Chapter 14:

I'm on chore duty. I had to take on my brother's chores which was laundry and vacuuming the entire house. I'm out of motion, no energy as I get upstairs and lay down. No more, I whimper and fake sob. I hope my mom hears my suffering. Or dad. He's probably still sleeping. Craig's no help either. And he stays out all the time.

My phone is ringing. No. Why can't I have an assistant? Quinn's facetiming me. I slide the icon to answer.

"What the hell?" Quinn asks, wrinkling her brows. Her makeup is done, hair is in a side ponytail.

"I know," I say, I roll over on my stomach, resting my cheek on my palm. She's sipping something green. "Where are you?"

"Class 520," she says of the ice cream place. "Matcha boba." She shakes the clear cup.

"Are you and Tyler having a little date?" I tease.

"Yes," she answers with a blush.

"Aww."

"I know! He's so cute!" She swoons, pressing her hands on her cheeks. She looks and smiles, flips the camera. Tyler's in a baseball cap and white shirt. He smirks, sipping from his own cup. His is white with caramel. She flips it back to herself showing the widest grin. This is the first time I've seen her happy since her last relationship. Her ex, Daniel, basically manipulated her, hung out with his friends more than her. Gaslighted. She paid for everything when they went out for dinner. She found out he was cheating on her. Actually, she found out she was the side chick. He had a girlfriend that was in another school in Ohio. He thought he could have two in one. In old fashion, she punched him. He tried to press charges, which went nowhere.

She deserves Tyler. He was kind. Handsome. That I know of. She knew what would happen if he hurt her.

"Anyway. How much trouble are you in?" Quinn asks.

"A lot. Mom hasn't talked to me since last night. I'm grounded for the weekend and doing all the chores," I sigh, shaking my head.

"Bummer." She sticks out her bottom lip. The principal said I'm basically a model student. I get in trouble once and suddenly I'm a criminal. I make no mistakes, and I choose not to. The one time I lose my temper and I get branded. I stay out late for a party, I'm a bad girl. Make it make sense.

"It's ok. It's only for the weekend." I raise one of my shoulders in a shrug.

"I'll call you back. Byeeee!"

"Byeeee!" We end the video call, I drop my phone on the bed. This stupid phone was the cause of all this. I shut my eyes for some rest. I need two minutes. Ten at the most.

"Maya, come take out the trash!" Mom yells out. I slowly open my eyes and grumble. One second. I take my time going downstairs. I pull up the trash drawstrings and open the door. I dump it in the can, wiping the dirt off my hands. Why can't I wash the cars like Craig? Or load the dishwasher? Oh wait, I'm doing that already, for the sake of my punishment. The weather is breezy, the crunchy leaves on the grass against my sneakers. If school wasn't going on, this is my favorite season. Halloween, thanksgiving. Apple cider, cocoa. One of my neighbor's spraying her grass in blue sweatpants and a sunhat.

I spot Alex coming around with his dog walking along the sidewalk. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye when I left. I don't even have his number. I wave meekly when he sees me. He waves back, Chewy tugs forward to the next house. He doesn't look back. I blink, shaking my head. I whirl around, Sam is out in a white tank top grabbing the newspaper off the doorstep. I breathe out. The sight of seeing him made me grind the back of my teeth. Does he feel anything? His words of him flirting with me is screwing with my mind. He stops before he goes in, sees me. He was standing still like a statue. I should go over there and say something. My feet have a mind of its own as I stride over. Holding my stomach, we meet eye to eye. "Coming back for more?" He asked, placing the newspaper under his armpit.

"Stop. Why-" my words come out as a stutter. "Why did you kiss me? You didn't have to."

"It was a dare. Get over it. I'm over it."

"Then how did you know I was coming to talk to you about that? I could come to talk about anything else."

"Then what did you want to talk about?" Sam asks, his muscles in plain. Has he been working out? He looks bigger. Focus, Maya!

"Before the party, at your house. What did you mean when you said you flirt with me?"

"I didn't say that," he states with a grin.

"Yes you did."

"No, I said you make funny faces when I tease you."

"I'm talking about after that."

"I don't remember what I said." He's doing it again.

"You said 'is it a problem that I flirt with you?" I repeat.

"I don't remember that, maybe I did. So? I flirt with everybody."

"No, you don't."

"I do. You're not the only one. I like everyone." I inhaled, reaching for my head to scratch my scalp, my fingers felt a satin texture. Oh god, I forgot I'm wearing my bonnet. I pat my head, letting out a growl.

"Maya! What's taking so long?!" I flinch at mom's screaming voice. Shaking my head and rolling my eyes, the warden's calling.

"Coming!" I yell back, rolling my head back.

"Your mom sounds pissed," He states.

"Yep. I came home late. And for the detention. I'm on chore duty all weekend. My fault for having fun and proving a point."

"Maybe you'll learn your lesson. Stay out of trouble," he sings to me, wagging his index finger.

I raise my hand to his face and slowly walk back to my house, Sam yells out, "see ya turtle!" I grit my teeth and open the door. I dropped my shoulders. Idiot.

"Who was that? Who were you talking to?" Mom asks when I come in.

"Sam." I walk past her and to the sink.

"Really?"

"Yes." I shrug.

"Are you gonna tell me where you were last night?"

"At Sam's house, we were practicing lines." My shoulders raise, my eyes look away from her angry expression.

"You're still sticking to that? I can call Sam's parents.

I inhale, truth or lie? I'm in a dilemma. His parents aren't home to tell the truth. Pro. Con: his parents weren't home and mom and dad will think we did unspeakable things.

I sigh, "I wasn't looking at the time. Then we watched some movies after practice then I came home. I'm sorry. His parents weren't home." I told half the truth. Well, quarter of the truth.

"Maya, I know you're young and you want to spend time with friends but lying and getting in trouble is not the way to do it," Mom demands.

"I never get in trouble. And I don't want to. That's not me."

"You fighting that girl got you in trouble."

I scoff, I can't believe this! "She came into my face, put her hands on me. I can't stand there while she's repeatedly pushing me, trying to hurt me. I'm not a statue."

"We raised you and your brother better than that. We tell you to keep your hands to yourself."

"You also told us to never back down. Fight back if anyone tries us."

"That's not the point. You still got in trouble at school."

"I pushed her out of my face. Everyone is acting like I gave her a Captain America beatdown." She takes her mug and heads upstairs. What's the point of standing up for yourself if you're the one to blame? This is such crap.

I let out a long sigh, facepalming with a groan. This is great. Just great. To be honest, I wasn't looking forward to going to the party, it was something to get out of the house. Now I messed up. After I did most of the chores, I was done. I still had Sunday. At least mom gave me dinner.

I lie on my stomach, turning on the tv Romeo + Juliet, the one with Leonardo Dicaprio and Claire Danes. Blah. Huddled in my blanket like a cocoon, I click to rewatch Bridgerton. The tension and the longing looks, the way Anthony looks at Kate made me swoon. His face shifted to Sam. "Ugh!" I turn it off, lying on my back and stare at the ceiling. "Freaking Sam," I mutter, sitting up. His smirk and eyes burned in my brain. He didn't have to do that. His ex-girlfriend has it out for me because of him and I can't get an honest answer with his open ended statements. Dick.