No Strings Attached

Chapter 5: After School

Marco flashes me and Aria cocky grin.

"Don't worry about the snacks, ladies," he reassured. "Us guys will buy every single chip, dessert, and drink from the grocery store."

I rolled my eyes.

"Wow, our heroes, " I said in a sarcastic tone.

"What about the project board? And the art supplies?" reminded James. 

"We do need to do the project ahead of time."

Marco's cheeks flushed red. "Oh yeah, right. Sorry." 

Giggling at his embarrassed face, Ari pushed the front doors open, letting the cheerful sun bake our skin.

Rushing along the concrete stairs, we landed our feet against the snowy white sidewalk.

"So, " I began. "James and Marco are in charge of snacks, Grace is bringing her musical instruments, and I'll make the house look presentable."

Ari nodded, twirling in her black leather boots.

Combing his messy auburn curls, James suggested: "Maybe this year, we could wear something casual."

Marco scrunched his eyebrows. "I thought we always wear casual clothes."

Ari shakes her head, tightening her hands around her backpack straps.

"No we don't, " she insisted. "Every year we would wear our prom dresses and suits."

What Ari is saying is true: whenever we have a school dance coming up, I thought it would be funny if we dress into our finest attire, buy corsages, and eat junk food at home.

But apparently, my friends all agreed to the challenge as they showed up at my door wearing uxorious tuxedos and silky dresses.

Though we looked like Grammy Award winners, our parents did not understand as to why we weren't at the dance.

"You should be making friends, " my parents reminded.

"Be a normal teenager, and get out of the house every once in a while."

But every time they asked me that question, I would say that we are making a statement.

That we are not giving a crap about what people might think; everyone can dress up and be ourselves no matter what day it is.

But no matter how hard I try, my parents wouldn't listen to me.

Striding along the sidewalk with a big smile, I said to my friends: "Let's wear something casual tonight. Something that gives you Stranger Things vibes."

My favorite trio nod in sync.

"That sounds like a plan, " said Marco, kicking a small pebble into the dark gray road.

"How about we start the party at 8 o'clock?"

"Why at 8 o'clock?" I ask.

"Because my parents have this stupid no-going-out-at-eight rule, " he answers. "But I am sneaking out. "

"Aren't your parents going to ground you?" inquired Ari, wrinkling her nose at the car exhaust. 

Marco shrugged. "I'd rather be with you guys than have another uncomfortable discussion about my sexuality."

James gives him a concerned frown, shifting past a young couple. "Your parents still don't accept you?"

Marco bobs his head slowly.

"Yeah, " he sighed.

"They went from bisexuality-is-a-phase to go-see-Pastor-Phillips." 

Feeling sorry for him, I put my comforting arm on Marco's shoulder.

"Well, we accept you, " I said cheerfully.  "No matter what."

Both Ari and James bob their heads in agreement.

"Yeah, " agreed James. "You can tell us about anything. Your favorite type of music, celebrities, what you like in girls—"

"Or boys, " I pointed out.

Marco laughs a little, draping his arm over Aria's right shoulder.

"Thanks," he says. "Sometimes, when I am around you guys, I feel like I have a second family."

James smirked. "Aw, that's kinda heartwarming."

"Yeah, don't get used to it, " joked Marco, staggering over the sidewalk.

As soon as they approached my house, James, Marco, and Ari said their goodbyes and went on their separate ways.

But as for me, I climbed upstairs, opened the door, and found my mom—in her white bathrobe—sitting stiffly on the living room couch.

Her long, dark hair rested around Mom's broadened shoulders; her eyes are filled with despair, her posture is in a slouched position and secured in her hands, is a glass of Chardonnay.

Concerned, I set my backpack next to the door, came over to her, then asked what was wrong.

"Nothing, míja, " she says quietly.

"Is it about the TSA job?"

Mom nods solemnly.

"Did you get it?" I ask hopefully.

She nods again.

A smile appeared on my lips. "That's fantastic, Mom! I am so proud of you!"

"Yeah, it was amazing, " Mom chuckled bitterly. "Until my boss said something...inappropriate about me."

In an instant, my cheerful smile quickly vanished.

"Really?" I ask curiously. "About what?"

Mom wiped the tears from her eyes.

"I have never felt so betrayed in my entire life," she confessed. "I thought she was a good person."

My eyes froze in horror. "Oh my God, what happened? Did they hurt you?"

Mom furiously shakes her head.

"No, " she replied stiffly. "it was much worse than that."

"Like what, Mom?" I inquire softly. "What happened?"

Taking a deep breath, she clears her throat and told me about her horrific first day at work.