The Parents' Secret

THE PARENTS' SECRET, PART 4

*TEEN MARY POV**
Holy shit. Alice can be scary when she wants to be. She'd just gone onto the dark web
(I know!) and bought a fucking gun.
'Alice, you're crazy. What are you even going you use it for?'
'Oh Mary. I love to give people the karma they deserve.'
I gasped. 'You're not gonna... k-kill Gibson, are you?' You never know what Alice had on her mind.
'No! Don't be silly. They don't have cell phones in jail.'
I was relieved.
'What exactly are you gonna do?'
'Mess around. Tease.'
'Wait. Isn't he in jail though?'
She looked at me and rolled her eyes.
'You always think of the obvious things. That I don't think of.' She clicked 'buy' on the gun and put in her details for shipping. Then, she opened a new browser and searched 'Pastor Gibson'. She clicked on a news article. We were both silent, reading this article.
I could see she was getting angry. It was so horrible to think this sad, lonely, weird ass man TOUCHED my best friend! I saw Alice scrunching up her hands and digging her nails into her palms.
'Hey!' I grabbed onto her hands and opened them, 'What are you doing?'
I looked at her palms and there were nail marks on her hand, bleeding.
She pulled her hands away. 'It's nothing.'
'Alice, seriously you need to talk to someone.'
She stood up and you could practically see steam coming out of her ears. She ran and kicked over her coffee table. All of the mugs on top crashed down onto the floor and smashed. She looked at it for 2 seconds before running upstairs and slamming her door.
I'd totally forgot that her parents were in bed. I heard talking coming from their room so I turned off the computer and ran out of the house.
The lights turned on downstairs so if I ran, they would see me. I dived into the bush. Someone came outside and looked around. I think they were looking for the 'intruder' in the house, that was actually me.
They went inside and the lights turned off. I waited 5 minutes before sneaking out of the bush and running home.

**TEEN ALICES POV**
Maybe Mary was right. Maybe I was crazy. Maybe I needed to go to a doctor or a specialist. I couldn't sleep. I was just thinking about Gibson and what he deserved. I also thought about me. And why I get so angry. Even when something small happens, I get super angry and lash out. Or, I just go plain evil, like I go into 'Dark Alice' mode.

