Page 55 of Mine

Chapter Nineteen

GRETCHEN

I knew my parents would ground me.

In fact, I thought they would murder me; so grounded was an improvement.

I was eighteen, and I’d spent the night away from home without touching base with my parents once. In hindsight, I could’ve sent a text; I was so wrapped up in Cal I didn’t think of them, and I was in serious shit.

Mom was puce, her eyes wide as she gestured to me with rage.“She is changing, Ted. Trust me, I was her age once. This is not a good sign,” mom glared at me. “Staying out all night, without thinking to tell us where she was? She barely sees her friends— there’s some new boy called Cal she is hanging around with—”

“Leave Cal out of it,” I interrupted, as my dad raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Don’t you understand how scared we were? We didn’t know if something had happened to you. We woke up this morning to see your bed empty; all your things gone. Then you walk in wearing the clothes you wore yesterday?” He murmurs, his voice full of hurt. “What’s happening, Gretchen?”

“You wouldn’t understand,” I whispered as my Mom folded her arms, narrowing her eyes.

“Actually, I think I might. Luke came over last night to see you.”

I looked up in shock.

“What?”

“He’s worried about you. So are we, Gretchen. Luke said this boy is his cousin. He said his last school expelled him for fighting and that he skips school regularly.”

She cursed under her breath; her hand rubbing her temples, as my Dad’s mouth opens then closes as he stares at me with disappointment.

A surge of hatred towards Luke zipped through my body, knowing that he did this on purpose to fuck me over.

“GoodGod, Gretchen, I absolutely forbid you to see him anymore. What were you thinking?!” my Dad demanded, his eyes flashing with anger.

I cried then, huge sobs that racked my body at his thunderous tone.

“Go to your room, Gretchen, you’re grounded. Completely. Until you are out of college.” He yelled, walking away from us.

My mother was furious, avoiding my desperate gaze.

I grabbed my bag and ran up the stairs to my room, my chest heaving with the thought of not seeing Cal anymore. I had to calm down, but I just couldn’t, I was dizzy and nauseous, my heart rate going through the roof as I tried to breathe normally.

Why is Luke doing this to us?

So he was hurting; but he had his tongue down Krystal’s throat earlier, so it couldn’t be that bad.

My door opened and my father stood in the doorway, disappointment etched on his face. His jaw clenched as he studied me. “Give me your phone and your laptop. I will not have you communicating with him. We’ll take you to school and drop you off from now on. The only way you could see him would be at school, and by the sounds of that, he doesn’t go,” he shook his head in disbelief. “This is for your own good.”

I threw myself onto my bed as I sobbed into my pillow, as my father disconnected my laptop and left my room quietly.

Why are my parents so controlling and involved?

I couldn’t wait until I could leave and do whatever I pleased.

Until then, how was I going to cope?

Cals POV

It had begun.

A letter addressed toLeonardo Capearrived today.