Chapter Seven Continued...

"I..."

She wouldn't be asking unless she knew I wasn't at school. I fumble in my head for a lie.

"I was at Ari's. We stayed up late working on our Physics project." I start and try not to glance at Cameron. He's standing awkwardly next to me.

"We overslept this morning, but we made it to Physics. We got an A+."

She continues to stare at me, I don't know if she's bought it. Her gaze switches between me and Cameron then she nods her head. I struggle not to sigh in relief.

"I'm going to go shower and change into a dress," I say. Cameron's eyes are begging me not to leave him alone with her, but I retreat to my room. I'd just lied to my mother's face for the first time, I needed to get away.

When I return the table has been set and my mom's boyfriend has also arrived. Dinner goes smoothly. My mom doesn't mention my truancy again. She makes lite conversation, the normal parental stuff. How's school? Where were my plans for this weekend? She even asked about Kris and Katie. Everything is going well, except for Cameron.

Across the table, he keeps throwing disapproving stares at me. I ignore it. We finish the meal and my mom brings out a birthday cake. Everyone sings happy birthday and eats. Afterward, I clear the dishes while my mom and her boyfriend talk. Cameron helps and follows me into the kitchen.

I rinse and he places them in the dishwasher. We aren't speaking, but I can feel him stewing next to me.

"You lied to your mom." And there it is. I put the plate down and glare at him.

I grit my teeth and whisper harshly. "Would you have preferred I told her the truth. Sorry, Mom. I went clubbing last night. Had sex all night with my boyfriend and a few times more in the morning. I was real tired so I was little late to school?"

He looks away defeatedly. I reach for another dish from the sink, but he stops me. He rests his hands on my shoulders and turns me around to face him.

"You lied to your mom again." He says.

I roll my eyes and try to shrug his hands away, but he holds me in place. "Hear me out please."

I look away but I don't pull away. "You lied. I don't think you would've done that before you met Ari."

I know where this is going.

"Cam..."

"No, let me finish. I'm sorry I spoke harshly of Ari." I'm surprised by the apology and only see understanding in his eyes.

"She's an exciting person. I get why you vibe with her. If it wasn't for her, we'd never have met. But be careful. Don't lose yourself. "

It's the third time if you count the Dirty, I'd been warned to be careful around Ari. I want to be angry with him, to push back, but I can't. How could I be angry? This was the guy I knew and loved. Compassionate, understanding, willing to talk without judgment.

"Ari may be popular and outgoing, but she has nothing on you." I scoff, he is only being nice now. He moves his hand from my shoulders to my face. Then he looks me deep into my eyes. I couldn't look away if I wanted too, but I don't want to.

"You're kind, generous, and a good girl. You're the girl I've fallen in love with and I don't want to lose you."

My heart lurches and stutters. He loves me? I'd known this. I'd felt it, but hearing it on his lips is different, more real. Any irritation I'd felt vanishes.

"I love you, too." I rush out.

He smiles. It lights up his face and makes him the most gorgeous guy I'd ever laid my eyes on. I feel giddy and drunk. The juries in and have voted. This time I haven't been drinking. It must be love.

Cameron's lips lightly touch mine, it's gentle. I attempt to deepen it by pulling him in closer. He pulls away but only far enough for me to feel his tantalizing breath on my lips. I can practically feel his smile. He's teasing me, driving me crazy on purpose. I reach up and pull him down. He chuckles but gives me what I want. Him.

I love kissing Cameron. How's it possible that the taste of his mouth feels good. It's a delicious paradox. My feet leave the ground as he hoists me up on to the kitchen countertop. I can better reach his mouth. I spread my legs. He fills the empty space between us and pushes himself closer.

He presses against my inner thigh and I can feel his eagerness. I'm wearing a dress. I'm keenly aware there are only a couple layers of fabric keeping us apart. A bottomless craving takes over and kissing isn't enough. I need more.

I know we shouldn't. I know my mother is in the other room. I know it's wrong. And I don't care. My hunger is insatiable, and I must have him now. I unzip the front of his pants.

There's a gasp from the doorway.

He backs away from me so fast you'd think I was on fire. I look over his shoulder. It's my mother. He hastily zips up his fly before turning to face her. I close my legs and push my dress into place.

Cameron's face is priceless. Embarrassment mixed with terror and guilt. Like he'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He kind of had been. If I wasn't freaking out, I might have laughed. My mother's face; however, does not inspire humor. I wonder if she's capable of murder.

"I'm going to..." Cameron stutters, "I'mmm aahh...." He points to the living room. Then he slowly skirts the edge of the room. My mother stares bolts at him.

"...tv...living room." Then he darts behind my mother and out of the kitchen.

Once he's gone, my mother locks her gaze on to me. I slide off the counter and start washing dishes. It's a bold strategy. Turning your back on a predator was never suggested. My boyfriend had known this as he'd made his escape.

I rinse a dish and reach to put it in the dishwasher. My mother takes it from me and places it in the machine for me. She doesn't speak as we continue to wash the dishes together. We rinse dish after dish. Unfortunately, I run out of dishes. I'd never wished so hard for dirty cookware. She leans over in front of me and turns the water off.

