Chapter 2
All These Years
“Oh my God! Look at my baby!” Michelle’s mother put her hands over her mouth when she saw her youngest daughter get to the bottom of the stairs. Michelle shifted uncomfortably while pushing a piece of her sleek hair behind her ear. “You just look so...different.” Her mother smiled slightly while running her hands through her daughters hair. In the pit of her stomach she felt some form of happiness or excitement. No, scratch that, she felt hope. Yes, that's what it was. She was hopeful that today would be the day where her beautiful, funny, extremely reserved daughter would allow herself to open up. Maybe this year, and the school years to come, would be different from the rest. “N-not different in a bad way,” Mrs. Jones clarified after seeing the look on Michelle’s face. “But also not different as in better than before. Just different.” Michelle stood there quietly and although she hadn’t said a single word--it was obvious that she felt uncomfortable. She hadn’t even left the house yet and she was already considering dumping her head in some water to get her usual curls back.
“Mom, it’s 6:40 in the morning, please,” Madison pushed passed Michelle who was blocking the walkway. “It’s too early for this--and Michelle, I’d suggest you stop standing there like an idiot and get going or else you’ll be walking to school!” Madison grunted while flinging her sling-bag over her shoulder and walked towards the front door.
“You better fix your attitude! I don’t know what’s wrong with you walking around my house like you got a problem,” Their mother said sternly. Madison always has been a bitter Betty early in the morning, especially on school days, but no matter how old she got her mother never allowed her to walk out, in or throughout her house with an attitude. “but she’s right you better get going before you’re late. Stay safe and I love you both.” She said while stretching out her arms--clearly wanting a warm embrace. Only for her daughters to pause and stare at each other in return.
“I can’t believe I spent 18 months in total carrying you both around in MY stomach, 21 hours of combined labor pains, clothed, fed, and kept you,” She dropped one arm and pointed to her oldest daughter. “Sheltered for 17 years and you,” She shifted her body weight and pointed towards Michelle “and you for 14 years but neither one of you want to thank me with a hug.”
Michelle furrowed her eyebrows and tilted her head. “But… my birthday isn’t until next week.”
“Close enough,” Her mother mumbled before grabbing both of their arms and forcefully pulling them in for a hug. To top it off, since they didn’t want to be good children, she grabbed Michelle’s face and pressed a kiss right cheek, making sure to leave a faint (but still noticeable) lipstick stain. Michelle tried desperately to free herself but tragically failed while Madison took it as an opportunity to run to her car before her mother could get her. “You can run but remember you live here! I’ll get you sometime!” She felt pleased with herself as she watched Michelle walk out of the house unaware of the kiss mark. A part of her wanted to let her keep it there, but she knew a lipstick stain from her mommy wouldn't get her "in" with the "it" crowd. Especially for a group of freshmen. So despite wanting to get her payback, she followed her to the door and yelled for her to wipe her cheek off. Michelle looked in the side mirror and put her hand on her cheek, forcefully wiping the stain off while getting into the passenger's seat.
A small grin made it onto their mother’s face as she watched them back out of the driveway. Her baby’s were growing up and as scary as that was for her, she couldn’t have loved them more than she already had.
~~~
“Madison Jones,” A male’s voice called from behind the two sisters as they walked from the parking lot to the school’s courtyard--or the “pit” as Madison referred to it. Only moments later an arm followed and was placed around Madison’s shoulders. She looked down at the hand and rolled her eyes before shrugging it off. “Come on good looking; don’t do me like that,” He sucked air through his teeth and scurried in front of Madison so she wouldn’t be able to walk away from him. “Or at least tell me who your friend is,” The boy licked his lips and then smiled while his eyes traveled to Michelle. He lifted his hand and put a strand of her silky, pressed out hair through his fingers. Without her realizing it, she stepped behind Madison, using her as a human shield. For a person who rarely shows her fear, she couldn’t help but have it written all over her face. She already felt uncomfortable and a bit on edge with her new appearance, but having this six-foot-something beanstalk lurking at her like she was some kind of fresh meat wasn’t helping any. ”I’m Mars.” He smirked while holding his hand out to shake, but only to get a weird tingly sensation in return.
“Um, ouch!” He shook his hand before looking down at it. If he had fair skin that would’ve left a very noticeable red mark.
“She’s my little sister and she’s thirteen you perv.” Madison glared while grabbing Michelle’s hand and pushing pass Mars.
“Say no more.” He said after a sudden coughing fit. He was taken aback that she was only a freshman, but nevertheless he didn’t want any parts of that case.
Michelle’s looked behind her and watched as he walked backwards—surrendering with both of his hands up. Slowly, Michelle’s eyes scanned the ground as she trailed behind her sister.
“That’s Mars. He’s virtually harmless but he is annoying and constantly looking for a girl to scoop. I don’t want you talking to him.” Madison let go of Michelle’s hand, but continued leading the way to the pit. “Hey, keep your head up.” Madison said once they got there. She pursed her lips together and patted her younger sister’s shoulder before continuing to speak. “I’m going to go find my friends; you’re welcome to come with if you want.” She took Michelle’s scoff as a no and rolled her eyes. “Fine then. I’ll just see you at the end of the day, but try talking to someone. Don’t be weird or anything.” She wrapped one arm around Michelle’s neck and pulled her in for a hug before leaving Michelle to her lonesome.
For a moment Michelle just stood in the middle of the pit and took in the scenery. ‘Midtown School of Science and Technology’ was proudly plastered on the top of the building and freshly trimmed bushes were spread horizontally along the front lawn. On her right, there were picnic tables (that overflowed with teenagers) sporadically placed, but somehow, some way, they seemed to be placed perfectly. While on her left there were a few more tables that surrounded a lengthy white pole that held up the school’s flag along with the American Flag.
‘Freaking Americans’ She sneered lowly. There wasn’t a single school that she’s gone to that hasn’t had the flag plastered somewhere on the field. Soon enough, her eyes fell on the scrawny little white boy who she shared her first kiss with. He viciously hurled his arm from left to right (and vise-versa) in what she believed to be in her direction. But at the moment she couldn’t get herself to wave back; let alone as enthusiastically as he was. She froze in her place like an ice sculpture, but the inside of her felt like it was on fire. Like she was melting into her own weird pool of emotions; a part of her felt excited which was weird on in itself while another part of her felt nervous. Was he going to talk about the kiss? Was it that big of a deal to him? Was it that big of a deal to her? Or was it just because it was her first kiss?
‘Get it together, Michelle’ She thought to herself and shifted her body weight. It seemed as if her pool had stiffened back up, but now it was making her feel uncomfortable. She had never put that much thought into Loser Parker before and she, honestly, wasn’t looking forward to starting now. She felt odd and despite her nearly being a genius, she could only describe it as feeling ‘icky.’ Like she needed some kind of emotional shower. But nevertheless, she still couldn’t seem to ignore him the way she so desperately wanted to. The way she used to before the kiss.
She didn’t show any eagerness nor excitement, but she lifted her hand and took a deep breathe.
Who knew a wave could take so much out of her?