“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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMczjhPjMcc
“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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IJlLjj5TK
“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?”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrBc6rRMEY
“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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLY3uurPUl
“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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaOqIas5Xo
“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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRq6UjDUG7S
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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DVE7LPLbg
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.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgV4WIfktwl
“Or, you can always punch your mom. That right hook of yours could be quite persuasive.” Simon laughs and pokes my cheek.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuOKzWN8DW
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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1VR8dOt8o
“Ah, trouble in paradise?” Lindsey asks, wiping her hands on her napkin and throwing it on her tray.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtkpNAwiYt
Simon groans again. “I wish he’d come out to his folks already. It would make my life so much easier.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQ0DIKn7jk
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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrYFTyHtlJ
Simon nods as the bell rings overhead. “Abracadabra.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8t6vtLeq2I
---
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo1tu0Yayn
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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TAWhORVw3
Maybe she just took half a day.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhswNWZAz8d
Or maybe she heard about the fight and came home to end my social life as I know it.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiFLOcisEn
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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXTulRmLvx
Pushing down a wave of nausea, I climb the stone steps on the porch and tentatively walk through the front door. “Mom?”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPingyQyxEn
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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenO0SKxBUJ
Yep, she’s definitely pissed.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLt5qp4Ilnq
“Hey, Ma.” I drop my bag at the doorway of the living room and plop into the soft brown recliner.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtAJaFOtQw
“Hello, Eleanor. How was school?” She turns a page, nearly ripping it from her magazine.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbaEAR1tgx
“It was...good. Same old first day stuff.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoK4wnp8qs
She nods. “Anything interesting happen?” Flip.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wQ3CcYzdc
I gulp. “Not that I can think of.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFj8g3biQLI
She nods again. “I had an interesting phone call from your school today..” Her lips purse.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMPT5oVsIM
My palms begin to sweat. Oh shit.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfXcS5jBSq
“Oh?” My voice comes out squeaky.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7JLhDKGHo
“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?”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzPeUtO6R7
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-”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37C9JVnLHC
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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGsVGSdpyg
Oh, dear sweet Jesus. Please let this be a book club call.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGj8ieRWg4Y
“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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpsuvbY9tS
Nope, not about the book club.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNS55LLmE7d
“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.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXznNBmziE
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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9vSXIK14h
“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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbvhYLXIcW
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.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzW2fP5d4k
Shit. Fuck. Damn it all to Hell.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZbdSunaC1
“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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNgFxsEo9x
“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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAD6RSxZgP
God, if you’re out there, take me now.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNySpxO1HWs
“Oh, you know, we got our schedules and went over what the year is going to look like. Nothing major.” I bite my lip.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLfdfozP0g
“Eleanor, you know what I’m talking about.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tFTQNj9pv
“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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jSC4zFd7G
“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.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDrdCeSlcc
“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.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKp2zgkp4l
“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.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfj769TIG3a
Spare me, please. My mom may be religious, but I’m certainly not.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6IfJqtKX2
“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.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr01scY0QUJ
“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!”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JekZ9YFQ5
“Serves him right,” I mumble. “That asshole-”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdB1h20hlkw
“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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡottGsuxyaQ
“I just don’t get it, Eleanor. What has gotten into you? Are Frank and I not paying you enough attention?”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo69mlW8x9
Inwardly, I roll my eyes. Frank, my stepfather, is ten times the man my biological father is.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQof9OkvSlg
“No Mom, you guys are fine. I just got angry, that’s all.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwvwRU9j2V
“Anger cannot be solved by violence.” She leans forward to the coffee table and digs out her Bible.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNtME1sfGV
“I know that, Mom. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight.” Please, please don’t start quoting scriptures to me.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVaA3zsSsX
“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.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVDLYhcTej
Oh, thank God.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxvsDDYn1g
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.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wckcKwN3I
At the word suspension, my mother’s head snapped up from her Bible.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3xTIiHmTI
“I cannot believe you almost got suspended, Eleanor. It should go without saying that you are grounded.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCn5xkT8Yj
My heart falls. “Grounded?”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vwXfzl5by
“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.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7DhdWJl5F
“Mom, please. I have to go.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEzTsKxqGb
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry, Ellie. You should have thought about that before you got into a fight.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnDt5m33Q3
“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.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5Ygz9v3k1
My mother shakes her head again. “No, Ellie. This is serious. Ellen wants us to pay for Max’s medical bills, now!”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkyaIOjPq5
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!”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVlne6UmQJ
“No. You’re grounded. You’re also going to have to apologize to Max.” She stands and wipes her hands on her scrubs.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9LqNNdJ0g
That might actually be worse than being grounded. “Mom. Come on. I want to stop talking to Max, not continue.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZhQ9RWTL1
“And go with me to church every Wednesday and Thursday to help out with childcare for small groups.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw1uiXvgfU
She’s going to trust me around small children? “Mom, this is insane.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNWqVCRcv0
She turns on her heel and heads out of the living room. “End of discussion, Eleanor.”
