Parker

Chapter 40

Pete did not go straight home after kicking Christine out of his car. After his exchange with his sister he desperately needed a drink so he went to Starbucks for a iced coffee. Actually needed something a little stronger but he was already in enough trouble with his mom and did not want to add underage drinking to the list of things for him to be upset with him about.

No he would have to rely on a hazel nut iced Frappuccino to calm his nerves.

He drove to the nearest Starbucks and to his relief discovered only two cars in line instead of the normal ten or fifteen. He soon pulled up to the menu  board and said "I'll take a Iced Hazel Nut Frappuccino."

"What size?" The female barista asked.

"Venti." Pete then thought about the conversation that he was going to have with his mom when he got home. She was not going to happy when she learns that that he kicked his sister out of his car and made her walk to school. No she will not be happy at all. "Better make that a Trenta."

I'm going to need it.

Ten minutes later walked into the house carryout two iced coffees. His mother and brother were sitting at the table talking.

Melinda gave her oldest son a questioning look as she said "Why are you back so soon?" She asked. "Where's Christine?'

"Here." Pete said handing her a venti iced coffee.

"Where's mine?" Lael asked.

"At Starbucks." Pete said.

"Jerk." Lael said.

"Baby." Pete shot back.

"Pete I asked you a question." Melinda said impatiently. "Why are you back so early and where is your sister?"

"That's actually two questions." Lael said.

"Be quiet Lael." Melinda ordered and shot him an threatening look. "What's going on Pete?"

"Well you see...." Pete said as he swallowed nervously.  He took a drink of his iced coffee as an intense look grew in her eyes.

"See what?"

"I kind of kicked Christine out of the car and made her walk to school."

"You did what!" Melinda face darkened.

"Awesome." Lael said amused.

"It is not awesome Lael." Melinda said seething with anger.

"Sounds awesome to me."

Melinda glared at her son. "What do you mean you kicked her out of the car?"

"Its pretty self explanatory mom."

"Be quiet Lael." Melinda snapped. "What do you mean you kicked her out of the car?"

"Well you see she was being an obnoxious jerk..."

"Don't call your sister that." Melinda said cutting him off.

"Well she is an obnoxious jerk." Lael said.

Melinda slapped her hand against the table causing the two teens to jump. "Lael go to your room." The eighteen year old did not move. "Now!" She hollered.

Lael jumped to his feet and scurried from the kitchen. "And don't come down until lunch this time." She yelled after him.

Melinda shook as she said "You kicked your sister out of the car."

"Yes ma'am."

"What is wrong with you?" Melinda yelled. "How could you do something like that?"

"She was being disrespectful and rude."

"I don't care." Melinda said in disbelief. "She is your sixteen old sister you don't just kick her out of your car abandon on the side of the road." Melinda eyed the cup coffee that was in front of her. "Did you stop for coffee before or after kicking her out."

"Before."

"You kicked you sister out and then went for coffee." She growled.

"Yes ma'am." Pete said.

"How can you be so stupid."

"I can't call her a jerk but you can call me stupid." Pete said with a look in his eyes.

"No, I'm saying what you did was stupid." Melinda said. "Stupid and irresponsible. You don't kick your little sister out and make her walk to school. What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that I was tired of her bratty attitude." Pete said.

"I don't care of how much of a brat she was being you don't kick your sister out of the car." Melinda said forcefully. "Go get here.".

"What?"

"Get your butt in your car, go pick your sister up, and take her to school."

"Mom its been almost a half hour she's probably there by now." Pete said. The school was just over a mile away. Even if she was not there she probably will be the time he caught about with her.

"I don't care." Melinda said. "Get in your car and find your sister."

"No."

Melinda rose to her feet causing him to take a step back. "Excuse me."

"I said no." Pete said. "She deserved to be kicked out of the car and I am not going to go pick her up."

"Pete, I'm not kidding around."

"Nor am." Pete said.

Melinda let out a hard sigh. "Fine." She said. "I will go find your sister."

"Come on she is probably at school by now."

"Or she could be laying dead in a gutter somewhere." Melinda said. "Or she could have been kidnapped by some sick pervert."

Pete rolled her eyes. "Come on mom..."

"Don't come on mom me." Melinda said.  "You put your sister in danger with your little stunt."

"Mom we live in Springfield, Delaware not New York City." Pete said. "Plenty of kids walk to school. She probably caught up with a group of them after I kicked her out."

"You don't know that do you." Melinda said. "You don't know what happened to your sister after you kicked her out and went on your coffee run."  She shook her head in disbelief. "You know I'm not talking to you about this anymore I'm going to make sure that your sister is okay." Melinda put her hand out. "Give me your keys."

"Mom..."

"Now Pete."

Pete let out a breath, reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys. He begrudgingly handed them to her.

Melinda snatched them from his grasp. "You're grounded for two weeks."

"Mom."

"On top of the week you are already grounded for blackmailing her sister."

"Don't you think you are overreacting." Pete said.

"No, I don't." Melinda said. "Now go to your room."

"Yes ma'am." He said as he walked out.

"And you better pray that nothing happened to your sistet."

Twenty minutes earlier Christine walked down the side of the road with her arms crossed as anger grew inside of her. A horn then beeped and a car pulled up to her.

"Need a ride?" The driver said.

A smile crossed her face as she said "Sure." And then got in the her car. "Thanks." She said as she buckled herself in and her smile grew.

The car then pulled back onto the road and drove off.