The Eternal Triangle

Not so cool

I had to line the seats of my car with towels I had found in the janitors closet to prevent any lose food from crumbling in or staining them. The ride was quiet, filled with apprehension for the impending doom sure to come.

I was worried about how my mom would react to seeing me covered in food, but also how she had reacted to the phone call she had gotten from Mr. Carmen. I already knew I was gonna get grounded, but I still had to plead not guilty. Kayla was the one who started the food fight, not me. But I had smashed jello into Rea's face. . . so I'll be in trouble for that. No doubt what so ever.

I dropped Kayla off at her house first and I knew she was in for a world of hurt. Sure her dad was chill and everything, but her mom was a force to be reckoned with. She'd talk Kayla's ears off and give her the biggest guilt trip imaginable. I've only fallen victim once and I vowed on that day, never again. It wasn't even my fault, but she'll make it seem as though you ran over a box of puppies and you need to feel remorse. Her mom wasn't an agent or anything, but she was a doctor and she was important to missions. If any of us got severally injured, she'd be the one to fix us up with out having to make a trip to the hospital and explain what had happened.

I wished Kayla good luck and said I'd see her tomorrow.

"Yeah, if I live that is," she mumbled in response before stepping out of the vehicle. After she had shut the door I drove to the next destination.

I pulled up to the Grace household a few minutes later and watched them slip out of my car and into their two story house. April's also gonna get it, but at least Bronson's not.

The ride to the final destination had me on edge. I felt sick. I was the, as Kayla says repeatedly, goody two-shoes. My mom's gonna be disappointed and angry. I'm just glad that she doesn't hold it over my head. She says there's no need for it. Once its been dealt with, you don't need to be reminded of it at every waking moment. I have a habit of punishing myself when I do something I know I wasn't supposed to do, so I hold it over my own head.

Call me a goody goody. Its true.

Once my house and my moms jeep came into view my nervousness reached its peak.

I pulled into my drive way and turned off the ignition. Sighing, I slumped into my seat. This is it. I'm going to die and I didn't even get to eat lunch. . .

That was my pep talk. Weak, I know but I had to get out of this car, into that house, and just get it over with.

"Okay. I can do this," I assured myself. I breathed in then out then hefted myself out of my car, ready to face my mother. I locked my car then walked up the steps to my porch. After going through my plethora of keys, I found my green house key and put it into the lock. After hearing the click that was followed by the deep barking of Grayson, I knew there was no going back now.

I let the door swing open before I was met with the blonde fur ball that we called a pet. "Hi, Gray. How are you, you fuzz nugget?" I greeted in my baby voice. He sniffed then started licking at my dried food covered limbs.

"About time you got here," my brother's voice said from the stairs. I looked up at him from my crouch. "Yeah well I had to scrape food off the cafeteria floor then drop off some friends. So sue me for being late," I snapped as I stood up.

"What happened anyway? You look like you crawled out of a lunch bin," Logan commented on my dirty attire. "Gee, Thanks," I replied dryly as I walked past him and into the kitchen. As I walked in I was hoping my mother wouldn't be in there, but alas my hopes were dashed when her green eyes met my brown ones.

I stopped in my tracks like a robber held at gun point.

She clenched her jaw. "How was school?"

I swallowed the golf ball sized lump in my throat, relaxing my posture, faking nonchalance. "It was good actually. I got kicked out of the library, got to see the school auditorium where they have the plays, and - this is the crazy part - this kid spilt his tray on April, causing this huge food fight that I had nothing - zero, zilch, zip - to do with," I shook my head and moved my arms in a swish motion. She gave me a blank stare. I laughed nervously.

"Sit," she commanded pointing to the chair across from her. I immediately sat, crossing my legs - uncomfortable with her gaze weighing on me.

"What happend?" She asked knowing I would spill the minute the question left her lips.

I sighed then spilt the whole story. Starting from the library, to the theater where Kayla told us about Corbin, then about my petty revenge, and finally what had happend in the cafeteria. She never once inturupted my long winded ramble, listening intently. I watched her face to see if any emotion would appear. Anger? Intense anger? Fury?

Nothing.

I didn't get anything, but an I brow raise or scrunch every once and awhile.

"He came back from calling you, and the other parents shortly after that. He told us we had two weeks detention and that we had to clean the cafeteria. After that he dismissed us." I finished with a little gasp to gain the oxygen I was lacking after my run on sentences.

She nodded then adjusted her sitting position so that she was leaning on the table. "So I understand that you didn't start the food fight, but you did throw food. So now you have detention for the next two weeks and you had to clean the whole cafeteria with the other kids. Correct?" She questioned. I nodded.

"Okay. . ." She trailed off. She brought her hands up and rubbed her face. After a few long seconds she looked up at me and met my gaze. "And the whole student body was sent home?" I nodded again, cringing at the thought. She sighed, exasperated.

She glanced at me then let her eyes flit around the room. "I know this wasn't your fault, but you smashed a kids jello in his own face. For a book," she enunciated the last few words. I gave a sheepish smile. "Yeah. . . Oops?" I lifted a shoulder, in a sad attempt to defend myself.

My mom shook her head and peered at me through her lashes, looking slightly amused. "That was a stupid reason." She stated.

"I know." I said ashamed.

"And you know you have to be punished for your actions, no matter how stupid they are?" I nodded.

" Alright," she started, crossing her arms. "You'll be grounded for those two weeks you have detention. I want your phone after you get home from school. No driving anywhere with friends," I lifted a finger to interupt, but she continued knowing what I was going to say. "Aside from picking up the girls and Branson before and after school." I nodded. "No laptop and no tv. No electronics period. Understood?" She asked. I nodded for what felt like the one billionth time today. "Good. Now go take a shower - you smell like cafeteria food." I breathed a laugh, but didn't argue.

As I passed my brother's door, I found him leaning against it with a small smile. I scrunched my eyebrows together. "What?"

His small smile turned into a face splitting grin. "You started a food fight?" He asked, eyes twinkling. I considered it. "I guess so, yeah."

"That's so cool," he breathed in awe. I let myself look back at the memory. I smiled a little. "Yeah. It was cool, but I wouldn't do it if I were you." I advised as I made my way to my room. "You'll have to clean the entire cafeteria. Its not as exciting as you may think." He thought about it then feigned a disgusted shuddered. "Yeah that wouldn't be so cool."

I laughed. "Definitely not."