THE NEXT DAY
My alarm woke me up, at 7:30. I got ready and ran downstairs. I needed to ask my mom about me.
'Mom I need to ask you something.'
'Alice did you hear the intruder last night?'
'I don't know what you're talk-'
'A door slammed and I saw someone run outside.'
'Uh, I have no clue.'
'I asked you if you heard it.'
'I didn't see anything.' I was in deep thought. Everything was a blur.
'Mom, there's something wrong with me.' I quickly said.
'What, honey?'
'I get super angry and upset in certain situations. For the smallest of things. I lash out or cry until there's no tears left.'
'It's nothing.' She changed the subject. 'Do you want pancakes or strawberries?'
'Mom, I'm serious, I actually think there's something-'
'Talk about it again. And you'll be grounded. And slapped.'
I was shocked. I talked about something so personal and she threw the thought away.
'Dad. You believe me right? I-'
'ALICE IM SERIOUS.' Mom shouted.
I'd had enough. They won't accept me because I'm not perfect.
I grabbed my bad and slammed the front door. A car was waiting outside my house. I looked to see who it was and to my surprise...
It was FP.
'Hey! Do you want a ride?' omfg could he get any cuter.
'Sure!' It was my only way to school, it wasn't like it was with someone I didn't like...
I got in the car.
'Thought your parents had taken it away?'
'What?'
'The car.'
'Ohhh. They did. But I couldn't get to school any other way. And I had my full football kit to carry. It's heavy. So I refused to walk. I found the keys and drove it here.'
We were almost at school.
'Oh by the way. My uncle has a van. He said we could use it for the drive in tonight.'
'Oh good! I've just had an argument with my parents so they probably wouldn't of let me use theirs.'
'Oh shit. That sucks. I'm sorry.'
'It's fine!'
There was a silence.
I did a double take.
'Holy. Shit.'
'What?'
'Look.'
My sister, Penny. Was standing outside of school, on a cardboard box, with other serpents. You may be thinking, what's so bad about that? They were naked. And had signs saying 'fuck school' and 'I'm burning this bitch down'.
'Isn't that your sister?'
'Pull over.'
'Alice, I-'
'Now.'
He stopped the car. I grabbed my bag and ran towards Penny. There were beer and vodka bottles around the cardboard box that she and the serpents were standing on.
As I got closer I could her disgusting boys cat whistling and taking pictures.
She saw me and stood got off the box.
'Oh em ghee. Alison!' she went in for a hug. She couldn't walk in a straight line.
I backed away. 'Penny. I'm serious, get some clothes on and get out of here. Northsiders hate your guts.'
'Alison, chill. I've got this covered.' I heard loads of car doors shutting. I knew who it was.
'Hey, Southsiders. Get off our schools land before we beat your asses.' It was the Bulldogs, the football team.
'Ooh, Alison. Which one have you hooked up with?'
'What are you talking about, Penny?'
'Wait. What if you come for some drinks with me? We don't know each other so we could become friends.'
'Penny. I'm your sister. My names Alice, not Alison. Now get out of here.'
'Ugh. Alice, Alison. Whoever you are. Don't tell me what to do. I will cut you up into little pieces and feed to snakes.'
My blood was boiling. I'm pretty sure the whole school was listening to our conversation.
'Get out of here, before I KILL you.' I whispered. But the northside x southside fight wasn't over.
'Alice. Step back. We've got this.' one of the Bulldogs said. I didn't need telling twice. I ran to Mary. Who I saw watching it all.
'I'm shook! Why is Penny naked?'
'Because she's high and drunk. And she wants attention. I've had enough of my family.'
Before she could ask, I saw the principal with other teachers and bolted inside. The rest of the school had the same idea. I was running up the stairs to the entrance when I heard cop cars. It was only a matter of time until me and my parents get called into the police station to speak on Penny's behalf.
I ran into the toilets and locked myself in a cubicle.
I sat on the floor and cried. I hated having a 'perfect family'. They expect so much of you. They expect for you to have no bad, no evil and nothing wrong. I decided to go to the school nurse to ask her about it.
'There's nothing wrong with you. Go to class.' She'd asked two questions and just assumed there was nothing wrong.
I was so mad. I stormed out of the nurses office and straight to psychology.
They talked about mental illness and the symptoms and different types of mental health. I could relate to most of the symptoms to anxiety and anger issues. Maybe that's what was wrong with me.
The rest of the day consisted of me talking to Hermoine and Mary about random shit. And at the end of the day, FP gave me a lift home.
As soon as I got home, I ran to my parents to told them about Penny.
There was no need. A random woman was sat at our kitchen table, she was dressed in a suit. My mom was crying. My dad was supposed to be in work but he was home. He looked sad.
'Alice. You're here.' she said.
'Is this about Penny? Where is she? Is she ok?'
'It is actually. She is currently in a prison cell. All of her small crimes have all added up to 1 year in jail, with special rehabilitation care. The cops found her in a bad state. Naked. Drugged. At the-'
'Front of school.' I finished her sentence. I stared at the floor before running upstairs.
For some reason, I wasn't upset. I had been preparing for it for so long. And besides it was her 5th time in jail, this was for the longest time though.
I was sat upstairs for an hour. When I started getting ready for the drive in.
I wore a strappy, black top with a denim skirt and a cropped denim jacket. It was a
co-ord so it didn't look scrappy.
I did simple makeup, winged liner, mascara and skin products.
I grabbed my small handbag and the tickets, and went downstairs.
'What did they tell you?' I asked my parents.
'Who she goes around with, what drugs she was on, where she's living.' said my dad. My mom burst out crying again.
'We're meant to be the perfect family.' She said, sobbing.
'I hate that phrase!' I yelled. 'No ones perfect, get over it!'
Her jaw dropped. I ran out of the house before she could say anything.
FP was waiting in his uncles truck.
'Hi! I bought some blankets, snacks-'
'Drive.'
'What?'
'Just drive!'
He smirked.
He parked up at the drive in and he grabbed the blankets and snacks and went to the boot. I followed him.
We set it all out together and sat down.
There were fairy lights above us. It was so romantic.
We talked for ages. Even when the film was playing.
Penelope and Gladys saw that we were together and started throwing popcorn at us from behind and chatting shit about us, right there.
I could tell other people were getting annoyed by them. Hermoine and Mary came over.
'Hey!'
Hermoine heard what Penelope and Gladys were saying so turned around and said...
'Ever seen what happens to a bratty girls when you slit them open with a knife and shove popcorn in their guts? Shut the fuck up or you'll find out.'
They shut up.
'Well that's our queue to go.' Mary said, she nudged Hermoine. They walked back to Marys car.
'She's sassy.' said FP.
'A little firecracker. Quiet until someone sets her off.'
He smiled. Yes, you guessed it, the same cute ass smile.
We had deep chats until about 30 minutes of the film remained.
'You're the only one who doesn't fall at my feet.' he said. I bit my lip and put my hair behind my ear.
'And I love it.' He stared at me straight in the eye. We kept eye contact.
'I love you.' He said. I smiled. Our faces got closer and closer when
Boom
We
Kissed
My dreams came true in 5 seconds. Maybe I hadn't lost all hope in my life.
'I've loved you for years, FP Jones.'
'If only I would've known.' He was so cute. I smiled.
'Alice Smith, will you be my girlfriend?'
'FP Jones, I sure will.' It was the best feeling in the world. Automatically I felt the safest I'd ever been, in the matter of a few seconds.
I put my head on his shoulder and we watched the rest of the film.
I was so happy.

He drove me home after the film. It was about 9:30pm when I got home.
'Why don't you come in? I've got sodas. I'll show you my room.'
'I don't think that's the best idea...'
'Why?'
'Uhhh'
'Exactly, please.' I practically got on my knees and begged.
'Getting on your knees already?' He winked.
'You and your dirty mind.'
He smiled.
'Please. Come in.'
'Really? I-'
'FP. Please. You've done so much for me. This is like the least I could ever do for you.'
'Fine.'
We both jumped out of the car and he grabbed my hand.
'My parents should be in bed anyways. My dad has work super early and my mom has to run errands.'
I opened the door and we went in. The lights were off. I turned them on and someone was stood in the hallway, admiring my family pictures. He turned around, it was my dad.
'Dad! Hey! Aren't you meant to be in bed? Works super early tomorrow and-'
'Who's this?' He interrupted me.
'This is my boyfriend, F-'
'FP Jones. What the hell do you think you're doing here?'
'You know each other? And dad, stop being rude!'
'Alice, I said this wasn't a good idea.' He let go of my hand and went to go out of the door when...
'Getting involved with Penny and then showing your face here? Bad move son. I want you nowhere near this house. Whatever is going on between you two ends now.'
'Dad! You can't control my life!'
'He was one of the reasons your sister is in jail.'
'What?' I looked at FP. He looked away.