Bad Reputation

Bad Reputation (14)

Chapter 14

I didn’t go to school the next day. My nerves were all over the place. This would be the third time I skipped, but I found that I didn’t really care. I couldn’t find the inspiration to pay attention in class either way.

So, I slept until noon, something I rarely managed to do. I knew I could have slept even longer on this particular day. Riley hadn’t taken me home until way after midnight, when I knew my parents would be asleep.

Another note hung on my door, saying that my mother would like to talk to me. I knew that conversation would be unpleasant, but again, I couldn’t find it in me to care.

They wouldn’t believe me no matter what I said.

Anyway, what woke me up was the buzzing of my phone. Last night I had thrown it into bed before I had fallen asleep, and now it was tickling me as it vibrated.

I jumped up and grabbed the phone. My eyes could barely be open, so I couldn’t read the name on the caller ID.

“Hello?” I mumbled sleepily into the phone, thinking it was probably Riley. No one else would call me in the middle of the day.

“Melissa, nice of you to finally answer.”

I gulped out loud when I recognized my mother’s voice.

“M-mother,” I said, at once more awake then I had been only ten seconds before.

“I got yet another call today, and while I decided to ignore the other one, this has gotten too far. We need to talk about you skipping your classes. It’s just not acceptable.”

“Mother, I---“

“I don’t wish to hear any of your excuses over the phone, Melissa. Both your father and I will be home all day tomorrow because of the gala we are hosting in honor of your father’s win in the election. You do remember that, right?”

I did remember something about a gala written on one of the notes, but I couldn’t quite say I knew it was tomorrow.

Mother continued without waiting for my answer.

“We would both like to talk to you then, about the skipping and your obvious disregard for your punishment.”

With those words said, my mother hung up the phone.

I was left staring at it in the silence of my room. A groan of frustration left my lips as I threw the phone down on my bed. This was not a good sign.

Of course I knew the conversation would be coming soon. I just didn’t know how soon.

Without thinking, I got up in my thin night gown and walked out of the window and into the chilly November air. I shuddered as I sat down in the middle of the roof. Ashes were lying all around, as well as cigarette butts were I had stumped them out. There were too many of them too count.

It was an ugly addiction, but I couldn’t even imagine not smoking anymore. It was weird. Only five weeks before I had been disgusted by smoking, and now it felt like I couldn’t survive without it.

Silently I lit a cigarette from my package and let my thoughts drift away as I inhaled it.

It still felt so great to just let everything go for the few minutes I could.

When the cigarette had burned out, I stumped it on my roof and walked inside again.

I walked down to eat some breakfast, knowing no one would be home at this time of day. Despite the conversation I had had with my mother, I knew she wouldn’t come home when she had a lot to do at work.