"So did you get introuble when you got home?" I ask. She holds up her hand to tell me to hold on as she takes another bite out of the burger. She shakes her head horizontally, telling me no. She clears her throat.

"Nope, I got home just before my mom did. But Glen was being a friggen spaz, asking me why we left school early, why we’re suddenly friends now. If I like you."

"What do you mean?"

"We’re friends aren’t we?"
"Yeah, yeah, of course. I mean what do you mean if you like me? In what way?" I know I sound pushy but I’m dying to get a legit answer from her. I hate playing these mind games. Someone ends up getting hurt. I don’t want it to be me, and I espically don’t want it to be Spencer.

"Like..", she continues, "if I’m gay and like you more than a friend."

Now I’m afraid to ask anymore. I don’t want to sound nosy even though I really am.

"Oh, okay." Is all I can say.

"But he told my dad that I left school early, so I’m grounded. Good thing is that mom still doesn’t know." She says as she flashes me a smile.

"Wait, how can you be grounded without having your mom know? Don’t your parents ground you together? I wouldn’t personally know but that’s what the Brady Bunch did."

"Well," she explains, but before she does she takes a sip of her Coke, "my mom is going through the big change.."

"Oh, mentapause.." I cut in. She nods and chuckles.

"Ha, yes. Well every decision she makes is outrageous! Like Clay came home late from his date with Chelsea. He was only ten minutes pass curfew. My mom went ballistic and grounded him for a month! No phone, no internet, no going out. Poor guy barely has a life anyway, why put more on him, you know? And one time Glen went over his phone bill, but it was only an hour over. My mom grounded him from his cell phone for 6 months! Of course my dad secretly gave it back to him a week later. So if I did something worst than those things, she would probably ground me for two years! So my dad grounded me for a week. No phone, no internet, and no weekend."
"Jesus! Thank gawd I barely see my mom anymore. I can barely stand her now, I’d kill myself if I had to go through that with her!"