Between the Lines✔ [COMPLETED]

[38] Dodging the Doom

Olivia

When the evening bell rings and Malory, Kyle, Ron and I walk out of the building, I spot my mom's car, parked near t the entrance gate. I pull Malory aside. 

"My mom's already here," I say.

"Where?" she asks, I point it out to her. 

"Oh crap," Ron says, turning to look at me, "Isn't that your mom?"

"What's she doing here?" Kyle asks, concerned.

"Do you think she talked to the principal or something?" I ask, worried.

"Only one way to find out," Mal says, grimacing. 

"Good luck," Kyle says, offering me a comforting smile.

"It's too bad you don't have your phone so you can tell us what's going on," Ron says, frowning. 

"We'll see her tomorrow, Ron," Mal says to him. "Get going before you get into more trouble. We'll find out the story from you tomorrow."

So I leave them all and exit the compound, walking over to the car and what feels like certain death.

During the ride, my mom is silent. I look out the window in the hopes that anything will break the awkwardness.

"I talked to the principal," she finally says. My heart almost stops. "Why didn't you say there was a kiss in the play?" She asks me. 

"Because," I begin, lowly, "I'm not the leading lady... I'm just the understudy. I may not have to do that scene."

"Then why did he kiss you?" she asks me, but she doesn't sound spiteful. "Were you practicing the scene anyway?"

I hesitate. I could tell her that we were. I could tell her that and she'd know it was just for the project... but it wasn't.

"He likes me," I say. I bite my lip. "Don't be angry with him. It's my fault he likes me, isn't it?"

"Olivia," my mom says, "You know that you need to focus on two things; church and school. You don't have time for boys right now. You don't have time for anything that's unproductive. You need to focus because your final school exams are just around the corner. How many months do you have left? We're already in January."

"I know, mom. I'm not focusing on anything else. I'm really not," I say.

"Your principal and I talked about it," she says, after a while. "She made me aware of the change in the plot –saying there wasn't supposed to be a kiss but the person who re-wrote it added it in... I got a long list of reasons for why things are the way that they are with the play. I made her aware of my concerns and she spoke so casually, talking about how relationships between students is normal and whatever. Olivia, you're not just any student. You're my daughter. You don't have time for those petty things or boys. What's Ron going to do for you? He needs to pass his exams, too."

I wasn't going to say anything, but I'd finally had enough and I couldn't take it.

"Why are you so against anyone I'm friends with who aren't from church?" I ask her. "Mom," I laugh, "Jessica has been dating Wale and been doing much more than what my school friends have been doing, and she's my church friend. You want to talk about influences? Malory, Kyle and Ron are the best friends I ever had. Sure, I need to be in church activity and have a relationship with God, I get that. But my church friends don't really help me when I need it most. I have to listen to Jessica talking about how she, quite frankly, sucks Wale's face off, and how Vivic and Carmonia ramble about each other and everyone at church has paired off, and then there's me. And do you know what Malory, Kyle and Ron have done for me? They help me to stay sane at school and to keep up with everything I have to do because I know that if I ever want to cry, I can cry in front of them. When last did you see me cry? When last did you ask me if I cried? When did you ask me what's wrong?"