a90
“With your fist?” My mom’s voice remains calm, almost as if she’s talking about her favorite Hallmark movie. “You decided to handle the situation with violence? You should have called me. We could have prayed about it.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtaMgIWMfy
Spare me, please. My mom may be religious, but I’m certainly not.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ047Me05U9j
“It all happened so fast, Mom. One minute I was talking to Simon and the next Max was bleeding. It’s not like I set out intending to punch him.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEevnqfFMd
“Nevertheless, you can’t go around punching people who upset you. Ellen wanted to press charges. Max’s nose will need resetting! You broke his nose, Eleanor!”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElAaELLyX3
“Serves him right,” I mumble. “That asshole-”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1U6QKe17Sh
“Eleanor Rose, do not swear in this house!” Mom’s voice has gone from calm to shrill, a skill she’s mastered over several years of dealing with three children. I jump and sit up straighter in the chair.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83SLHmsUBt
“I just don’t get it, Eleanor. What has gotten into you? Are Frank and I not paying you enough attention?”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa58hGytunG
Inwardly, I roll my eyes. Frank, my stepfather, is ten times the man my biological father is.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LUOW53Ppd
“No Mom, you guys are fine. I just got angry, that’s all.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkI4MvRure
“Anger cannot be solved by violence.” She leans forward to the coffee table and digs out her Bible.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCO9IEbS4ns
“I know that, Mom. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight.” Please, please don’t start quoting scriptures to me.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDardcyg2u
“That much is clear. Luckily, Ellen seems to think- and I agree with her- that you’re going through something terrible and that some outside help would be more beneficial than dealing with the police.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0irDOZ3Jrq
Oh, thank God.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9zjLFqXe0
I nod. “I see. Well, that’s actually the reason I’m going to start therapy at school. Mr. Lamontagne waived the normal suspension if I agreed to do it.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ai9I5vrVS
At the word suspension, my mother’s head snapped up from her Bible.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEodP6DkrcU
“I cannot believe you almost got suspended, Eleanor. It should go without saying that you are grounded.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tFFnVG12o
My heart falls. “Grounded?”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzFrbWuPlk
“Grounded. You are to come straight home from school every day. I will leave a list of chores for you to complete, and you can forget going to Lindsey’s party this weekend.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKW2SXjfpeL
“Mom, please. I have to go.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iMRz9yLKk
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry, Ellie. You should have thought about that before you got into a fight.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzwIKvz6pI
“Come on, Mom! I did it in self-defense. He was calling me names and being homophobic towards Simon. I tried asking him to stop, but he just wouldn’t listen. I had to do something.” I hold my hands together. “Please, Mom. I swear, I will do anything you want, just let me go.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxStxq5jad
My mother shakes her head again. “No, Ellie. This is serious. Ellen wants us to pay for Max’s medical bills, now!”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyVol3aEpm
I groan. “So I’ll get a job to pay for them. I’ll do extra chores. I’ll clean both bathrooms and the kitchen!”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8MsNwqYtf
“No. You’re grounded. You’re also going to have to apologize to Max.” She stands and wipes her hands on her scrubs.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYji1zozcV
That might actually be worse than being grounded. “Mom. Come on. I want to stop talking to Max, not continue.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnaLtnadtH
“And go with me to church every Wednesday and Thursday to help out with childcare for small groups.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaltQfF3kJ
She’s going to trust me around small children? “Mom, this is insane.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2TlIEEz5T
She turns on her heel and heads out of the living room. “End of discussion, Eleanor.”
