reckless | mgc

eleven

It was later that evening when Addy was sitting home alone, as usual, not expecting her parents to be back for another few hours. She was sat on the couch, watching movies on Netflix -her phone had died and she was too lazy to charge it- and not really paying much attention. How could she? She'd had her first kiss with Michael; she didn't think she'd ever be able to concentrate again.

The front door to her large home (she didn't understand why it was so big, there were only three of them living there) swung open and two pairs of footsteps came inside. Great, Addy's parents were home early.

"Addy Ellis," her dad yelled, setting his bag down on the table and smoothing out the front of his suit. He sounded angry. "Get in here right now!" Addy rolled her eyes, standing up from the couch and walking in to the kitchen where her angry parents were waiting. She didn't even have to look at them to know that they'd found out about her skipping afternoon classes. Her mom had her lips pursed and her if looks could kill, Addy would've died on the spot.

"Explain," her dad said, slamming a paper down in front of her face on the cupboard. She pulled it forward, reading it over. It was an email sent to her parents explaining that she was missing from school that afternoon and no one was able to get in touch with her. They were going to take this into "serious consideration for severe punishment in the form of detention." Great.

Addy kept her head low, not really wanting her parents to see her nose ring either. She'd already be grounded for the rest of her life, she didn't need to be grounded right into the after life. She pushed the note back towards her dad and sighed.

"I skipped afternoon classes today because I was sick," she lied, shrugging her shoulders. Addy knew right away that it wouldn't help, she'd still be in trouble.

"They reported you missing, Addy! They told us if you weren't back in 24 hours that they'd send someone out to look for you!" her mom said. "We couldn't even call your phone, why didn't you answer?" Addy sighed again.

"My phone died," she said through gritted teeth. "And I left the charger at school." Another lie.

"You were sick?" her dad asked, like he didn't believe Addy could ever be sick and miss a day of school. She just nodded, bringing her bottom lip between her teeth. She wasn't looking at her parents, she was busy staring the other way so they wouldn't see her nose ring. "Addy, how did you even get home? Why didn't you tell the school you were sick? And you don't look sick, you know you don't miss school unless you're throwing up."

Addy felt like throwing up right there. She was already in trouble, and she could only imagine what her parents would've thought if they knew she skipped it to be with a boy at a bar.

"Calum brought me home during lunch," Addy said slowly, debating whether that was a convincing enough lie. It seemed to be. "I didn't tell the school because I knew this would happen, I knew you guys would hate me if I went home sick!" Her mom crossed her arms, making a disgusted face and ignoring the last part. She had never really liked Calum, but they hung out anyway.

"Calum?" she scoffed. She turned around, throwing her hands up in the air and walking over to the other countertop, picking up her cell phone. "I'm calling his parents." Addy's heart sped up, and she turned quickly to look at her mom.

"No, please don't!" she said, a worried look on her face. If her parents called Calum's house, they'd know for sure that she was lying and Calum would be pissed that she dragged him into this. "No, it's my fault, please don't get him in trouble too." Addy's mom set down her phone, walking slowly over to Addy and parting her lips slightly.

"What is that?" Addy's mom spoke slowly and quietly, reaching up and pointing to Addy's nose ring. Shit. Addy's hand flew up to cover her nose and she coughed, trying to keep up the sick lie.