Page 75 of Intermission

“I don’t believe you.”

“Why should I be surprised?” I throw up my hands and try to move past her, but she holds out an arm to block my way. I let out a huff. “Seriously? Call Jenna. Ask her.”

“I’m not an idiot. I know how these things work. I’m sure you and that Noah arranged this whole thingwithJenna. He just forgot where he was supposed to pick you up.”

“That’s stupid. If we were trying to keep it from you, why would he comehereto pick me up?” I hate how guilty that makes me sound. Especially since, other than the pick-up location, thathadbeen our original plan for tonight.

I shake my head to send those thoughts on their way. Our plans changed.

“I knew he was coming here to talk to you. That’s why I gave him my code for the gate.”

Mom’s lips press together. She holds out her hands. “Keys. Phone. Now.”

“Urrrgh!” Frustration growls through my teeth.

“Hand them over. Now.”

“Fine.” I slap my keys into her hand and then pull my phone from my pocket and do the same, glad I had the forethought to delete all my text threads while Jenna and I were waiting for our breadsticks.

“You’re grounded.”

There’s no point in arguing. “For how long?”

“This time next week, we’ll reevaluate. If you can watch your attitude, maybe that will be long enough. If you can’t, the term will be extended.” Mom pockets my keys. “You’ll be riding the bus to school next week. I’ll have Gretchen come down to keep an eye onyou while your dad and I are in Chicago next weekend. If you toe the line, you may get some of your privileges reinstated when we return. In the meantime, you can plan to spend tomorrow cleaning out the garden shed.”

“Great. Am I excused now?”

“Yes. But I suggest you watch the sarcasm, young lady.”

Other than making a landline call to Jenna after Mom and Dad are asleep that night, asking her to text Noah and let him know I’m phoneless, I keep Mom’s restrictions to the letter for the prescribed week. No phone. No computer use, other than that needed for closely monitored homework time. No friends. No mouthing off.

When Gretchen arrives Friday afternoon, I’m actually relieved to see my sister.

“You know the rules,” Mom warns me as she and Dad get ready to leave.

Mom turns to Gretchen. Smiles. The difference in her expression is marked enough to nauseate anyone not on its receiving end. I never am.

“Thanks for coming, sweetie. I know you probably have better things to do than keep an eye on your little sister, but I really appreciate it. I hope Justin doesn’t mind giving you up for the weekend. He’s such a nice young man.”

“Yeah, he’s great. And it’s no problem, Mom.” Gretchen puts an arm around my shoulders. I do my best to keep from rolling my eyes. “We’re going to have some girl time. I thought maybe tonight we’d give each other pedicures and find a movie to stream or something.”

“Sounds good. We’ll be back around four or five on Sunday.”

They leave. I slump into a chair.

“Wanna order pizza?” Gretchen asks. “We can pick out a movie while we’re waiting for it to be delivered.”

“You were serious?”

“Uh,yeah.” She says it like we always pal around on the weekends she’s home.

Honestly, I’m a little freaked out right now.

Gretchen surprises me and sticks to the verbalized plan. After the pizza is delivered, we gather our pedicure supplies and head to thefamily room in the basement.

“Mermaid Scales?” I read the bottom of a bottle of iridescent blue/green nail polish. “This one’s kind of pretty.”

“Yeah. I like it. Hey, do you still have those nail pen things Mom put in your stocking last Christmas?”