She’ll tell me that guys like Phoenix Walker would be crazy not to date me.
While I always appreciate her kind words…I know they’re not true.
Guys like Phoenix won’t ever be into girls like me. It’s just a fact of life.
One I’ve learned to accept.
Giving her a small wave, I trek back to my house. My dad still isn’t home, so I raid the cupboards and grab a bag of chips and a candy bar. After stopping to take a soda out of the fridge, I head into my bedroom.
Music posters of my favorite bands line the walls, along with physical records of my favorite songs that I keep framed.
Dropping the bag of chips, candy, and soda onto my bed, I close my eyes…
Then I take off my clothes.
Walking over to the large full-size mirror on the opposite end of my bedroom, I inspect every inch of myself.
“Take a picture, fat ass. It will last longer.”
“Either your clothes shrunk or you’re getting fatter.”
“The bitch is so fat when she steps on the scale it says, to be continued.”
Today’s insults reverberate throughout my mind in a loop, forcing me to face the cold, hard truth.
And then I take out the marker.
“Where are you going?” my dad asks when I pass the living room on my way to the front door.
Phoenix didn’t say a word to me in school today, but I assume we’re still on since he didn’t tell me otherwise.
I glance at the clock on the wall above my father’s head. It’s 8:58. Which means he’ll be here in two minutes.
I think.
Although I have no idea how he knows where I live.
“I’m tutoring a friend.”
Friend sounds way better than hot guy from school I’m obsessed with.
My dad pivots on the couch, now looking at the same clock I am. “But it’s nine. On a school night.”
“Technically, it’s eight fifty-nine. And last I checked, I turned eighteen last month,” I remind him, much to his chagrin.
“Last I checked, you still live under my roof,” he reminds me.
Not wanting to lose this battle, I pull an Uno reverse. “Are you saying you want me to move out because—”
“No, Lennon. Don’t be ridiculous.” He pushes his glasses up his nose. “What time will you be home?”
I have no idea. “Two—” I start to say, but then he scowls.
“Try again.”
“One thirty?”
Another scowl.
“Midnight,” he says. “Not a minute later.”
That’s so not fair. “Dad, that’s only three hours.”
I have no idea how long Phoenix will need me. Plus, I don’t want to come across like a loser with a curfew.
At least I can feign tiredness at one a.m. since we have school tomorrow.
“Come on. Let me stay out until one—”
“What could you possibly need to do in four hours that you can’t get done in three?” Horror crosses over his face. “This isn’t a boy you’re tutoring, is it?”
He spits the word boy out like he tastes something rancid.
“Uh—” I start to answer, but the sound of someone honking their horn cuts me off.
My dad practically leaps off the couch and walks over to the window. He pulls back the curtain, and sure enough, Phoenix’s Toyota is parked at the very end of our driveway.
Thankfully, it’s too dark, and he’s too far away to make out his face.
Not that it matters.
“Only an obnoxious teenage punk honks their horn like that.” My dad looks at me. “An obnoxious teenage boy punk.”
Good Lord.
“It’s not like that,” I sputter, my brain scrambling. “He’s…Phoenix is gay.”
My dad blinks. “Oh.”
I take the opportunity to sprint toward the front door. “Love you. Buh-bye. See you at one.”
“Twelve thirty,” he yells as I’m closing the front door behind me. “Not a moment later.”
Ugh. It’s not much, but at least it’s better than what Cinderella got.
I can’t wait until I stop chickening out about taking my driver’s test. Although I’m sure the newfound freedom will only make my dad even more nuts.
I open the passenger side door of Phoenix’s car and get in.
“Down with the Sickness” by Disturbed blasts through my ears and I can’t help but grin before mouthing the words.
People my age tend to listen to the latest pop or hip-hop crap on the radio. Not rock or alternative rock music…which is my personal favorite.