Teenagers Look So Much Older These Days

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After Liv, Laura, Rachel, Jenn, Simon and I finish dinner we all sit pool side with our feet in the pool and a glass of wine. My phone pings and Simon, being the closest to the table grabs it for me. "Maggie, do not freak out. Remember when you wondering why the kids haven't been posting on Instagram?" He says handing me the phone slowly as I nod and take it. I could have prepared myself for what came next.

Alaina: Look what dad let us do

Me: When are you guys coming back?Alaina: We're almost home

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Me: When are you guys coming back?
Alaina: We're almost home. Didn't have service until now. Are you mad? Eli said you'd be      mad.
Me: Just get home.

I show everyone the picture and they gasp. "Did they ask you? Did Derek ask you?" Liv asks. I shake my head and set my phone down. "I don't care that they fucking bleached their hair, well I do but I hate that none of them took the time to call me and discuss it with me at all." Everyone is silent unsure of what to say. "And can someone explain to me why my nearly fourteen year olds look older than they should?" They laugh, but I don't find it funny.

"They on their way?" Jenn asks. I nod finishing off my wine and hand it to Simon for a refill. "Do you want us to leave?" Rachel asks. "I mean if you guys want too you can. Derek probably won't even stay long." I hear a car door, "I'll be back, I'm going to catch him before he runs off." I add and run into the house and out the front door. My children are all smiles and laughing until they see me. "Hi, mom." They nervously say in unison. "To your rooms now." I say and the run off. 

I cross my arms and Derek just smiles. "You were always so cute when you're mad." He says smugly leaning against his car. "Shut up!"  He laughs, "Are you really mad they dyed their hair?" I really wanna punch him in the fucking face. "No mother fucker I'm not, I'am however mad that you didn't bother to confer with me on it. We are co-parents right?" He hangs his head and then gives the look he used to give me to try and get out of an argument.

"No, you don't get to do that anymore. Why couldn't you have just called me or tell them to call me." I plead with him. "Sorry, I didn't think it would be that big a deal. Won't happen again." He apologizes. I pinch the bridge of my nose and exhale deeply. "Maggie. I'll run things by you from now on. Look I don't know how we got to where we are now, but I hate it." I tilt my head to give him a look. "You don't know how we got here? You cheated, again that's how. I don't like it either Derek but it's where we're at. What are you up to now?"

He moves away from his car to walk to the drivers side door, "Probably just gonna head home. Thanks again for letting them come and Sorry for the hair. Goodnight, Mags." He smiles as he climbs in to the car and drives off.

I watch him drive away and I'm mad. No longer at the hair situation but at him for cheating. Yes, I'm still mad about it. I loved him with everything I had. He literally took my love threw it away as if it was a banana peel. I walk back inside when I can no longer see his tail lights. 

Walking in Laura and Liv are examining the kids hair. "Maggie, they look good." Liv says as she receives a high five from Alaina. "They're my kids, of course they look good. Next time you two wanna do something like that, call me. Understood?" They both nod. "Did you guys have fun otherwise?" Rachel asks them. They begin to go on and on about the concert and how they felt so cool having VIP passes.

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