“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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEIz68Zkz8
“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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfZ39u5cHD
“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?”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9euiZrkEpQ
“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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNNOVMxxbk
“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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ucwsrb78y
“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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIh6p2M80II
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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG4LkiS6TA
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.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaBG1AZJBU
“Or, you can always punch your mom. That right hook of yours could be quite persuasive.” Simon laughs and pokes my cheek.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprqpqTQLQW
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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FHzgI1KgV
“Ah, trouble in paradise?” Lindsey asks, wiping her hands on her napkin and throwing it on her tray.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2q414TjVOG
Simon groans again. “I wish he’d come out to his folks already. It would make my life so much easier.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvBakrtRLu
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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jwPkkbCKK
Simon nods as the bell rings overhead. “Abracadabra.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5eCpDK7IW
---
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfBlFLjZO2
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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyLYSZKiR0
Maybe she just took half a day.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8ocs0lZic
Or maybe she heard about the fight and came home to end my social life as I know it.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC38JjjvcaE
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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcopbN7cL8
Pushing down a wave of nausea, I climb the stone steps on the porch and tentatively walk through the front door. “Mom?”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubKBE9cdOy
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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgnq5qtFwj
Yep, she’s definitely pissed.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMNcchYizB
“Hey, Ma.” I drop my bag at the doorway of the living room and plop into the soft brown recliner.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BCIcStDqK
“Hello, Eleanor. How was school?” She turns a page, nearly ripping it from her magazine.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8GkckbDIp
“It was...good. Same old first day stuff.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhYBVEO1GA
She nods. “Anything interesting happen?” Flip.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMutsHRnvOZ
I gulp. “Not that I can think of.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ytKoRhUpO
She nods again. “I had an interesting phone call from your school today..” Her lips purse.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzPj5N2zVc
My palms begin to sweat. Oh shit.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbQAnEsyMf
“Oh?” My voice comes out squeaky.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhv4HUK3yWR
“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?”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5y0JAfI1j
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-”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0FIIjpn3S
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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRwX9DVaA7
Oh, dear sweet Jesus. Please let this be a book club call.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomTrZb63fp
“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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrH2CW1Rovj
Nope, not about the book club.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4rtzBVlrN
“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.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLAbdSoOFy
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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPKkSSrRa8
“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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgrvYCAmeF
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.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttekSXWzif
Shit. Fuck. Damn it all to Hell.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hCCoqph0O
“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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQw45KDsuFc
“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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaHBW0XFQD
God, if you’re out there, take me now.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04UY5iU5OP
“Oh, you know, we got our schedules and went over what the year is going to look like. Nothing major.” I bite my lip.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OKpeqsbYX
“Eleanor, you know what I’m talking about.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbtJLHhxZi
“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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhbEH01V0l
“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.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLGbsIVIxz
“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.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbN7ogChIvI
“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.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPczplmj9Ok
Spare me, please. My mom may be religious, but I’m certainly not.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdYuVnnIlM
“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.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BqswOSC44
“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!”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWF0ZQKvnm
“Serves him right,” I mumble. “That asshole-”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuQlOZQFq9
“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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuV9oVgqcAJ
“I just don’t get it, Eleanor. What has gotten into you? Are Frank and I not paying you enough attention?”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yV9SboXJA
Inwardly, I roll my eyes. Frank, my stepfather, is ten times the man my biological father is.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAlhcJNQ1Z
“No Mom, you guys are fine. I just got angry, that’s all.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JRHT5xjZs
“Anger cannot be solved by violence.” She leans forward to the coffee table and digs out her Bible.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8S9FxFL2j
“I know that, Mom. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight.” Please, please don’t start quoting scriptures to me.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dr8ean1ck
“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.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ozurQ05lb
Oh, thank God.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcL3cMmeELX
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.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzXNAFxvo4
At the word suspension, my mother’s head snapped up from her Bible.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Jz80vU4xO
“I cannot believe you almost got suspended, Eleanor. It should go without saying that you are grounded.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqbx5bQh0b
My heart falls. “Grounded?”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJegtlQ4vAD
“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.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XTAzGXmTt
“Mom, please. I have to go.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GQMEfhiMx
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry, Ellie. You should have thought about that before you got into a fight.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxTbXDtPII
“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.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSlw1vCBMs
My mother shakes her head again. “No, Ellie. This is serious. Ellen wants us to pay for Max’s medical bills, now!”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QxBqUXpnx
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!”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPl2mPkFJqN
“No. You’re grounded. You’re also going to have to apologize to Max.” She stands and wipes her hands on her scrubs.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyeRhCVvfn
That might actually be worse than being grounded. “Mom. Come on. I want to stop talking to Max, not continue.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zBuhxw1Ek
“And go with me to church every Wednesday and Thursday to help out with childcare for small groups.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1G4tE4AJg
She’s going to trust me around small children? “Mom, this is insane.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvfZISpVMI
She turns on her heel and heads out of the living room. “End of discussion, Eleanor.”
