Lovestruck (EDITING)

50: Bad News and Worse News

"So, the good news is you can go back to school tomorrow," Mom grins excitedly at me as if going back to school is something I'm absolutely itching to do and I roll my eyes at her.

"And the bad news?" I frown, dreading the possibilities.

"Three weeks of detention," she announces with a sympathetic look. "Couldn't sweet talk you out of that one, kiddo. Sorry."

"Hey, I did the crime. I guess I have to do the time," I hold up my hands in surrender before taking a bite of my mac and cheese.

"That's the spirit," Mom says encouragingly as she pours us two glasses of lemonade. "Oh, you're also grounded for the rest of your life, obviously."

"Oh yeah, I knew that already," I frown as I take a sip of the sweet bubbly liquid.

"Glad we're on the same page," she says with a chuckle and I roll my eyes again.

***

They say something changes when you lose your virginity. You become a real woman, or something. You grow wiser. Smarter. More confident. But it wasn't like that for me. I don't feel any different than I did twenty four hours ago. Perhaps I look different?

I wipe the condensation from my bathroom mirror and stare back at myself, taking in my appearance. Same old dark, messy hair. Same pink lips. Same freckled nose. Nothing has changed. I drop my towel and frown back at myself in the mirror. Still below average in the chest area... and everywhere else. Shaking my head, I pick my towel back up and wrap it around me before walking back through to my bedroom.

I don't feel different and I don't look different. That's a little anticlimactic. Looks like I'm going to have to just be different. I apply my makeup as usual, winging out my eyeliner, before a small gold lipstick case on my dresser catches my eye. I open it up to reveal a dark burgundy colored lipstick that I bought last year and have never worn. Well, today is my day to be different. What do I have to lose?

I pull a baggy maroon v-neck t-shirt over my head before falling backwards onto my bed to force my legs into my tightest pair of black skinny jeans. The rips at the knees allow for some movement as I pull on my combat boots and dig through my pile of tangled jewelry for something to accessorize with. I pull at one of the chains, freeing it from the rest and almost drop it when I realize what it is. The silver chain hangs down from my hand with a single charm, a round silver plate with the letter S engraved into it. I could have sworn I lost this necklace years ago. I flashback to the image of Jayden still wearing his matching necklace and I chew on my lip to hold back my smile.

No. I shake my head. There is no way in hell I'm wearing this necklace. I toss it back into the pile and throw some mismatched gold chains around my neck before grabbing my bag and running downstairs.

"Morning mother," I greet my mom in the kitchen, planting a kiss on her cheek.

"Sucking up isn't going to get you anywhere, Skyelin," she rolls her eyes, wiping at the dark stain left behind on the side of her face with a look of horror. "Who's funeral are you going to, wearing that lipstick?"