Summer Spent with You

Chapter Ten, Part Two: Busted

Ava's POV

"I think it goes without saying that you're grounded." Mama stated as she stood in front of me, hands planted firmly on her hips. I was sitting on the couch watching her pace back and forth trying to create a punishment for me.

I nodded my head in response to her statement. I figure speaking would only get me in more trouble, I just listened. She had sent Blaine and Noel outside to play so she could fuss at me. Thankfully, Andrew and Aiden were both gone as well, I didn't want them to witness this. I rarely got into trouble, so if they heard Mama chewing me out then they would definitely ask questions, questions I was not ready to answer.

"You're not leaving this house unless someone is with you, you're not getting your phone back for a while so don't even ask. No television, no friends over, you're stuck with me."

"Yes ma'am." I responded.

"I don't know what you possessed you to do what you did, but Ava let me tell you this, if I catch you doing that again, I will tell your father and your life will be over until you go to college, am I clear?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Good. Now, who was he?" She demanded.

"Mama.."

"Ava, I want his name."

"I'm the one who snuck out, why do you need his name?" I surprised us both by saying. I was never one to talk back to my parents, I normally did what they asked without fail. But then again, I normally wouldn't have left my room in the middle of the night either. I guess a lot of things were changing.

My mother raised her eyebrows at my tone, "I don't know what's gotten into you, but I am not asking you for his name. I'm telling you to tell me."

"Why?" I asked defiantly as I stared straight into her eyes, refusing to back down.

"Do not forget young lady, I am your mother. I do not have to explain to you why I want his name. You are my child and you will do as I say. Now what is it?" She raised her voice, which was a rare occurrence for her.

"With all due respect Mama, I'm not telling you." I spoke quietly, as I looked back down at my hands.

"Go to your room and stay there until I say you can come back out.

She was practically glaring at me. She had never looked at me that way before and while it hurt me, I refused to give in. If I told her that I had been with Parker, she'd call Molly and Parker didn't need that. He didn't need my entire family jumping down his throat, and believe me they would once they all found out. I chose to sneak out, he didn't make me do it. I would take my punishment without complaining, but I was not going to drag him down with me. He got enough grief from Molly about how he acted when he was in Texas, I wasn't going to rat him out. I couldn't do that to him, I wanted to protect him and I dont think that was wrong.

I slowly stood up and made my way down the hall to my room. Mama called out a few minutes later, "Don't you dare close that door either. It stays open from now on, unless you're changing."

I was tempted to slam it shut out of spite, but I resisted. I figured I had already dug my grave deep enough, I didn't need to make things any worse. I flopped down on top of my bed so that I was lying flat on my back, and stared at the ceiling. I didn't have the energy nor the desire to do anything else. I had to figure out how to tell Parker that I was in trouble. I didn't want him showing up at my window because knowing my mother, she would periodically be checking on me through out the night.

"Sissy, wanna come play barbies?" Noel appeared at my bedside twenty minutes later. I was lying the exact same spot, still staring upwards.

"Can't, I'm busy."