Anything Goes on a Friday Night

by Sara Daniell

  An engagement ring?

  Why don’t you just rip out my heart and stomp all over it, Dad?

  I turned when I heard footsteps enter the office. Caught red-handed. I stood there looking from the ring to Dad and Nancy.

  Nancy’s eyes widened at the sight of the rock, and she looked at Dad.

  “Steve?”

  Dad stood there staring at me with a blank stare.

  Say something, dammit!

  “Elena, I—”

  “You what? When did you plan on telling me? What a dick move, Dad!”

  “You don’t understand,” he said, flustered.

  “Don’t understand? How in the hell am I supposed to understand this? This is so selfish of you!”

  “Elena, please calm down. I was going to tell you when I felt the timing was right. You weren’t supposed to see that! Neither of you were! Not yet!”

  A grin spread across Nancy’s face, and I wanted to throat-punch her. I set the ring on the couch and ran out of the room. I didn’t have the strength to put up a fight. I didn’t know how to respond.

  It was apparent that Dad had cheated on Mom. He fell in love with another woman. I could blame his job for keeping him away all the time, but that would be a cop-out. I blamed him. Mom literally lost it, and he was entertaining another woman. Twenty years of marriage down the damn drain.

  I had to find somewhere to go. I needed to leave. I was sure I could stay with Channing or Katie, but they were so happy that I was finally coming around that I didn’t want to depress them by showing them I was now worse off than I had started. I wished I had my car, so I could at least go for a drive and clear my head.

  I ran outside, and Dad followed after me.

  “Elena!”

  I closed my eyes and kept my back to him. “Let me leave. I need to be anywhere but around you and her right now.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “A friend’s. Just please, Dad. Let me leave.”

  I heard his footsteps depart, and then a door shut. I looked over my shoulder and saw that he had gone inside. I stared blankly at my phone and tried to make sense of everything but couldn’t. Who did this kind of shit to their kids? I was startled when my phone started ringing. Channing’s picture flashed across my screen. It was like he read my mind.

  I accepted the call but remained silent, waiting for him to say something.

  “Ellie?”

  “Hey.” My voice came out strained.

  “What’s going on? No one has heard from you!”

  “Mom kicked me out,” I put my back against the brick wall and closed my eyes. “I’m at my dad’s office,” I scoffed.

  “Wait, what?”

  I laughed coldly. “Long story short, things are really stupid right now.”

  “But are you okay?”

  “Define okay.”

  “So, you’re not?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know, Channing! I don’t know anything anymore!”

  “I’m so confused right now.”

  “You are? Think about me! My whole world is falling apart! I feel so out of control! I’m trying to be strong for you, Katie, and the rest of our friends. I know you guys want to see me happy, but I’m struggling, Channing.” The tears finally started.

  “Elena, you need to calm down. I’ll come get you.”

  “No! I don’t want you to keep seeing me upset! This isn’t the girl you fell in love with. I’m a basket case, and it’s not fair to you.” I was bawling uncontrollably.

  “You’re talking bullshit! Of course I want to be there for you. I want to fix this for you, and it’s killing me that I can’t! Please, tell me where you are, and I’ll come pick you up.”

  “Really?” I sniffed.

  “Duh! Where are you?”

  I gave him the address to my dad’s office, and he said he was headed this way. I didn’t feel like I owed it to Dad to tell him where I was going, but I did anyway. If I hadn’t, he would have had every cop in Texas hunting me down.

  Me: Dad, I’m going out with Channing. I’ll be back later.

  Dad: Be safe. And please don’t hate me.

  I waited, sitting on the front steps of my dad’s office for Channing to arrive. My mind was spiraling with emotions, and I had no idea how to process anything that was going on. I was so confused and hurt. I looked at my phone while I waited, scrolling through my contacts. I wanted to call my brother, but would he even answer? Kyle was busy with more important things than his little sister’s problems. I was sure that by now he knew, and if it bothered him or if he thought about me, he would’ve called already. I let out a heavy sigh and scrolled past his name. I was just about to dial Grandpa’s number when I heard the roar of Channing’s truck. I jumped to my feet, put my phone in my pocket, and took off toward him.

  I got in, scooted to the middle, and sighed contentedly when his arm made its way protectively around my shoulders. He held me in a sideways hug and kissed my cheek. I felt safe with him. I trusted him more than anyone right now, and even though my home life was in shambles, he gave me stability.

  I sat back, so I could look at him. “Thank you, Channing. Seriously, thank you so much for coming to my rescue. I don’t even know what to think anymore. Things are so crazy, and I’m so sorry that—”

  He chuckled and put his finger to my lips. “Shhh, Ellie. I’m here, and there’s no place I’d rather be. You don’t have to thank me or apologize.”

  I smiled at Channing and then looked to my right. I saw Dad and Nancy talking through the window. “He doesn’t even care, Channing. Mom either. Right now it’s all about themselves, no matter who they affect. Not even their daughter.”

  “What does Kyle say about all of this?” Channing put the truck in drive and headed down the vacant street. Kerrville was smaller than Fredericksburg, so by 8:00 everything was closed.

  I scoffed. “Kyle hasn’t spoken to me since he moved out over a year ago. I guess he doesn’t care, or if he does, he sure as hell hasn’t said anything.”

  Channing laced his fingers with mine and gave my hand a squeeze. “I miss you being happy, Ellie. But I want you to know that I get it. I understand and am here for you when you need me.”

  I looked at him and squeezed his hand back. “I know, and you have no idea how much I appreciate that. I’m trying really hard not to be dramatic and depressed all the time, but I don’t know how to deal with this. Everything has been without warning, and it would’ve just been nice to at least have signs. Fighting, Dad talking about another woman, something.”

  “Yeah, it’s so strange. Your parents always seemed so happy.”

  “Channing?”

  “Yeah?”

  I wiped my eyes. “My mom kicked me out of the house. We had a fight, several fights, and she left me a note. I couldn’t even go in to get my stuff. I have to move in with my dad, and I don’t know what to do. Now Dad is probably marrying this Nancy chick, and everything is so… So screwed up. I just can’t handle my life. I have no idea what else I can take. It’s too much, and I feel like I can’t breathe.”

  We drove around town for a while, him just listening to me ramble on about all of the bullshit and letting me cry on his shoulder. God, I loved him. I was sipping on my Route 44 Coke from Sonic when Channing parked at the old ball field by our favorite park. He took a drink of his Coke, set it in the cup holder, and then looked at me.

  “So, what happens now?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well,” he paused. “Since you’ll be living with your dad, what does that mean for school?”

  I shrugged. “I’ll probably have to attend Kerrville now. But us, we’ll still make us work, right?”

  “Yeah, of course we will. I’m not letting you go anywhere. You and I, I feel like we’re the forever kind.” He cheesed real big. So did I. “Ellie, I love you. You know that, right?”

  A tear fell down my cheek. I nodded as I wiped it away.

  “No matter what happens or how sh
itty your parents make your life, I promise to always be here.”

  “Thank you,” I sniffed.

  He cupped my lower back with his hand and leaned in, pressing his lips against mine. He parted my lips with the tip of his tongue and kissed me. My whole body filled with tingles and warmth. He was my forever. My happy. As long as I had him, nothing else had to make sense because he and I did.

  TWO WEEKS LATER I was completely moved in with Dad. One week after that, I gained a new stepmom. Dad and Nancy tied the knot in a courtroom. They saw no reason to wait, since I had found out. I could’ve put up a fight, but it was pointless.

  I wanted to hate Nancy, but I couldn’t. I promised myself and Dad that I’d at least give her a chance. Everyone deserves at least one, and to be honest, I didn’t have the energy to be mad at anyone else. I was tired of feeling like I was swimming upstream against a strong current. It was easier to just relax and let it carry me.

  Mom still hadn’t talked to me. I continued to tell myself Dad was in contact with her, letting her know I was okay. But I had no one telling me if she was okay. I was worried about her.

  I rolled over to look at the alarm clock. I cursed at the time. I needed to get up and get ready for the first day at my new school. The counselor there had told my dad to give me a week or so off to cope with the changes. Of course he agreed, so I lucked out and got a little mental vacation before starting.

  Maybe I’d make new friends. Or maybe I wouldn’t, but the friends part didn’t really bother me because twenty minutes away were my best friends, and I could still see them on the weekends, on breaks, and in summers.

  I got dressed, straightened my hair, and grabbed my backpack from my closet. I took a deep breath and exhaled as I looked at myself in the mirror. The week break had done me a lot of good. My eyes weren’t puffy from crying anymore, and I felt better.

  Two nights before, Channing had brought me to Mom’s to get my car. I almost stayed and tried to knock on the door, but Channing talked me out of it. He told me that if she didn’t answer, the wound of rejection would just get bigger and hurt worse. He was right. It was better just pretending in my head that she would have answered, and she didn’t because I didn’t even give her the chance. For some reason, it was easier putting the blame on me than it was to blame her. I wanted to believe that there was still good in my mom and that Dad leaving her didn’t completely turn her into the monster she was becoming.

  My phone dinged on my way out of the bedroom. I pulled it from my pocket and smiled.

  Channing: Remember, I don’t share well. You tell all those guys today that you’re taken!

  Me: Ha ha ha. Trust me, I’ll make sure they know. Dork.

  I slid my phone into my back pocket and smiled at Dad who was pouring two cups of coffee. “Hey, Pops.” I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.

  “You look nice this morning.”

  I laughed, looking at my ripped jeans and blue and white flannel button down shirt. “Thanks, but I thought you hated my jeans.”

  “I’ve learned to accept this new trend. But yes, buying jeans that already have rips in them seems like a rip off. Literally.”

  Nancy walked in and kissed Dad’s cheek before getting creamer from the fridge. I moved out of the way, so she could have better access to the shelves.

  “Are you ready for your first day?” Dad asked me.

  “I think so.” I opened the water and took a drink.

  Nancy looked at me when Dad started to say something else. Before he could, she moved in front of him, stood on her tiptoes and kissed him again.

  I scrunched my nose. Was that on purpose? I laughed at myself. Of course, she didn’t do that on purpose. She was just caught up in the moment of wanting to kiss him that she accidentally interrupted him. Or …No, I wasn’t going there. I was overanalyzing her actions and just going to get myself all worked up.

  “I’m gonna go. Don’t want to be late on my first day!” I went out to my car and put my things in the backseat.

  KERRVILLE WAS A SMALL town, and I had been here to watch football games, so finding the high school was a piece of cake. In the gravel student parking lot, I parked near a huge pine tree. The parking lot was almost full, and students were scattered all over the grass area by the picnic tables.

  All eyes started turning my way, but I wasn’t shocked. I expected this to happen. Since it was a small school, new students were usually the center of attention for a few days. I smiled at everyone who said hi on my way into the school. I needed to check-in at the office to let them know I was here and get my class schedule.

  I found the office and was immediately greeted by Mrs. Hillis whom I remembered from registering for classes with Dad. She held up her index finger while she finished her phone call. After she hung up, she grabbed a few papers and headed my way.

  She slid them across the counter to me. “Here is your student handbook, class schedule, and a map of the school. The counselor wants to see you before you head to your first class. I hope your first day is wonderful! We’re so excited to have you here!”

  “Thanks. And go Tivy Antlers not Billies,” I teased.

  She laughed. “Unless you want to be shunned for the rest of your time here at Kerrville High School.”

  I laughed and headed to the counselor’s office. I really hoped she didn’t try to fix me or analyze my personal life. I was fine. Maybe she just wanted to welcome me and go over my schedule.

  I knocked on the door, and a tall, very slender woman with a dark pixie cut smiled at me. She moved her glasses to the top of her head and held out her hand.

  “You must be Elena Johnson. I’m Mrs. White. We are so happy to have you here! Come on in!”

  I went in and sat in the chair she pulled out for me. She sat at her desk and woke up the computer with her mouse. I set my backpack in my lap and laid my papers in the chair next to me.

  “I’m going to have one of the students show you around. Kind of like the buddy system, but not really, because, you know, this is high school.” She snickered. She pulled her glasses back down to her nose and stared at her computer.

  “Ah, here’s Jane. She’s a sweetie. You’ll just love her!” She picked up her phone, and I heard the intercom click on. Mrs. White’s voice rang out through the building. “Jane Beck, please report to the counselor’s office.” She repeated the same sentence before hanging up.

  We waited a few minutes until, a girl who I assumed was Jane, came bouncing into Mrs. White’s office. She smiled at me and then looked at Mrs. White. “Yes, ma’am?”

  “Jane, this is the new student I was talking to you about. Is it still okay for you to show her around today? Maybe let her eat lunch with you, so she doesn’t have to go through the big scary lunch room alone?”

  Jane tucked her shoulder length red hair behind her ears and smiled. She was about to say something, but I interrupted her.

  “Oh, she doesn’t have to do—”

  Jane cut me off. “No big deal, girl! Of course you can eat lunch with me and my friends. I can’t imagine how nervous you must be.”

  “Thank you.” I smiled and stood, putting my backpack on and picking up my papers.

  Jane took my schedule from my hands and smiled. “Looks like we have a few classes together, but for the ones we don’t, I can still show you to them.”

  “I put her locker next to yours, Jane.” Mrs. White smiled at the both of us.

  Jane nodded and then motioned for me. We made our way into the hall, and I followed while she talked. She talked about teachers that I’d like and ones that I wouldn’t. She talked about football (of course) and how it’s pretty much a religion here. I didn’t mention being from the rival town, but I was sure that’d come out soon enough.

  She talked about the student lounge and how only the smarty pants kids got to eat in there. She was a smarty pants, but so was I, so my grades were good enough to be able to eat in there. I wondered what was so special about it, but my curiosity was put t
o rest when Jane said it had vending machines and chocolate.

  She rambled on and on about other things that I stopped paying attention to. I just looked at my surroundings and wondered why the school was built like a huge Tic-Tac-Toe grid with a library in the center.

  I stopped walking when Jane did. “Do you have any questions, Newbie?” She smiled.

  I shook my head. “Not yet, but I’m sure I will.”

  She held her hand out toward the room we were standing by. “This is your first class. History first thing in the morning? Yuck. You have fun with that.”

  I laughed. “See you in second period?”

  “Yup! I’ll meet you here, so we can walk together.”

  “Thanks so much.”

  She nodded and then went toward her own class.

  I was the first student in. The bell hadn’t even rung yet. The teacher was sitting behind his desk, looking at a book. My feet made a shuffling sound, and it caused him to look up. He smiled.

  “Hello. You must be the newcomer. Elenore?”

  “Elena, but everyone calls me Ellie.” I looked to my left and right. “Where should I sit?”

  “I don’t have assigned seats. Anywhere will be fine.”

  I found a seat in the row farthest left and in the center. I put the straps of my backpack around the back of my chair and took out a notebook and pen. The teacher walked over and placed a large history book in front of me.

  “My name is Mr. Stuart, but all of my students call me Stu.”

  “Thank you.”

  “For the book? You’re funny, Ellie.”

  I looked at the gray-haired man oddly. I didn’t get why what I said was funny. I was just thanking him for his hospitality, but whatever. The bell rang and, within moments, the halls were filled with laughter and loud voices.

  Nervous butterflies that weren’t in me before now fluttered everywhere. I had to interact with people I didn’t know. Normally, this was something I was good at, but truth was I’d changed. I wasn’t as good as I had once been since my world had flip-flopped, and these people were going to hate me. I liked blue and white. Not red and black.