The Story Of My Life

"Mom, Leya's gonna be over any second to pick me up for school. I figured I'd go ahead and tell you bye since you don't look like you're coming down anytime soon." I plucked a sloppy kiss on her cheek as she gave me an awkward half-hug while shuffling through some more papers on her desk in a nonplussed manner.

"Sorry, Babe. Have a good day at school. Oh, before you leave!" I dreadfully turned back to face her in the doorway, aware that I now had her full attention for a reason I could tell that I wasn't going to like. "This Charlie kid... he seems pleasant enough. Are you two... more than just friends, by chance?"

"UM, MOM!" I placed a hand to my temple exasperatedly. "We're just psych partners. No need to further investigate."

Her …show more content…

I won't be two minutes," I promised as I turned to go back into the house.

"If you're more than that, does that mean I get to come into your room?!" he called from behind me before I could open the door.

This caused me to snap my head back with my mouth completely agape as I took in the same stupid smile on his face. "How dare you?! Just... wait out here! UGH!" He had me flustered, and he knew it; I could tell by the cackle that next rose from the depths of his throat. I proceeded to change into the only clean clothes I appeared to have left: an off-the-shoulder, mid-sleeve cream blouse that Eric's ex-girlfriend had gotten me for my birthday (it was one of his longest relationships, and she was one committed gal) and a pair of blue jean shorts that Leya had left at my place. It was just my luck that I had to wear the most uncomfortable thing I owned the day Charlie unexpectedly decided to show up.

"Mal? That you? Is something the matter?" my mother called from the farthest reaches of her study.

"Nothing, Ma! Just forgot my textbook!" I yelled back.

"All right! Be careful next time! We can't afford anything that's going to hinder you from getting a scholarship!" I knew she meant well, but the pressure still rose at the sharing of that comment.

"'Course, Mom!" I then slipped quietly out the door and cleaned up the yogurt with the paper towels I had grabbed from the kitchen on my way out the second time. I put the mess in the trash can out by the bushes around