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25PhU5cx4G
Shit.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipkZJlH9lo
---
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLpwYfAiPX
Come on, Ellie. You can do this. Just message him, say you’re sorry, and block him. Easy, breezy.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHpj6wymbt
I stare at Max’s screen name. I told my mom I’d apologize tonight, and I am currently trying to psych myself up to do it.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtH9O0lSIh
Hey, dirtwad. I’m sorry I broke your nose. Maybe next time don’t talk trash about me and my peeps.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnWHUM9VOR
No way, I’m not sending that.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3V0mfrrGZY
Dearest Maxwell, please accept my solemn apologies for cracking your snout. Next time, I will try to aim lower on your body.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeTwn2SLVZ
Nope, that won’t work either. Although, aiming lower would have been funnier.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KDCyFDCld
Sorry for punching you.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nyEjLX58a
I guess that’s as good as it is going to get. I press send and wait for Max’s reply. My fingers tap against my desk, and my heart rate, which surely must be sick of racing all the time these days, increases.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNL14hWg6eC
Maxamillion6969: Oh, look, if it isn’t She Ra. Come to do more damage?
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5sqUCGs3W
Ellesbelles432: Nope, just apologizing.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhgd7AQ5eC
Maxamillion6969: Why’d you do it, Ellie?
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxyOD3gTVK
Is he serious? Delusional?
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwOXxN96NF
Ellesbelles432: Why do you think?
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96SebctP4G
Maxamillion6969: I get it. Getting over me will be tough. Doesn’t mean you have to knock me out.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TSzgp9Oph
I roll my eyes and groan.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfiHOUzkI5
Ellesbelles432: Whatever you say, dude.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3kToeHe6h
Maximillian6969: I feel like things ended on a bad note for us.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0p69cflrgB
You don’t say.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwETYnYpAPF
Ellesbelles432: What gives you that impression?
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9E4jifqg4l
Maximilian6969: I meant what I said, Ellie. I didn’t want to hurt you.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92M7UgxMt3
Oh please.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHixua969lh
Ellesbelles432: Sure.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Nw83OqEoD
Maximilian6969: Tiffani’s just...she gets me.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5eXaA3Lty
Ellesbelles432: Gotcha.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fQKZc0pDK
Maximillian6969: I realized way too late we could never be.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaPjgFJ2oF
Ellesbelles432: Right Max. I get it.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7D7DGAJNb
Maximillian6969: And really, you should be thanking me. I definitely helped your social standing, by letting you punch me. If we weren’t in school, I totally would have kicked your ass.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUOEnSLfu6
I let out a chuckle.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MXGZGVne2
Ellesbelles432: Big bad Max for sure would have whollaped me. Whew, I’m glad I know that now. I’ll keep that in mind for when you spew hatred.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8lVOaH7CO
Maximilian6969: Why do you have to be such a bitch?
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxQTK8zFvQ
I suck in a breath before responding.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzEnlVR5M2
Ellesbelles432: If standing up for my friends makes me a bitch, then fine, I’m a bitch.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdNV4NiH4V
Maximillion6969: You could have much better friends than that guy.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaPO7U2jLA
Ellesbelles432: What, like Tiffani?
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykCTejN3T8
Maximillion6969: What’s your issue with her, anyway? She’s always tried to be nice to you.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXhuxIwKRD
Yep, he’s definitely delusional.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnWVbk3TL6
Ellesbelles432: I’m not getting into it with you, Max. I just wanted to apologize.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP86KkSeIyV
Maximillion6969: Like everything else you do, you’re doing a shit job. Don’t come near us again, Ellie, or I’ll get my mom to press charges against you. I told her you were so heartbroken at our breakup that you lost your mind, but I can always say you’re harassing me.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAaAAeI5xz
Cool, I see blackmail is in style now.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTM64okJjAo
Ellesbelles432: Got it, Max.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa5JcPXTcL
Maximillion6969: I mean it, bitch. Keep your filthy paws off us.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlAedEm2Yj
Maximillion6969 has signed off.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuEpyOuoXz
I laugh, closing my laptop and shutting off my desk lamp. The room is illuminated in darkness, aside from the moon shining through the window. I crawl into bed, thinking about how Max was never great at insults, as seen by his consistent use of calling me a bitch and if he wanted to blackmail me, then so be it.
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX9sDHm8qL
I pull my turquoise quilt up to my chin and close my eyes, replaying the day in my mind. Max is the least of my worries, and I’ll be damned if he is going to ruin my senior year. Now, how do I get myself ungrounded?
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqL291K3i6x
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rjI5LdGDb
139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbhhZTKBuy
