I come home bubbly. Olivia and I had gone to a nice Italian restaurant and had gotten so full on bread-sticks, we couldn't even think about eating. So we had just gotten a brownie to share so that they wouldn't get mad at us. After that, we went to Walmart and had a fight with shaving cream. The winner was never determined because the manager had threatened to kick us out, so we ran out of there as fast as we could, leaving the shaving cream behind. 

Her  mom had called saying dinner was ready, so we exchanged numbers and parted ways. I walked the whole seven miles home. 

I open the front door. 

My mom stands in the doorway, fire in her eyes. "How was school?"

She looks at my backpack free back and returns her gaze to my face again. 

I gulp.

She backhands me. I keep my fists at my side, even though I want to cradle my face and smack her back. 

"I said you were going to school. You directly disobeyed me."

"How'd you find out?" I ask meekly.

She glares at me. "Sarah called asking if you were sick."

I turned my gaze away. I had completely forgotten about Sarah (for once.) Why didn't I text her to tell her I wouldn't be at school?

"Give me the phone."

I didn't want to give it up. Not because bad things were on there. Because I wouldn't be able to talk to Olivia or Sarah and how would I survive without Pinterest memes?

But I pull it out of my pocket and set it into her waiting hand.

"Now get the hell out of my sight."