“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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sVqZ8rQxs
“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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuN1dgg4Fb
“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?”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSLv7Wepp9
“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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2a2dcYQndj
“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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbc9oVz6re
“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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzB4FSgYd9T
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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcM0q64jeaI
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.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQnP1sMytV
“Or, you can always punch your mom. That right hook of yours could be quite persuasive.” Simon laughs and pokes my cheek.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5q1KzT23HB
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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2y9Eu7X9W
“Ah, trouble in paradise?” Lindsey asks, wiping her hands on her napkin and throwing it on her tray.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUYGGn15gG
Simon groans again. “I wish he’d come out to his folks already. It would make my life so much easier.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMqvsh60tk
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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWPW89ngfa
Simon nods as the bell rings overhead. “Abracadabra.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhQOsM0zjK
---
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGTOuvhsjM
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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvhfCOidyA
Maybe she just took half a day.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXddBWpRUHP
Or maybe she heard about the fight and came home to end my social life as I know it.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8IUTNyg8N
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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PittYZ5qP
Pushing down a wave of nausea, I climb the stone steps on the porch and tentatively walk through the front door. “Mom?”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEk7rtiMfn0
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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhTWpz9yj1
Yep, she’s definitely pissed.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIV3p9VXF0j
“Hey, Ma.” I drop my bag at the doorway of the living room and plop into the soft brown recliner.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyCsO3ARub
“Hello, Eleanor. How was school?” She turns a page, nearly ripping it from her magazine.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2vssOR10c
“It was...good. Same old first day stuff.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSa3fUl3FfS
She nods. “Anything interesting happen?” Flip.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFoF42qwT1
I gulp. “Not that I can think of.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIl2GvHKG0
She nods again. “I had an interesting phone call from your school today..” Her lips purse.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfs5fH9UHMZ
My palms begin to sweat. Oh shit.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBQhjs8Ww9
“Oh?” My voice comes out squeaky.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkmCpDBrjZ
“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?”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWd59ZtkWOZ
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-”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVyKXEIo1X
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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RUYIdtAx8
Oh, dear sweet Jesus. Please let this be a book club call.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QezNjrLWn
“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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LBH5zpIB4
Nope, not about the book club.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfigSmSOy6y
“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.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNZVgn9xQ9
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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WUhZ9LlBf
“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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmhOB1f1Rb
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.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEXWyP5Ue8
Shit. Fuck. Damn it all to Hell.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSkmhKaAud
“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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7uEwJgy2A
“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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2caNNVumT
God, if you’re out there, take me now.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8Xrheenwb
“Oh, you know, we got our schedules and went over what the year is going to look like. Nothing major.” I bite my lip.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0XVPxXXSh
“Eleanor, you know what I’m talking about.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQGuXc1cW4
“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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bFUx0kGRU
“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.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7SF6vWY6U
“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.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIsTwWu0PI
“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.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjQ54ykSfY
Spare me, please. My mom may be religious, but I’m certainly not.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWvvn0PMTk
“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.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5UweIdaHV
“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!”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZklTnyLFt
“Serves him right,” I mumble. “That asshole-”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWompRf30q
“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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV97BTFTa0F
“I just don’t get it, Eleanor. What has gotten into you? Are Frank and I not paying you enough attention?”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELSfoubCN8
Inwardly, I roll my eyes. Frank, my stepfather, is ten times the man my biological father is.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLEE1QtL2x
“No Mom, you guys are fine. I just got angry, that’s all.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngaf9UUJh0
“Anger cannot be solved by violence.” She leans forward to the coffee table and digs out her Bible.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdJtnFwZIe
“I know that, Mom. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight.” Please, please don’t start quoting scriptures to me.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbspqPaueS
“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.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1SSSCofNH
Oh, thank God.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxtmeMmzN3
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.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3qiJxuAqj
At the word suspension, my mother’s head snapped up from her Bible.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvivU6P7JJ6
“I cannot believe you almost got suspended, Eleanor. It should go without saying that you are grounded.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHy1E6BSEY
My heart falls. “Grounded?”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BZkIyqS0B
“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.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRN8MzeJeC5
“Mom, please. I have to go.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjkus2DiYh
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry, Ellie. You should have thought about that before you got into a fight.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWaIq1TsbF
“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.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbVUTTxCAm
My mother shakes her head again. “No, Ellie. This is serious. Ellen wants us to pay for Max’s medical bills, now!”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P20511S6C
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!”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTykVfmQAG
“No. You’re grounded. You’re also going to have to apologize to Max.” She stands and wipes her hands on her scrubs.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1clSxBfili
That might actually be worse than being grounded. “Mom. Come on. I want to stop talking to Max, not continue.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN3AYAuDKi
“And go with me to church every Wednesday and Thursday to help out with childcare for small groups.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSnJjrzmB8
She’s going to trust me around small children? “Mom, this is insane.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9UJ6pFmGM
She turns on her heel and heads out of the living room. “End of discussion, Eleanor.”
