My phone buzzed on the table. I didn't check to see who texted. "Yes," she pulled a chair and sat between us, "Teenage love is fickle. It's an image of sickly-sweet perfection or that unhealthy love-hate thing. When you live with someone for years, that's when you experience true partnership. It's hard. You'll complain about each other, you'll go through phases of being bored by each other, unattracted to each other and that's the reality. You don't give up at the first fight. Some fights can be ugly and the ruts-" "OK, we get it. Being an adult sucks, but what does that have to do with us?" Cearra asked. The look Cearra's mom gave her made her drop the attitude. Cearra's mom continued, "I saw the boy that Millie is dating. He's a dish, I will admit. And I can see how a boy like that can feel like your whole entire world. But take it easy. Not being together is not the end of the world. I can promise you that." My phone buzzed again. Cearra's mom yelled out to her kids, "Dinner's ready!" and the sibling storm came crashing down on us again. I took the chance to check my phone, hoping it was Luke. But it was his brother. Jake: Hey, I'm performing a new song tomorrow and I'd love for you to come "Is it him?" Cearra asked excitedly. "No, it's Jake," I said, surprised by his text, "Want to come to his show tomorrow?" She nodded excitedly but her mother interrupted, "Cearra can't make it. My daughter is grounded until graduation." ** ~Austin's POV~ We dropped Gloria off at her home before arriving back at ours. Mom was so angry at me that I could see her doctor brain thinking of all the ways she could surgically remove my free will. We arrived home. She dropped her bag on the table and pointed at me to stay in the room until she finished speaking to my dad. "Honey, I have to go back to the hospital now so please come home as soon as you can," she spoke to the phone, "You need to talk to him as well. This behavior is getting out of control." My dad said something back and after a few mushy words to each other, they hung up. I was looking at my phone while I waited for her to get off hers. "Austin," she said with that big look of disappointment on her face, "What's going on with you? Really, is there anything I can help with?" "I'm fine." She thinks I'm insane. Her buzzer beeped again, and she sighed, "I feel like a terrible mom for not staying here his evening, but I need to go back to the hospital. I'm on call. Don't leave the house. Stay here until your father comes home and we'll decide how to handle this. You are in major trouble, young man." "OK." "I'll see you later tonight," she said, grabbing a cookie from the tray that Gloria must've baked today. She said a muffled goodbye and headed out the door, "You're grounded, remember that. Bye!" The door shut. I waited ten seconds before I grabbed my car keys and walked out. ** It was getting dark outside. I walked down the front lawn and headed to my car, when I saw a black jeep wrangler turn on my street corner. What a surprise. I left my car door open and walked out onto the middle of the street. The jeep slowed and Luke raised his middle finger at me for blocking the street. "Wrong address," I told him, patting the hood of his car. "She's at Cearra's," he answered back, "You're my next option." "Romantic," I said and let him drive up to the curb. The music turned off and he got out of his car. I went to shut the door to my own, keeping the keys in hand. It was hard to know if he wanted to forget about everything or talk about everything. This time, we'd gotten so close to expelled. A suspension was not a bad outcome. Sometimes I think Luke has nerves of steel lying like that. "Want to go in?" I offered, nodding up at the house. "Were you heading somewhere?" "It's all good," I shrugged, "Today was f*cked. I needed to take the edge off." He nodded, but didn't say anything more. So, after a second, I led the way back up to the house. I'd forgotten to turn the lights off and, when we got inside, he went to the couch. I grabbed a couple cookies from Gloria's tray. I didn't offer Luke one because I knew he wouldn't take it. He's never had a sweet tooth. I dropped on the other end of the couch and ate my cookie while I waited for him to speak. He took his time. He was staring down at his sneakers. Ultraboosts. Nice. When Luke finally spoke up, his voice was coarse, "I'm struggling, man." "I can tell," I said, eating the second cookie. I should've brought the whole tray. "Did Julia tell you something about the blackmail?" I asked, trying to guess what was going on. He sat back and pressed a hand against the back of his neck. "I'm going to need a drink."