I'm NOT A Baby Anymore

Chapter 15: Grounded Forever and Ever

"Come here please Pink. I'm done with your games tonight."

Pink bit her bottom lip, hating how irritated and stern her mom sounded. Maybe she shouldn't have disobeyed so much, it's just that once she'd gotten that taste of freedom she couldn't get enough of it.

Sadly her mom had, had enough of her rebelling and now she had even less freedom than before. Pink was certain of it.

"Are you proud of the choices you made Pink?" Her mom demanded once she'd crossed the threshold of her bedroom and hesitantly approached her mother.
"No." She murmured biting her tongue to keep herself from saying anything her mother deemed sarcastic or mouthy and got herself in deeper trouble.

"What should you have done differently?" Her mother demanded, it seemed as if her mom wanted her to explode. Taking a deep breath Pink slowly looked into her mother's icy blue eyes and thought out carefully the best response to pacify her mom.

"I guess, just be grateful for what freedom you were giving me and not lie to you about what I'm doing." Pink whispered softly as she dropped her eyes back to her cream colored carpet, wishing she could disappear forever.
She flinched slightly when she felt her mom's hand on her face.

"Pink, I don't understand where this awful attitude has come from young lady but it ends tonight!" Her mother snapped lifting her chin so their eyes could meet once more. Indignation spurred within Pink and she wretched free of her mother's hold.
"I didn't have an attitude! You're crazy! It's not my fault you never treat me like an adult! " She snapped back making her mother's eyes narrow.

"Enough, you keep saying you want freedom but you're far from being an adult little girl. Children don't get freedom." Her mother stated in an eerily calm tone before she put her hand on Pink's shoulder. "Until further notice you will go to and from school and you will not see your friends outside of school grounds, you'll spend your afternoons studying and if you need any more stimulation you can take up piano again, that is my final word." White stated before she stood, making her way to the door.

   "That's not fair! I hate you!" Pink's final straw snapped in two and her anger tumbled from her mouth like word vomit. Her mother stilled in the doorway, her back facing Pink, and fear climbed it's way up the teen's body as she slapped her hands over her mouth.

   She shouldn't have said that.
      She shouldn't have said that!
         SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT.

  Slowly, like a snake manuvering around it's prey, her mom turned around, Pink stepped back slightly seeing the anger in her mom's eyes.
   "You hate me?" White demanded between clenched teeth, as she stalked closer to her youngest.

   "Mama I didn't..." Pink's words died on her lips when her mom's hand roughly grasped her chin and tugged her forward.

   "You hate me? I've only fed you, bathed you, clothed you, and loved you all your life. But suddenly I'm the monster? For what Pink? Keeping you safe!? You lied to me! You broke the rules. Hate me all you want but your safety comes first!" White snapped before she seemed to realize she was hurting Pink slightly and she released her and swiftly left the room. A hurried goodnight flung carelessly over her shoulder.

  Pink stood frozen in the middle of her room, tears pooling in her eyes and clinging to her eyelashes.

   "I'm sorry." She whispered her lips trembling emotionally with each syllable.

   ..................................................................

    "Wake up Starlight." Her mom ordered tugging the covers off of the emotionally drained teenager. Pink sat up groggily as she attempted to rub the sleep from her swollen eyes.
   "Wha' time's it?" She murmured trying to focus her vision to find her alarm clock.

   "It's five thirty, and since you've got free time, you get to accompany me on some business." Her mom informed her  firmly leaving no room for arguments, but Pink still wiggled in some room because she was exhausted emotionally and physically.

   "Can't I stay here with Blue or Yellow?" She pleaded hopefully her eyelids felt as heavy as sandbags, her throat itchy from crying all night, and head heavy like it's stuffed with cotton.

  "Your sisters are away on a business trip unfortunately, and since you're grounded and have lost my trust you can't be home alone, so get dressed and meet me downstairs in ten minutes." She tapped Pink's cheek and quickly disappeared with a flourish out Pink's door.

   Pink slowly slid from her bed, after processing her mother's words for a few moments. Too tired to put up much more of a fight, she padded her way to her closet to find something comfortable yet still somewhat presentable to wear.

  

Around ten or maybe more, Pink wasn't really watching the time, and she was too tired to actually try and move quickly, she slowly staggered down the steps in a red t-shirt, white skirt, black leggings and pink flip flops

"Come have a quick breakfast baby." Her mom ordered grabbing her shoulders to lead her to the kitchen. Everything after that was kind of a blur as she numbly downed either cereal or toast (she wasn't sure ), she was then ushered from the table to the front door before she was bundled up in a jacket and lead to the idling car in their driveway.

     "Where are we going mama?" Pink whined sleepily as she buckled her seatbelt watching blearily as her mother slid elegantly into the seat next to her. White smiled fondly at Pink's sleepy expression before she leaned over and kissed her cheek.

   "That's not your concern at the moment, but it shouldn't be much of a drive." Was the very vague answer her mom supplied and Pink sighed tiredly before leaning her face against the window letting her eyelids slip closed.

   She was going to be grounded forever.

   "Pink, hurry we're here." Her mom quickly unbuckled herself and then Pink, before the teen was dragged from the car.

  "PINK!" An annoyingly familiar voice made the strawberry blonde freeze in place and arms encircled her waist as she was nearly tackled to the ground. "I missed you so so much!"

"Uh...yeah ditto..." Pink muttered unenthusiastic as she tried to subtly pull away, that is until her mom gave her a warning look, begrudgingly Pink returned the hug and patted the child's back. " Ok fine... hi Spinel."

To Be Continued...