Broken Memory ✓

7. The Addiction to Coke Begins

Mom stands in front of our booth with her arms crossed. The boys stare at her, then turn to me, and my face flares pink with embarrassment. "Ashlyn, what are you doing!?"

I sit there in stunned silence. My eyes feel like they're about to water up. No, no, don't cry!

"Come on," she snaps. Connor quickly moves out of the booth so I can get out, and she gives the two boys a dirty look. "Trying to seduce my daughter? You stay away from her!"

"Mom!" I put my hand on her arm.

"What?! No, you don't get to say anything!"

"Look, let's calm down a little," Connor tries to steady the situation.

"Calm down?! You look like you just did weed! She's hanging out with two boys! Thank God I stopped her for drinking that Coke, it could have been drugged for all we know!"

"Ma'am," Connor tries again. "For the record, my dad died from a drug overdose, so no, I'm strongly against drugs. Even the ones he didn't do. We're her two friends and we just wanted to hang out after school."

"Yeah? Why didn't she ask me first, huh?"

"Because I knew you'd freak out!" I interrupt. "You never let me go out! And I know hanging out with a couple of dudes wouldn't fly with you either! I just wanted to get out for a bit."

Mom frowns at me. "You could have at least tried. I don't know if I can trust you now."

I feel myself tear up. "You don't understand how confined I feel."

"Yeah?!" her demeanor changes from sadness to anger within seconds. "You don't understand how it feels to fear every waking moment. For all I know, you could have been kidnapped. Thank God you had your phone with you."

I wipe away a tear of utter frustration, and maybe I'm being too emotional, but at that instance all I want to do is run out of that diner and pedal until all my suppressed anger fades away. "Okay," I breathe, trying to calm myself. "Look, I know it wasn't a good decision to sneak out. It was dumb. I did it impulsively. But... Don't you think I should be able to go to a friend's house with your permission? Even just hang out after school? You barely let me go out. And never without you."

"Not when your friends look like they just got done murdering someone," she shoots daggers at Caleb. "This is ridiculous, come on, we're going home and you're going to be in big trouble."

"Ma'am," Connor once again tries to speak up.

"Can it, boy. Stay away from Ashlyn," she harshly grabs my arm and pulls me away. I wince as I'm being forced out the door and look back at my friends. Caleb stares at me as I'm taken away, his expression absolutely livid. Connor stares at me as well, frustration and sadness filling his eyes.

As I'm being pulled to the car, I try to say my bike is chained here, but she doesn't let me talk. Instead she recklessly yells. "You're an idiot! Someone could have easily kidnapped you! Are you really this stupid?! I can't believe you! And hanging out with a couple of boys?! We raised you better!"

"Mom-"

She disregards my pleas, shoving me into the front seat of the car. "I'm extremely disappointed and angry with you."

"Mom-!"

"No, Ashlyn, just shut up!"

I immediately close my mouth, looking down towards my feet for the rest of the drive. When we get home, Mom brings me inside and straight to Dad.