"Where were you this morning?" She asks.

I meet her gaze. So, she hadn't believed my lie. I was no politician, but I knew enough not to back down so easily.

"I told you, Mom. I was at Ari's." I lie again.

I see the disappointment in her face, the moment it appears. It sucks. She nods her head, but her gaze is unfaltering. I want to look away.

"See when you missed your first class, I got a call today from the school. Apparently, this isn't the first time you've skipped." Oops, I'd forgotten I'd skipped with Ari before. Would've been my second strike. Her stare becomes too sharp to handle and I look away.

"I called Ari's house. Her brother answered. He said you guys weren't there and neither were her parents."

Oh my god. Damien truly was the worst.

"I'm going to ask you again. Where were you?" Her voice is sharp and I feel like I'm three again. I want to cry.

"I..." I start.

I don't know what to do or say. I'd never been in trouble. She'd never been this angry with me or this disappointed in me. She crosses her arms and impatiently taps her foot. I couldn't tell her the truth.

I lie again. "Damien doesn't know what he's talking about. We were in her room asleep."

She pauses but doesn't speak. I don't know if she believes it or if she is giving up on getting any truth from me.

"Are you sleeping with that boy." She asks.

Her question throws me off guard. "Damien, no."

"Don't be a fucking smartass!"

I flinch. My mother never cursed, especially not at me.

"Cameron?" She asks.

My first thought is to lie again, but this might be the easiest out. With her line of questioning, she thought I was sneaking out to hook-up with Cameron. The full truth is worse. I nod my head. She doesn't yell at me or scream. Just more disappointment. It somehow seems worse.

"Are you being safe?" She asks.

I nod my head again. My mother had started me on the pill years ago to help clear my acne. We hadn't been using condoms, but I'd been taking my pills religiously once we'd started dating. It didn't protect from STD's, but I'd never had sex before. And Cameron had gotten tested when things started to heat up. Everything was by the books. I was being as responsible as I could.

My mother exhales a breath. "Okay." Then she rubs her temples with her hand. I wait afraid to move or breathe.

"You're grounded for two months."

"What?! For having sex?" Her harsh punishment surprises me, she wasn't exactly pro-abstinence.

"For lying to me and skipping class."

"What?!" I shout.

"Watch your tone young lady!" She snaps.

I hadn't meant to yell, but the harshness of her punishment is ridiculous. Two months is almost the entire summer. I kept the house clean, I cooked dinner, I got good grades. I never complained whenever she had a random whim to uproot my life. I was a good daughter. Shouldn't it count for something? Probation maybe?

"It's my birthday weekend and I've never done anything wrong...like ever." I whine.

She admonishes me with her finger. "Which is why your punishment won't start till after this weekend. To school and back until I earn your trust again. No more sleepovers."

I can deal. I just hadn't wanted to miss tomorrows party. I try not to express my relief.

"And prom?" I ask. She wouldn't keep me from that would she?

"We'll discuss it later. Now, go out to the living room. I'll meet you there in a second." Her eyes are watery, and her forehead is creased in distressed. I've seen my mother at her worse before. She is sending me away because she needs a moment to collect herself. It makes me feel worse.

In the living room, Cameron is sitting on the couch staring at a blank tv screen. He looks up and mouths if everything is alright. I nod my head and give him a reassuring smile. I'd only had sex less than 24 hours ago and my mother already knew. Why did I suck so hard at being a teenager? No pun intended.

My mother comes out of the kitchen. She manages to put on a fake smile and exclaims it's time for my present. A gift from her and my dad. We all walk outside together. It's a car. A brand-new car.

I don't deserve it. She asks if I like it. She'd gotten the hatchback so I could carry my things to college. It's the most beautiful car I'd ever seen. Not really. It's a white Honda Civic. It's a nice car but not too flashy. Kind of like me.

It wouldn't stand out in a full parking lot, but it meant freedom. It meant no more carpooling with my mother and visits to Cameron at college—once I was no longer grounded. I hug her and tell her I love it. She hugs me longer and tighter than usual. She makes eye contact with me as she hands me the keys.

"I believe you and your boyfriend have a date tonight." She smiles at Cameron. I can see the strain and effort it takes her to be cordial. I look at him in surprise. He hadn't told me we had plans.

"Back by eleven or I'm calling the cops." She chuckles as if it's a joke, but I'm pretty sure she's serious. Then she and her boyfriend walk back into the house.

We get into the car. Cameron looks over at me from the passenger's seat and asks seriously, "Ya think she'll actually call the cops if we're late?"

"Absolutely," I say.

"Then drive fast." He clicks his seat belt on. "I can't go back to jail."

A big goofy smile spreads onto his face. I laugh at the dumb meme. Then I drive away in my new car.

End of Chapter Seven...

Told by two people in one day they love you, but ignoring one. Anyone upset by the choices our MC is starting to make? Who she is becoming?

Chapter Eight next...