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapOfMcIpmJ
Shit.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb7IYKKPPC
---
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2T6kFrLPA0
Come on, Ellie. You can do this. Just message him, say you’re sorry, and block him. Easy, breezy.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PVsEDuGnx
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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdc6heaZLAk
Hey, dirtwad. I’m sorry I broke your nose. Maybe next time don’t talk trash about me and my peeps.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVgJuCjLyZ
No way, I’m not sending that.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMixHyil9N
Dearest Maxwell, please accept my solemn apologies for cracking your snout. Next time, I will try to aim lower on your body.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGAKITtcmU
Nope, that won’t work either. Although, aiming lower would have been funnier.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7ebnCRzG7
Sorry for punching you.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHcxPqf6Tp
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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3pRR8nv0C
Maxamillion6969: Oh, look, if it isn’t She Ra. Come to do more damage?
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlbaMv37tj
Ellesbelles432: Nope, just apologizing.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwLu0aD1Ca
Maxamillion6969: Why’d you do it, Ellie?
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgX0xa2cWRW
Is he serious? Delusional?
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5oE9jqAak
Ellesbelles432: Why do you think?
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkith6FcZr
Maxamillion6969: I get it. Getting over me will be tough. Doesn’t mean you have to knock me out.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFjCJ34mPS
I roll my eyes and groan.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSlzrxs9bw
Ellesbelles432: Whatever you say, dude.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQWmq6U1dF
Maximillian6969: I feel like things ended on a bad note for us.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAJdjQPHdg
You don’t say.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LuzBqfXEd
Ellesbelles432: What gives you that impression?
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSqvCEuICl
Maximilian6969: I meant what I said, Ellie. I didn’t want to hurt you.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTub9Ei3sfs
Oh please.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJDdLVxZW7
Ellesbelles432: Sure.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqI4yIPKBWS
Maximilian6969: Tiffani’s just...she gets me.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOW1sugAZbG
Ellesbelles432: Gotcha.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbd5JrjZUGx
Maximillian6969: I realized way too late we could never be.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpvE9MLsTX
Ellesbelles432: Right Max. I get it.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUZMTPhafO
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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26TkmICZea
I let out a chuckle.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Cd53w1Ugu
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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo5HLPt8SV
Maximilian6969: Why do you have to be such a bitch?
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77c5kj8AZQ
I suck in a breath before responding.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQuWjK2uIq
Ellesbelles432: If standing up for my friends makes me a bitch, then fine, I’m a bitch.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNB1qEWYIXt
Maximillion6969: You could have much better friends than that guy.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2V93N6XqFT
Ellesbelles432: What, like Tiffani?
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUW3P40YoDA
Maximillion6969: What’s your issue with her, anyway? She’s always tried to be nice to you.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXk9UnSApGv
Yep, he’s definitely delusional.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrddJNOQVB
Ellesbelles432: I’m not getting into it with you, Max. I just wanted to apologize.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Hfpe66Kvl
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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1zYx2zATg
Cool, I see blackmail is in style now.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLwIAj8yCS
Ellesbelles432: Got it, Max.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUfR1sFO2W
Maximillion6969: I mean it, bitch. Keep your filthy paws off us.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjswMyFkVu
Maximillion6969 has signed off.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6BJN0WX5s
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.
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsatZy5rsUe
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?
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pA8Buyn1r
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQ41Mdu4cx
170Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7Wr7yd9xV
