The End of Seventeen

Chapter Nine

When Parker dropped Lizzy off at home, she was greeted with disappointment and frustration from her parents.

"Elizabeth Marie Jones, I am incredibly disappointed in you for getting suspended," her dad said sternly.

Lizzy crossed her arms defiantly and replied, "I had to, Dad. I was standing up for my rights."

Her mom chimed in, her tone firm yet concerned. "Regardless of the reason, we cannot tolerate this behavior. As a consequence, you will be grounded for two weeks."

Lizzy's face fell as she protested, "But Mom, I had tickets to a concert next Friday!"

Her dad interjected, trying to teach her a lesson. "You'll have to give those tickets to someone else. It's important to understand the consequences of your actions."

Feeling frustrated and misunderstood, Lizzy rolled her eyes and stormed off to her room. She couldn't help but compare herself to her seemingly perfect sister Jamie. Sometimes, she longed to be an only child again, back to a time when her parents paid attention to her and truly cared.

In her room, Lizzy locked the door and turned up her favorite music. She found solace in her sketchbook, using it as a way to cope with her emotions. Over the years, drawing had become a therapeutic outlet for her, especially during moments when she felt invisible and overlooked.

As Lizzy sketched, her frustration slowly began to dissipate. She focused on the strokes of her pencil, losing herself in the details of the lines and shapes forming on the paper. But even in the midst of her solace, her thoughts kept drifting back to her parent's disappointment and the feeling of being constantly overshadowed.

Just as her frustration threatened to consume her once again, her phone buzzed with a message. Slipping it out of her pocket, she saw the name "Camilla" lighting up the screen. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"Hey Lizzy, heard about what happened. Are you okay?" Camilla's text read.

Lizzy's heart warmed as she realized she wasn't alone. Camilla, her best friend since they met in sixth grade, always seemed to have a knack for sensing when Lizzy needed support. They had a special bond that withstood the ups and downs of life, and Lizzy cherished their friendship more than anything.

"Yeah, I'm just frustrated. My parents don't get me, you know?" Lizzy tapped out a response, pouring her heart out in the text message. "Sometimes, I feel like I'm living in the shadow of my sister. It's like I'm invisible to them."

Almost immediately, a new message appeared on the screen. "You're not invisible to me. And you're definitely not alone in feeling frustrated. Remember, we're in this together, Lizzy. Don't forget that."

Reading Camilla's message brought tears to Lizzy's eyes, but they were tears of gratitude and relief. She felt a surge of strength and determination, knowing that someone truly understood her and was willing to stand by her side.

Lizzy responded, "Thanks, Cam. I don't know what I would do without you."

For the rest of the night, Lizzy sat on her bed drawing in her book and listening to music. Jamie did come to give her food but left quickly after.