Anything Goes on a Friday Night (5 page)

“Are you and Channing having sex?”

My mouth gaped open. “W-what!”

“You heard me, Elena. Are you or are you not?”

“N-no!”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “I don’t believe you. You’re always with him, and you stay out way too late.”

“Because I’d rather be anywhere but here! You yell at me for everything even, when I do nothing wrong; you lock yourself in your room, never asking me how my day was or if I need to talk, and you never acknowledge that I’m home at all. When you do, we fight!”

“I know you’re having sex, Elena. You’re a little slut just like your friend Katie.”

“Mom!”

She didn’t say anything else. She started sipping her coffee and reading the paper, showing no remorse for the words she just spit out. I walked to the sink and set my bowl down. I wasn’t hungry anymore.

On my way to school, I didn’t cry. I was too shocked to cry. I couldn’t believe that my mom could just assume I was having sex and then say such hurtful things about Katie and me. She was hurting, but in the process, she was hurting me too.

“IS THAT SMELLY CAST
coming off anytime soon?” Katie asked while scrunching her nose.

Channing set my lunch and backpack down at our table in the cafeteria. “Remember, we’re taking her after school to get it off?”

“Oh yeah! Sorry, I completely forgot. This math test has my brain fried. Am I the only one going to fail it?”

“Hell no! I’m toast,” Dillon answered, as he sat down across from us. “I might as well start applying to be a garbage man.” He took off his ballcap, exposing his short, brown, curly hair.

We all laughed.

“Well, you know, garbage men are pretty important,” I added.

Everyone looked at me oddly. Probably because it was the most I had said in over a month in a large group. Our lunch table was always packed, and usually, I was the one being silly with Katie while we made everyone laugh. But since the night Dad left Mom, I was more reserved around people.

“Well,” I said while smothering my fries in mustard and ketchup, “They are.” I smirked before putting a bite in my mouth.

Channing was beaming. “Hey, there’s that smile I’ve missed the hell out of!” He kissed my forehead, attracting some disapproving glares from the few teachers on lunch duty.

I smiled bigger and looked at the tableful of friends. I could do this because I had them. Forget being sad. I’d been sad long enough. Life at home was pretty shitty, but everything else was good, and I couldn’t ruin that by being upset all the time.

“Are things getting better?” Dillon asked me.

I shrugged. “Not really, but I’m trying to not let it affect me.”

“That’s great, Ellie.” Dillon smiled and started eating again.

“What time is your appointment to get the cast removed?” Katie asked.

“4:30. You guys don’t have to come with me if you don’t want. I can drive myself just fine.”

Katie looked at Channing and then at me again. “I actually made plans with my brother after school because I forgot all about it. But if you want me to go, I’ll reschedule with him.”

I waved my hand and smiled. “Nah. I’m a big girl. Channing, you don’t have to go either.”

“Are you sure? I really don’t mind.”

“Positive. I’ll just meet up with you after.”

He smiled. “Okay.”

I GOT HOME, PARKED
my car behind Mom’s, and went to go inside.
Problemo
. The door wouldn’t unlock. I kept trying my key, but the damn thing wouldn’t work. I tried the back door. No luck. I tried calling Mom, but she wouldn’t answer. I banged on the door with my fist but no response.

You’ve got to be shittin’ me!

I rang the doorbell over and over.

“Mom!” I yelled over and over again.

I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. All I could think about was that something horrible had happened to Mom. Why wouldn’t my key work? I turned around in the carport and saw a note on Mom’s car. I froze. I pulled the paper that was taped to the window off and read:

Elena, you are no longer welcome in this house. When I look at you, I see your father. I can’t do it anymore. You and I don’t get along. It’s more than obvious that we’re only making things worse for each other. You have plenty of people who love you and will take you in. Sometimes, we just have to do what’s best for ourselves.

I was numb. Completely numb. Was I even breathing? Was my mom really saying this? This wasn’t my mom! She’d lost it. She had truly lost her mind.

I sat with my back to the door for hours. I called my mom, trying my hardest to get her to answer with no luck. I could call the cops, but what good would that do? It’d only upset Mom more, and as angry and hurt as I was with how she was handling this, I wanted her to heal. I wanted her to find herself again.