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeV4TeZOgK
Shit.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YphPsbADd
---
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSaAyxlWip
Come on, Ellie. You can do this. Just message him, say you’re sorry, and block him. Easy, breezy.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDUW9idsrX
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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZys9WJ7hAM
Hey, dirtwad. I’m sorry I broke your nose. Maybe next time don’t talk trash about me and my peeps.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHYpEl7BIb
No way, I’m not sending that.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22ZjK8iskf
Dearest Maxwell, please accept my solemn apologies for cracking your snout. Next time, I will try to aim lower on your body.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjRa1LYnnz
Nope, that won’t work either. Although, aiming lower would have been funnier.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4e5kcFA9YD
Sorry for punching you.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fHoa7KhqG
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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxgWDLFKAl
Maxamillion6969: Oh, look, if it isn’t She Ra. Come to do more damage?
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiQYDAFBNT
Ellesbelles432: Nope, just apologizing.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOinV1vtHCG
Maxamillion6969: Why’d you do it, Ellie?
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQrGbKH02q
Is he serious? Delusional?
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUaDYUFAFX
Ellesbelles432: Why do you think?
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vUwAfG4bT
Maxamillion6969: I get it. Getting over me will be tough. Doesn’t mean you have to knock me out.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnUC0qIcrG
I roll my eyes and groan.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGe0LGY2WJc
Ellesbelles432: Whatever you say, dude.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAl0D0V81gG
Maximillian6969: I feel like things ended on a bad note for us.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaLFT8Rcml
You don’t say.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqTHP76WGr
Ellesbelles432: What gives you that impression?
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nUTNhhEdt
Maximilian6969: I meant what I said, Ellie. I didn’t want to hurt you.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8jbB2IPEt
Oh please.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUaKnYX4GB
Ellesbelles432: Sure.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByKnGwFUIu
Maximilian6969: Tiffani’s just...she gets me.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54YzQErDwz
Ellesbelles432: Gotcha.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcD42TpaQbR
Maximillian6969: I realized way too late we could never be.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkryXPQ2vNj
Ellesbelles432: Right Max. I get it.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9UrJtWusH
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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmXkjYQNuu
I let out a chuckle.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtK9bnQdPTT
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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0seCuYNeOZ
Maximilian6969: Why do you have to be such a bitch?
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡON1krwSJXr
I suck in a breath before responding.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwnTwawc5x
Ellesbelles432: If standing up for my friends makes me a bitch, then fine, I’m a bitch.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIKwVlO0rz
Maximillion6969: You could have much better friends than that guy.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCh636YMTxE
Ellesbelles432: What, like Tiffani?
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYStmMAG87A
Maximillion6969: What’s your issue with her, anyway? She’s always tried to be nice to you.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuAMdQ5M4V
Yep, he’s definitely delusional.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvzKmBaDrb
Ellesbelles432: I’m not getting into it with you, Max. I just wanted to apologize.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dU0VvTfhR
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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtgFj1zvbu
Cool, I see blackmail is in style now.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQODwTsAPW
Ellesbelles432: Got it, Max.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡek6KQBOiqR
Maximillion6969: I mean it, bitch. Keep your filthy paws off us.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFgzfDVBq4
Maximillion6969 has signed off.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJbrReresu
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.
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdHxfnyB0W
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?
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3HV1ypmjZ
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ed3CW3rXb
255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhCLesfSwT
