The Craft

3. Break-Up

3. Break-Up

I awoke the following morning with a killer hangover which in turn had produced a throbbing headache. I felt completely ill but had no choice other than to rise and make my way to school.

I went through the motions of getting ready in silence, contemplating the doom that awaited me when I reached the kitchen downstairs. I had my usual shower and got dressed, then headed downstairs unenthusiastically.

As soon as my feet landed on the floorboards of the hallway, my mother was standing between the kitchen and me. She had a look like thunder plastered across her face.

She had been sitting in the armchair in the living room when I had arrived home from Ryan’s party last night, and she had at first been anxious and worried about me. She’d made sure I was alright, and then the frenzy had consumed her.

“I called the police three hours ago!” She’d bellowed at me, then hurried off to the snatch the telephone and presumably to tell the police to call off the alarm.

Whilst she had been doing that, I had snuck upstairs slipped into my pyjamas and brushed my teeth. Then scurried into bed and I assumed by the time she had come into my room, I had been deep in sleep.

So now I had to face the music.

“Morning mum!” I tried a breezy approach, but it didn’t work – she hadn’t forgotten about last night while she’d slept.

“Don’t give me that! We still have your punishment to sort out! I called Lizzie’s mum last night only to find out that Lizzie was home by herself – she had been out, but with her boyfriend, not you! You can’t imagine the panic and hysteria I felt then! I called Graeme’s mother only to find that her son was missing as well…It wasn’t difficult to put two and two together!” She screeched, nearly bursting my eardrums.

“Mum, I-” I tried to speak and offer my rebuttal, but she cut me off (she still hadn’t finished her lecture yet).

“I hope you used protection at least, Melissa! Please tell me you used a condom!” My mum was nearly hysterical all over again.

I was totally mortified, especially since Lucas was watching the drama unfold from the safety of the kitchen, laughing at me as mum yelled the house down. I wasn’t surprised if the neighbours could hear her as well.

“Mother! I didn’t have sex with Graeme last night, or any other night I’ve been with him! And I don’t plan to any time in the future!”

Mum seemed to visibly relax for a moment, and I stupidly believed the worst was over, but that was just the tip of the iceberg.

“Well, where were you last night?! And what did you do then?!”

I sighed, I wasn’t going to be able to attend Caleb’s thing tonight after all then, because I would be grounded once mum learned the reality of the situation. And she would learn the truth one way or another, my mum was a very well-connected person, if she didn’t hear it from me, someone else would tell her.

“I-I was with Graeme, we went to Ryan Thompson’s party.”

Mum’s eyes widened, but she just crossed her arms and tapped her foot.

“And I suppose you drank alcohol?”

I nodded, and she tsked whilst shaking her head.

“Melissa Underwood I am very disappointed in you, not only did you stay out late on a school night getting inebriated, you also lied to me about where you were going…So I am left with no option but to ground you. I’ll think about how long for today, and tell you this evening…But I wouldn’t expect to win back my trust for a long time.” And with that mum pivoted on the ball of her foot and stalked back into the kitchen.