Occasionally, my mother takes her motherly duties seriously. It must have been a slow news day. "Who did this to you?" she asked, shoving the phone in my face again. "Mum, your screen's off. I can't see what you're showing me." "Oh," she took a few minutes to open her phone and then showed me the email attachment. I already knew what she was about to show me. It had become the most popular photo I've ever taken. The photo. $1-bill-in-my-bra photo. Clearly, the principal did not approve. "Isn't that awkward for the principal to have as a file on his phone?" I said. I thought it was a fair question. "Was it Luke? Did he do this to you?" my mother screamed, "Was this a setup? I knew hanging out with that gang wouldn't be good for you. His parents look down on us, you know!" I didn't expect her to react this way. She threw her briefcase onto the couch and took off her heels. When it comes to my performance at school, she is kind of serious. Ish. "I'm going to have a word with their parents. Those boys think they can mess with anyone-" "Mum, please. It's not what you think." "Not what I think! Look what they have done to you! That's why they were hanging out with you. Think of your reputation. Everyone will see this photo!" "But I did it. I put the posters up." "No. No! Whatever led you to this was influenced by them," she went to the front door and pushed it open. I hurried after her as she walked across the street. I knew that Luke was at his basketball game and I was sure Mr Dawson was with him. But his mother was home, and I didn't want to create another scene at the Dawson house. The last one was more than enough. "Mum! Please stop!" I stood in her way. She pushed me. A motorbike geared up on the corner of the street. Jake saw us in the middle of the street, and took his foot off the accelerator. My mother was barefoot and yelling at me. I was close to tears. He stopped and took his helmet off. He gave me a concerned look and I shook my head, not wanting him to intervene. My mum saw him and pointed, "That Dawson family looks down on everyone else like we're dirt. When your father left, they blamed me. They said I was the wreck that drove him away." My mother started to cry. I wasn't sure what was happening. All I knew was that this wasn't just about the photo. Sometimes, I fail to realize the life my mother had before us... and the life she has now struggling to raise two daughters by herself. I'll never understand how difficult it was for her to handle. I wrapped my arm around my mother's shoulder and took the phone out of her hand. She had suddenly gone weak. I escorted her home. The door closed shut behind us. "Pour me a martini," she said. "No, mum. Let me take you to bed." It was the first time in my life that I took control. I had spent all day looking for Jake, and just when I saw him, I had to walk away. I didn't regret it. Family comes first. That night I heard the sound of cars pulling up on our street. Loud music and laughter blared out of the vehicles. "Luke! You killed it today!" "Bye Luke! Call me!!" He must have won the basketball game tonight. Another trophy for the golden boy. Eventually, the cars drove off and the sound died down. Our street became quiet once more. I lay under my covers and tried to close my eyes. A few minutes later, my phone beeped. Are you awake? I want to talk to you - Luke I didn't answer. A couple minutes later, he sent another text. Your lights are on. Come on Minnie, let's talk. About today and yesterday - Luke So much had happened. Our kiss, the fight at his parents' house, the photo. All in 24 hours... I'm tired, Luke. Sorry - Millie I turned the switch and my bedroom was covered in darkness. It's ironic to me that the boy most famous for hurting girls, is the one who is always helping me. It's confusing. I've been mistreated and hurt so much in the past. I'm trying to find my way and my voice. Being with Luke has brought a lot of drama... but adventure too. I was emotionally drained from it all. I needed a time out. I forced myself to not think about Luke. I thought about him way too much. I turned in my bed and fluffed up the pillow. Come on, sleep. I started to imagine garden gnomes at a garden party.... and soon drifted off to sleep. I was asleep when my phone buzzed with one more text. The screen lit up. Our kiss was unforgettable - Luke I regret not answering my phone that night. Luke left for an away game the next day and I wouldn't see him for a couple more days. I wanted to speak with Jake first, because every time I spoke to Luke, I thought about how open-ended I had left things with his brother. They clearly had issues. I know Jake and I were not dating. But we agreed to go on a date and my antics had blown our date in a rude way. It wasn't fair to Jake. Luke can make me feel so many things that I forget to be rational. He takes rational and throws it out of the window. Now I had messed up both friendships and been hypocritical in the process. Not to mention that I now actually had to read the play for English Lit... instead of seeing it at the theater. On Wednesday, I arrived at school with only half a chapter read. But my day was completely derailed when I witnessed the boys about to do something unthinkable.... Austin, Jake and Chad stood in the middle of the school hallway. They waited for the crowds to form before they unraveled the posters in their hands. I was part of the crowd, lost within the sea of phones and whispers. I didn't know what they were doing. Everyone clamored for a view of the image. The boys raised it high and pressed it against the locker walls, pasting it for the entire school to see. Many gasped. Austin, Jake and Chad looked attractive together, like some new boy-band I would pay to watch breathe. They must have rehearsed their movements because they pulled it off seamlessly and simultaneously. All three of them slapped the sticky poster against lockers and stepped aside. The crowd swarmed around it. It was a picture of Luke, shirtless, with a one-dollar bill folded into his black boxers. They peaked out over his blue jeans. His eyes were closed, pretending to sleep, and the background was pitch black. On his chest was the number 5. And on the corner of the image were the words: $1 Entry. Jake saw me through the crowd. "Hey," Jake muttered as he approached me, "My brother and I don't get along, but we have your back." "What d'you mean?" I asked, somewhat speechless, "It isn't over?" "It hasn't even started," he winked, "Wait until you see my photo." We stepped further out of the way as more of the school crowded around the three lockers. The basketball team had many more copies they would put up today. "Jake? Thank you. I don't deserve this support," I said, and then took a deep breath, "Can we talk later? About everything?" "Sure."