Confessions of a Matchmaker

t w o

h a l l e

v a l e n t i n e

Well, it turned out that Carmen Valentine Garcia really wasn't Carmen's name—if that makes any sense. Because at ten pm, the both of us were sitting in the living room as mom continued her never ending lecture. I'd been bribed into wearing a dress that was short but not too short or tight because Carmen knew my limits. We had been caught trying to sneak out by my mom who was trying to sort out the bills in the kitchen.

"Halle, this is so unlike you. I can't even believe you tried to go to a party. You are grounded for two weeks," my mom was infuriated, to be honest I wouldn't have been doing anything anyways, "And you too, Carmen. You are grounded for three weeks. That means no phones, no laptops, no TV and definitely no going out except to school."

Carmen frowned, creases appearing on her forehead, "I'm eighteen, mom. I have my SAT exams coming up this year, I need my laptop to study. Mom you can't do this, its not even fair. I'm old enough to make my own decisions, you are not the boss of me."

My mom spun around and scoffed, pushing her glasses further up her nose, "Oh, I'm not the boss of you? Well, you live under my roof," the typical parent line, "and you eat my food, sleep in the bed that I bought for you? I spent twenty seven hours in labour with you so I think I deserve just a tiny bit of control. And studying?" a sarcastic laugh escaped her, "Tell me, Carmen, when was the last time you actually studied?"

Even Carmen couldn't answer this, a petulant sulk forming on her lips, my mom was red in the face from anger, "Hand over your phones," we both fished them out then dropped them into her open palms, "I'll be collecting your laptops later. Goodnight you two, I love you both."

It is amazing how parents can literally scream at you hours on end then the next minute, they're pretending it never even happened. It must be some sort of god given talent that they acquire after their first child.

° ° ° ° °

When you have no form of technology, naturally you will reside to your three last resorts. One, eating; secondly, blissful sleeping; and thirdly, studying. I went with the third option and ended up reading my biology textbook. Afterthoughts were now setting in, I never should have agreed with Carmen and I'd flung off the killer nude pumps then my dark blue dress was traded for sweatpants and a tank top.

The door opened slowly, then Carmen's voice came through, "Halle, dear god, what the hell are you wearing? Put the dress back on and fuck, you've smudged the eyeliner. You need to understand that Carmen Valentine Garcia simply does not give up that easily. I said I'd take you out tonight then damn straight you're going out tonight."

I blinked, "But mom—she said—we got—"

"Mom is sleeping, we won't get caught and even if we do, it was a great rebellious experience for you."

Well, how reassuring.

I got up slowly, going against my better judgement. Minutes later, I was dressed up again as she hastily fixed up my makeup, she was murmuring something as she worked. She was wearing a loose pale pink dress that didn't exactly show off her curves but her long and lean legs were enough to make up for it. Not to mention the fact that she wasn't wearing a bra—it was at moments like this that I yearned to be as daring and outgoing as her.

Once again, we were using the same old route through the front door since our rooms were on the second floor, we'd be crazy to even think of jumping from there. We were just steps away from the door when we heard a loud crunch. Crunch. Crunch. We both froze in our tracks then turned to see dad hunched over a huge bag of salt and vinegar crisps that contradicted the rules of the diet him and my mom were supposed to be following.