Pretty Boy

Chapter XXI: Mommy Dearest

Scarlett shimmied up the tree to the roof where she proceeded to crack open her window and slide into her room. She slipped and fell onto the soft pliable carpet. A knock was heard at the door. She gasped and looked up. "Scarlett?" Her mother prompted from the other side.

"Yes?" She said as she swiftly stumbled to her bed. Her door opened just the same. "Where were you?" Her mother asked sternly. Scarlett stopped and stared at her mother. "Why are you up?" Scarlett asked, squinting her eyes. "I asked you first," her mother stepped into the room. "Nowhere," Scarlett looked away. "Why were you outside?" Her mother crossed her arms. "I already said I didn't go anywhere," Scarlett raised her voice. "And I thought I made it clear that I don't trust you!" Her mother raised her voice to match her daughters. Scarlett backed away. "Look- I'm really tired..." Scarlett started as she began to pull down the comforter on her bed. "Look here missy-" Her mother said, grabbing Scarlett's arm. "What!?" Scarlett yelled, wiggling out of her mothers grasp. "Don't try to fool me," Her mother pointed her index finger in her face. 
"Fool you?"
"Yes, fool me!"
"How the hell have I fooled you?"
"I'm not stupid! I know you've been running around- doing God knows what!"
"You don't know anything... I've been to Ollies!"
"Oh really? I guess it won't matter if I call his mother-"
There was a moment of silence between the two. Scarlett gazed deep into her mothers eyes blazed with the wrath only mothers can convey. "Lily Tomlin got herself knocked up just last week..." Her mother stated, crossing her arms." Lily Tomlin is a dope-"
Scarlett turned around, back to her bed. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!" Her mother grabbed her arm once more, turning her around. Scarlett was an inch away from her mothers looming face of untimely doom. Scarlett tried to struggle out of her mothers grasp, but it was too strong.
"If I ever catch you fooling around young lady-" Her mother pointed in Scarlett's face with her other arm. "Oh yeah well you were none too careful yourself!" Scarlett remarked. The rage with her mother had reached the tipping point. He tossed her onto the bed. "Get the fuck out of her!" Scarlett screamed as streams of tears began to fall down her face. Her mother clamped her hand over her mouth in disbelief at what she had just done. She stood still for a moment as a witness to her daughter.

"I said get the fuck out of here!"
Her mother left the room without saying another word. She didn't want to. 

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Ollie rode shotgun all the way to the mall, it was a long way to the closest mall, he was dreading his proposal of mother son bonding time already.

They arrived at the mall just as it began to sleet, there was a chill in the air that seemed to never go away. The mall was filled to the rim with last minute hunters and gatherers.

"So where should we start?" His mother asked. They made their way to the map posted in the center of the entrance plaza. "I say we go to J.C Penny first and make our way around..." His mother said. Ollie wasn't paying attention. His mind was in another realm. "Ollie?" He looked back at his mother. "Does that sound okay?" Ollie nodded. "Wait- um I was just wondering since some of this stuff is secret- I was thinking we would go off by ourselves and then meet back at the food court," Ollie stated awkwardly.  "Oh- Okay well let me give you some money..." She said as she began digging into her purse. She handed him $40. They parted ways. Ollie was confused at his mothers behavior, she had never acted like this, it didn't seem genuine, but it seemed like she was at least trying. He felt bad for shutting her hopes of bonding down, but he was only trying to be plausible. He made his way to the escalators.His first stop was the upper level bathroom. Suddenly his phone buzzed, He reached into his pocket and saw that Scarlett was calling. He answered.
"Hello?"
"Ollie- we're undeniably fucked!"
"What do you mean?"
"My mom knows-"
"What? You didn't tell her about me right?!"
"No- of course not, but she said she's going to call your mom."
"Fuck me!"

Passersby began to stare at Ollie. He was worried and petrified at what the near future looked like.
"My mom is like going ape shit," Scarlett said from the other side of the line.
"What are we gonna do?" Ollie asked with a shake in his voice. "There's nothing we can do..." she said. "Thanks for telling me," Ollie said. "Yeah-I'll see you at my funeral," she hung up the phone. Ollie looked around in worry, he was all alone, people swarmed and buzzed all around him. *what the fuck do I do now?* his mind screamed at him. He turned and to his shock saw his Peter walking out of a music store. He was accompanied by Jody and Josiah. He didn't want to make his presence obvious. He waited casually by the restrooms as the trio approached.

"Oliver?" Peter said in surprise. He walked up to Ollie. "Wow- Peter I didn't expect to find you here," Ollie said. "Yeah we'll you normally wouldn't but this dumbass blew the amp so we had to buy another one." His smile was contagious, before Ollie knew it he began to grin as well. "Sorry I haven't gotten to talk to you much... things have been really busy you know with the holidays coming up and all," Peter explained sincerely. Ollie nodded his head. "No, I totally understand." Ollie said enthusiastically.
"Ollie?"
He heard his mother say in the distance. The trio turned around to see Ollie's mother behind them. "Peter, this is my mother..." Ollie said awkwardly. "Mother?" Josiah questioned. "Yes I am his mother? Who the hell are you?" She snapped back. Her true colors were beginning to show. He was right, it was just an act. "I think you better go," Ollie whispered to Peter. "We'll this was lovely but we've got you know... things to do so uh I guess we'll be seeing you around..." Peter waved ado to Ollie, Ollie's smile faded as his mother approached. He was in for it now.