MELANCHOLY [S.T. B. Hargrove]

26

"So, let me get this straight.." Nancy starts, walking past where I was sitting at the foot of her bed.

I set the lollipop Holly gave me between my lips.

"You went to the pool and you and Billy had sex in the back of his car.."

"Correct," I confirm.

"Then, you got into a fight because he found out you were living with the Harrington family.."

"Correct."

"And then he shows up at your house.."

"Yep."

"And you have sex again.."

"Uh-huh."

"And then get into another fight because Max left something in your room?"

"No," I say. "He saw Max's birthday present and realized I was still hanging out with her."

"And how did he know it was for Max?"

"Because it was a customized skateboard I got made for her since he broke her old one and Neil and Susan won't buy her a new one."

"Okay.. Max's birthday present. Got into another fight.."

"Back on track," I confirm.

"Then.. you ran into each other at the mall and have sex in the mall bathroom?"

"Correct."

"Racquel, oh my God!" she exclaims.

"Hey, this one didn't end in a fight! Besides, you said this is how you and Jonathan worked things out!" I remind.

"No, I said Jonathan and I had sex because someone called us out on our bullshit and we stayed together after that!"

I make a pouty face.

"Can't you two just talk? Like normal people?"

"He tried and I told him to shut up."

"Why?!" she cries out.

"Because Billy doesn't do the word thing right!"

"Word thing?" Nancy repeats. "Are you sure it's not you that can't speak normally?"

"I would so call you racist right now if my head wasn't splitting."

"You're impossible."

Someone knocks on the bedroom door. Nancy gives me another dirty look and I flip her off before she opens it to reveal her mother.

"Hey, mom," Nancy greets.

My eyebrows crunch together at the ridiculous amount of makeup on Mrs. Wheeler's face. And I'm the bitch that spends thirty minutes every day on just eyeliner and jewels. Dis she even try to blend that shit?

"Hi, dear. I'm actually here for Racquel," Mrs. Wheeler smiles, peering past Nancy to look at me.

"Ma'am?" I ask.

"Some of the moms are getting together and going to the pool. Would you mind coming as well?"

"I'm not a mom," I grin as if the dig wasn't me trying to tell her she was old.

"Well, we were planning on having some.." she looks down the hall, then whispers. "Wine."

"So, you all want me to babysit the kids while you drink wine?" I clarify simply.

"It's just that we'd hate for any of the kids to not be supervised, but we'd also like a day to breathe together, you know?"

I glance to Nancy. She tries to hide behind the door and shake her head. Nancy just knew about me and Billy. She didn't know her bitch mother was involved.