I worked up the courage, wiped my tears, and dialed Dad’s number on my almost-dead phone. I didn’t want to call him, but he was my only choice.

“Elena?”

“Daddy?” I broke into violent sobs. “Daddy, I need you to come get me.”

“I’m on my way!”

I hung up on him. I didn’t have the energy to explain anything to him right then. I just needed him to come pick me up, and I’d explain it to him later. I pulled my knees to my chest and waited while what little tears I had left in me fell silently down my cheeks.

I
EXPECTED A BACHELOR’S PAD.
A poorly decorated, foodless fridge, and a smelly apartment. Not this. Floral couches, girly framed pictures, and smelling like a craft store at Christmas. Dad put out his cigarette before walking in behind me. That was a new habit of his.

I didn’t have anything with me. Mom could’ve at least put my things outside, but she didn’t. I turned to look at Dad.

“Are you gay? If you are, I mean, that would explain why you left, but just tell me now. I won’t judge. I promise.”

Dad burst into laughter. “Gay? Elena, you’re funny. No. I told you on the drive here I’m staying with a good friend of mine until I can find a place.”

“You didn’t mention this friend is a girl,” I muttered. “Is she here?”

“No. She works third shift in the ER. She’ll be here when you wake up.”

That’s when it dawned on me. When I wake up.
School.
“Dad, how will I get to school tomorrow?”

“Well, Elena, if you live with me, you’re going to have to change schools.”

I felt like I might throw up. How was that possible? I was only 20 minutes, at the most, away from my hometown, but I couldn’t go there?

“What if we go get my car from Mom’s and I drive? Won’t they let me do that?”

Dad shook his head. “I don’t think so, but I will find out. Tomorrow you just need to take off and relax. You’ve had a horrible night.”

I nodded. He was right. “Where can I sleep?”

“The couch is all ready for you.”

I looked and saw a pillow and blankets on it. I gave him a thin smile. “Thanks. Hey, Dad?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you have an iPhone charger?”

“Yeah, I’ll get it for you.” He kissed the top of my head. “Get some sleep, Pumpkin. I’ll see you in the morning. Although the circumstances are crappy, I’m really glad you’re here. Truly, Sweetie. I am.”

I was full of mixed emotions. It was like I had forgotten how to think or process anything. I just nodded because telling him that I felt like most of this was his fault was a bad idea.

Dad went down the hall and shut a door. I walked over to the couch and set my purse beside it. I sat down and put my head in my hands, letting out the breath I was holding.

I’m sure my phone was full of texts and missed calls from Channing, Katie, Dillon, and Alyssa. But I just needed sleep. I needed to temporarily forget how screwed up my life kept getting. I was 17. I should be worried about prom dresses and colleges. Not about where I’d be staying after my mom kicked me out because she caught a ride on the looney train.

I WOKE UP TO
footsteps coming down the hall. I lifted my head just enough to peer down the dark hall to see if it was Dad. I could tell it wasn’t because the figure wasn’t tall enough to be him. I heard her cough a little.
His roommate.
I closed my eyes, pretending I was still asleep.

A few minutes later, I could smell coffee brewing. I knew it was safe to open my eyes again when I heard a door down the hall shut and the shower start. I sat up and stretched and then went to get my phone from where I had plugged it in near the TV.

As expected, it was flooded with missed calls and texts from Channing, Katie, Dillon, and Alyssa. But the one person I had hoped to hear from the most wasn’t there.
Mom
. As angry as I was with her, as much as I wanted to let myself believe I shouldn’t care, because she sure as hell didn’t, I did. She didn’t even check on me to make sure I was alright. Or maybe Dad told her I was here and safe? I wanted to ask, but instead I decided I’d just assume he did because that was easier than facing the truth.

I stood and walked to the kitchen for a cup of water. I was thirsty and needed to pee, but the bathroom was occupied. I noticed a note on the counter next to the toaster. I looked over my shoulder to make sure I was alone and then moved closer, so I could read it. It was my dad’s handwriting telling Nancy that he was called into work and that he’d left money for her to take me out today to get things I needed.