Anger Issues

eleven

Jessica

In the morning, everyone was eating breakfast by the time I came down. There was already a plate of pancakes set at my seat.

"Morning," I sighed, pushing my glasses up a little higher. "Make sure you come home on time today. Noah won't be taking the car," Mom said.

"When am I done being grounded?" I asked. "Friday," Dad said.

"Friday?!" I asked, shocked. "Mom," I called for defense. She looked at me and shrugged. "That's why you have a curfew."

"This isn't fair," I sighed, stabbing a pancake with a fork. "What?" Mom asked. "You're only making it until Friday because you know I was with Austin," I stated the obvious.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Noah awkwardly take a sip of orange juice.

"I'll change it to Monday," Dad threatened. "What? Noah is this fair?" I asked.

"Don't argue," he said. "Friday's the best you'll get."

I sighed and looked back at dad. "Sorry," I mumbled.

"You'll get everything back on Friday."

I took one last bite before slinging my bag over my shoulder. "Bye."

I didn't waste time before driving to Austin's house. I waited a minute or two, until he came out of his house.

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed," he noticed as he sat in the car.

"I'm grounded until Friday, so if you are doing the party, I doubt I can go the day I get ungrounded," I said.

"Then I'll do it Saturday," he shrugged. "What?" I asked. "The trip extended from Thursday to Monday. They won't be back until Tuesday," he explained.

"What about Caleb?" I asked. "If my parents are out, he takes advantage."

"We're good," he assured.

I sighed and leaned back as I drove. "Sounds like your life is going great," I said.

He smiled at me. "I know how I can make your day better."

I waited for him to continue, until he handed me the pen.

A smile easily appeared on my lips as I playfully rolled my eyes, taking the pen.

"Roll down the windows a bit so it doesn't make the car all smokey," he said.

After doing as told, I pressed the pen between my lips and inhaled a mouthful of the vape.

"Look what I taught myself last night," he said, as I stopped at a light.

I handed him the pen and waited for him to do his trick.

The first thing he did was look up, and blow rings out with the smoke. "I applaud you," I let out a soft laugh.

"And this," he cleared his throat. He took another hit and blew the smoke out, inhaling it back through his nose.
"How does one do that?" I asked. "Gotta learn party tricks," he winked.

He put the pen away as the school came into view. I opened all four windows to air out the car, and closed them once I pulled into the parking lot.

"Thank you for that," I said, smiling at Austin. He nodded his head.

I was early to class when I sat next to my best friend, Kayla.

"Are you busy Saturday night?" I asked her. "No, why?"

"Because we're having a sleepover," I said. "We are?" She asked.

"No, but that's what I'm telling my parents because Austin's throwing a party."

The bell rang as we exchanged smiles, and Kayla nodded her head. This was working well.

After school, Austin met me by my locker. As I was about to close my bag, he slipped in a pen.

"You got it?" I asked. "That quick?"

He nodded. "I told you I know a guy," he chuckled.

"Thank you," I smiled, pecking his lips.

He intertwined his hand with mine as we reached my car.

"Should I send out a text?" Austin asked. "For the party?" I questioned. "Mhm."

I nodded my head.

"Don't send it to me or I'm screwed," I warned.

He agreed, reading out the text while writing it.

"Party at my house, Saturday 6 PM."

"I'm pumped," I smiled. "You should be. You get VIP access to show up earlier," he said.

"That was the idea anyway."

After dropping off Austin, I came home to Noah and his girlfriend, Jenna.

"Hi," I smiled, waving at her. "Hey," she repeated the action.

I went upstairs to my room with nothing but homework to do in order to pass the time.

I pulled my notebook out of my bag, and the pen fell right out.

I fell to the ground and picked it up, shutting the door and sighing out.

Walking to my wall, I placed it behind a picture frame, balancing it against the border of the frame.

Then, homework took the day away.