Tough Love

Part 3

After school, I walk around the perimeter of the school searching for Lauren. She wasn't at our usual meeting spot under the big pine tree in the front court. I sit on the cold wooden bench, staring at a squirrel trying to roll a pinecone across the sidewalk.

Half an hour later, I decide that she probably went home by herself so I get up and walk down the north path that leads home. The walk home seems slow and dull without Lauren here for me to talk to and rant about my day.

I shuffle onto my front porch, the lock clicking as I turn my key. Once inside, I step onto the mat, I tug my boots off and place them on the shoe rack on the right.

"Lauren?" I call to the rest of the house. No response, but I hear footsteps above me and loud rap music. Dad's at work so it must be Lauren. But she never listens to this kind of music...

I take every other step up and swing around the post at the top of the stairs. I knock on Lauren's door and she opens it halfway.

"Why didn't you tell me you were home? I waited half an hour for you at school," I say.

"Oh sorry, I came home early. Forgot to text you," Lauren replies absentmindedly. Forgot to text me? Lauren never forgets to tell me.

I notice that the door is still only half open.

"Lauren, is there someone else in there?" I ask, my eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"No." Her answer was too swift. I use my foot and nudge the door open. She steps back and has a guilty look on her face.

No one else is there, but it looks like her closet vomited everything out onto her bed.

"Uh, what's all this?" I inquire. She stares down at her feet. "Is this because of Jason?" Her body tenses. "Lauren, what the hell?" I splutter furiously. "Did you blow me off to walk home with him or something? I didn't realize you guys were so close." She shrinks, my eyes burning a hole through her skull.

"He invited me to his after-semi party," she states meekly.

"Semi is right now. You're not even there."

"Exactly, it's the after-semi."

"Don't even try to justify this to me! You know what Jason's reputation is like. You really want to hang out with that guy? Especially at a party?? Lauren, you hate these kinds of parties."

"You're not Dad! You can't tell me what I can or can't do!" Lauren exclaims in exasperation.

"Lauren, I'm just trying to protect you. You don't understand how wild those parties are."

"Well you can't change my mind, it's starting in a bit anyway. Don't wait up." She leans over to grab her purse and pushes past me out the door.