It All Started With A Ride

15. Scemeing Vs. Parents

True to her word, at around five forty-six, there was a knock on our Apartment's door, of course- to make things more convincible, I decided just this once, I'd sit on my bed and let someone else answer the door- such as Henry or Mom- or, Madison I guess.

Coincidentally, Mom answered the door, I know because she said "Hi, Laney!" Rather loudly and excitedly.

I rolled my eyes while Madison, who was looking at a Playboy magazine she stole from the bases underneath Henry's bed, snorted.

From my bed, I anxiously waited for Laney to work her Magic when Madison spoke, "Hey, Max-"

"Hm?" I said without looking up from my boo.

"Do you think my body will look like this when I grow up?" She asked, holding up the magazine for me to see a specific page with a Filipino woman with big breasts and a curvy figure on it.

I stared at Madison blankly.

See what I mean? Sex-related questions- which, I didn't exactly care to answer.

I mean, what do you even say to that?

Before I could reply with my shrug, Mom opened the door to our room and said, "Max" Mom began, leaning against the door frame with her arms folded over her chest, "Laney's here- she wants your help with studying".

I had to sell it, so I gave her a confused look, "can't she study with Layla?" I asked.

"Well," Mom sighed, "apparently Layla's come down with stomach flu".

Act Maxine- act good!

I put on my best performance and tilted my head with a confused and sympathetic look on my face, "oh...I hope she'll be okay.." I said in a soft voice.

"Mhm," Mom narrowed her eyes, "what are you really planning?" She asked.

"What are you talking about?" I asked innocently, my heart began to pound but I had to sell this- Adam was my friend- sort of, and my fake crush, I needed to be there!

And Mom, if I told her that I- her sixteen-year-old daughter, wanted to go to her first party since "the incident", she would never ever let me go anywhere ever again.

After the incident, my Mom just sort of shut down- so did I- and the more hurt I was, the more overprotective Henry became towards all the women in his life-

Seemingly, even Madison.

From her bed, Madison was trying hard not to burst into laughter, damn- was I that bad of a liar?

"Look, Max, I've been a teenage once- girls like Laney, I can see right through them- in fact, I was them- all smiley and 'Hi Mrs. Parker!'- I've pretended before- so what. are. you. planning?"

I gulped, looking over at Madison- if we were real sisters, right about now Madison would be on my side, defending me- saying that I was up to nothing.

But we aren't real siblings.

And we'll never be.

I bit my lip, sorry Laney- I can't lie to my Mom.

Guess I'll have to wish Adam a happy birthday when we see each other tomorrow...

But hey- on the bright side, if I had gone- I wouldn't have had to worry about a hangover since well- who drinks at a birthday party?

I sighed, Laney- I am so so sorry- please forgive me for being a shitty friend, "my friend Adam's birthday is today and I and Laney was planning on throwing him a party and so she tried to sneak me out so we can go to the party and I promise we weren't gonna do anything illegal like drink or smoke or anything bad we just wanted to throw him a party and I just really wanted to go but I'm grounded so I- "

Mom held up her hand, signaling for me to stop while Madison struggled not to laugh.

"Okay," Mom sighed, raising her hand to massage her temples.

"Margo" Steven appeared in the doorway, placing his hand on her shoulder reassuringly.

I wrinkled the corners of my nose while Madison quickly rolled over and hid the Magazine underneath her stomach.

Mom looked at Steven and it seemed as though they were having a silent conversation- and then, the next words that left her mouth, left me absolutely dumbfounded, "You can go- you just didn't have to lie about it".

My eyes widened and my mouth hung open, "really?!"

"Really" Mom nodded with a chuckle, Steven smiled- and somehow I sensed this might've been his doing.

"And" she sighed and reached down into her leather beige purse that she always had with her before taking out a familiar object, my phone! "Just in case you need someone to take you home after you've had too much Ginger-ale" Steven winked as Mom walked over and handed me my phone.

"I told you there's no drinking!" I protested.

Steven folded his arms over his chest, "Sure there isn't".

Madison looked about as dumbfounded as me. Was this a joke? Was my mom actually letting me go to a party- no less, after lying to her?

Was I on a different timeline? There was no fucking way this was happening to me- not right now!

Just as I was about to get up, Henry stumbled out of his room and into my doorway, all wide-eyed as he said, "Excuse me, you're going to let her" he pointed at me, "go to a party by herself- unsupervised?!"

"I'll be fine Henry" I stated.

"Fine my booty-hole" he replied, "last time you said that you were in a center for two years".

"Henry!" My Mom gasped, brows furrowed. My heart sank. " I'm not twelve anymore Henry- leave me alone," I said angrily and pushed past him.

Who did he think he was? Yelling at me as if he were one of my parents- as if he were our dead fucking beat dad- and then bringing up what happened when I was a Kid?

Well- not really a kid- but still-
I
What.the.fuck.

I met Laney at the doorway, where she was playing with Piper- who was tugging and pulling at Laney's blue scrunchie.

I gasped, "Piper!" I grabbed her and smiled.

Laney smiled, "It's fine, I hate that thing anyways" She shrugged before looking at me with awe, "Wow, how'd you get out? At this rate, I was sure you were never going and that I should've just left!"

I shook my head, "Perks of having a new Stepdad who wants your approval" I shrugged before placing Piper on the ground and exiting the apartment, closing the front door behind me, Laney and I walked down the stairs and she said, "ready for the most amazing night of your life?"

"You obviously underestimate my lack of parties" I stated.

She laughed, "Maybe I do, maybe I don't".
. . .
I swear I didn't want to write Maxine's POV three times so making this chapter was a struggle that took ALL fucking day- when I tell you, I wanted a Tabitha POV but my hands had other ideas.

Anyways- Steven- thoughts, please? Without him being there, do you think Margo would've let Maxine go to that party?

Also, what are your predictions for the next chapter? (going to be posted by tonight) - who's POV will it be, and do you think Tabitha will go to the party?
. . .