Our Life After

The Drama of Middle School

*Lizzie's POV*

So, I pretty much immediately regretted telling mom about my crush on Joshua.

As soon as I told her, her face got serious and she thought for a second before telling me I can't date until high school.  Big deal.  It's only a year and a half away.

I did appreciate my mom taking me shopping.  It was nice, we usually don't do things like that and I had a lot of fun.  I hope we do it again sometime.

But anyways, since I believe my mom to be being totally irrational for all of this (I mean, come on!  She never had a problem with me telling her about anyone else...) I decided to go to Catherine for help.

Turns out that was a bad idea.  Here's what happened.

I went over to Catherine's house to talk and I assumed, us being best friends, she would agree with me and support me.

I knocked on her door an  Johanna answered, and I asked if I could see Catherine, and she said yes.

I went with Catherine into her room because I told her that w  had to talk in secret.

“Okay," she said, “Whatcha got for me?"

I took a deep breath.  “Do you know if your brother........ likes me?"

“What?  Sure he does! We're all friends right?"

“Yeah, I know, but I mean like, more than a friend sorta way."

“I don't know, why does that matter.  He's my brother.  You're not saying...." she says and gawks at me, “Oh my God that's gross!  You like him?"

“Well...... I mean......"

“Lizzie that's not okay!  You can't like him!" She says, raising her voice.

“Keep it down!  And what do you mean I can't like him?  Why not?"

“Because he's my brother!  That's gross!  I couldn't be with you if you dated my brother."

“Wow.  Is that really how you feel?  If I was holding hands with him or something you'd be too embarrassed of your BEST FRIEND to stand with her?"

“No, that's not what I mean...."

“Then what do you mean?" I snap at her.

“It'd be weird!  What happens if you break up?  Would we still be friends?"

“We won't break up!"

“Oh, so now you're planning to marry my brother?" She says with a disgusted face.

“No that's not what I'm saying," my voice raising now, “God!  Why don't you get this?"

“Are you saying I'm stupid?"

“Oh my God that's not what I'm saying at all!  Just understand me!"

“All I understand is that you came into my house to tell me you have a super huge crush on my brother, and you expect me to just be okay?"

“I'm leaving." I say, and get up to walk downstairs.

“Good.  Get out of my house.  Your mom wouldn't approve anyway.  With what happened with her and my dad."

I stop and turn around to face her. “What are you even talking about?"

“Oh! What's a matter? Your mom didn't tell you?"

Then Johanna appears at the bottom of the stairs to see what's going on.

“Nothing," Catherine says, “Lizzie was just leaving."

I shoot her one last dirty look before walking out of their house. 

As soon as I'm out, I'm running to my house. tears streaming down my face.

I burst in our front door, my parents turn to look at me, but I run right past them upstairs to our room, where I grab the journal Catherine gave me, and take a lighter out of the bathroom cabinet, and set it on fire.

I put it in the bathtub and turn the water on, to put it out.  Then all that's left is a burnt crumpled wet book.

I turn and crawl in bed.  I'm done with all this.