Boot Camp

26: Old Version

I've been in a strangely good mood for me for the past few days, almost like the smile on my face won't seem to disappear no matter what I do.

I guess I shouldn't be bothered because well, happiness is a good thing, right?

"If you smile any harder, I swear your face will get stuck like that, Whitney," Martina snaps as she files down her nail so hard I worry there'll be none of it left.

"What's gotten you so angry?" I answer with a chuckle, hunting through my bag in hopes of finding the silver nail polish I packed if I felt like being girly one random day. I stuff my hand to the bottom and pull it out, relieved I find it.

Martina and I decided to have a designated girl's night. Which pretty much consists of us complaining while doing our nails.

"My mom called earlier," she answers, looking up again. "She's so overbearing and asks so many questions and never gives me any space. It drives me crazy just talking to her."

I make a face. "Has she always been like that?"

Martina drops the nail filer in her lap. "Yes—well, not entirely," she answers. "Basically she's gotten even more controlling ever since last year when I kind of got into some trouble."

"Trouble?" I repeat. "Like how bad?"

"Like cops involved bad?" she replies, wincing slightly. "But it wasn't all my fault. I was at this party hosted by this jock at my school, and there was a lot of alcohol. The cops busted us out for underage drinking, but thankfully I got off the hook. Except ever since, my mom literally monitors everywhere I go."

"Wait, you just made one mistake and now she won't let you go for it?" I ask, as I paint my index fingernail.

"Well, not really," she replies. "I told you how I kind of did a lot of shit in high school."

"You did," I answer, glancing up.

"Well basically in junior year I was the child that was every parent's worst nightmare. I smoked, drank, got tattoos, piercings, terrible grades and basically did the exact opposite of what my parents wanted. My mom threatened she'd literally send me to boarding school if I didn't get my act together, so I spent all of senior year studying and doing everything she wanted."

"But don't you think it's good that at least your life didn't keep spinning out of control?" I question.

"I don't know why I was so set on doing all that shit because now I don't really care for any of it. But it's just so irritating that my mom doesn't see me as any different. She barely even trusts me to go off to college."

"I guess it's just going to take time, Martina," I answer her with a hopeful smile. "She'll have to lighten up eventually."

"She's a Latina mother, so I really doubt that, but I'll try to be a little optimistic," she jokes, tucking a piece of hair behind her hair. "Now, forget me. Can you give me a reason for why you've been smiling like an idiot all the time?"

I laugh, feeling my cheeks flush. "Do you really want to know?"

"No, Whitney, I asked so you don't give me an answer. For God' sake."

"Fine, fine," I reply. "Axel and I kissed."

"Hold up, what?" Martina asks, dropping her nail filer onto the floor.

"It's true."

"Oh my god, at last! The ship has sailed and landed in the harbor!" Martina answers, leaning over and squeezing the life out of me.

"I'm choking," I spit out, pulling her off of me. She laughs and sits back in her spot on the ground.

"Wait how did it happen?" she asks.