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7eux0yQwu
Shit.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9dj4VRRq5
---
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGYb8Wp1Fq
Come on, Ellie. You can do this. Just message him, say you’re sorry, and block him. Easy, breezy.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpHcGtWQbO
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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUl2IgpJpK
Hey, dirtwad. I’m sorry I broke your nose. Maybe next time don’t talk trash about me and my peeps.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHtCE7p6e8
No way, I’m not sending that.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZdgvQ7Zbm
Dearest Maxwell, please accept my solemn apologies for cracking your snout. Next time, I will try to aim lower on your body.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvmlcXYxz3
Nope, that won’t work either. Although, aiming lower would have been funnier.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEf3Z0SyUpe
Sorry for punching you.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUs3Nb0pnqU
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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZr6UQavTlx
Maxamillion6969: Oh, look, if it isn’t She Ra. Come to do more damage?
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVgt4HMlkh
Ellesbelles432: Nope, just apologizing.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMrDwcshml
Maxamillion6969: Why’d you do it, Ellie?
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuMPyRh3Mw
Is he serious? Delusional?
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d9haapqGh
Ellesbelles432: Why do you think?
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2L3eM2Xru
Maxamillion6969: I get it. Getting over me will be tough. Doesn’t mean you have to knock me out.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAK5mDhBkLA
I roll my eyes and groan.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Rb4EjDMCW
Ellesbelles432: Whatever you say, dude.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeitMyzMKqJ
Maximillian6969: I feel like things ended on a bad note for us.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6l9Rh2U5Z
You don’t say.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedqFwufaid
Ellesbelles432: What gives you that impression?
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5dJ1o37M6
Maximilian6969: I meant what I said, Ellie. I didn’t want to hurt you.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBpMBh1FfC
Oh please.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GZBj29Id1
Ellesbelles432: Sure.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0Z9pB2wS9
Maximilian6969: Tiffani’s just...she gets me.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwDKlEBPyR
Ellesbelles432: Gotcha.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8FJR6h4Og
Maximillian6969: I realized way too late we could never be.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIVyZFTfCq
Ellesbelles432: Right Max. I get it.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVZzmMcppC
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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dxnaQEFYe
I let out a chuckle.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHwtFICO8P
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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeZkHEVRdt
Maximilian6969: Why do you have to be such a bitch?
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJjAR7t5fY
I suck in a breath before responding.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdSVE7ENRZ
Ellesbelles432: If standing up for my friends makes me a bitch, then fine, I’m a bitch.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtj1skEmxn
Maximillion6969: You could have much better friends than that guy.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xJKKAGTSe
Ellesbelles432: What, like Tiffani?
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMXScm0AJy
Maximillion6969: What’s your issue with her, anyway? She’s always tried to be nice to you.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ezmAvTxXO
Yep, he’s definitely delusional.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1N5JbxWgr
Ellesbelles432: I’m not getting into it with you, Max. I just wanted to apologize.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVhChi2gMe
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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkenTgGYhQ
Cool, I see blackmail is in style now.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpqwxE8HXb
Ellesbelles432: Got it, Max.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpBo6j15Jx
Maximillion6969: I mean it, bitch. Keep your filthy paws off us.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsu4KHfJo1
Maximillion6969 has signed off.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMptJvA0wEI
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.
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyRNvLVajq
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?
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekoeZ4ugEU
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQySJRch6ut
168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvadq1o1IAp
