“Of course not. You’d rather have a stolen soda than a meal I made for you.” She sighs and steps out of the car.
Truthfully, the trip to the police station ruined whatever appetite I had. I was hoping to drink a Red Bull on my way home from work and skip dinner entirely. I’m never going to fit into my Halloween costume if I keep eating Mom’s home-cooked meals; another thing I don’t appreciate. God, I can’t believe she doesn’t regret giving birth to me every single day.
Sometimes I wish I had just been a stain in her panties. My father certainly wishes that. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him that I wouldn’t even remember his face if I didn’t have a few pictures to remind me what he looks like.
Home sweet home. Room sweet room. My mom never bothers me when I’m in it anymore unless she’s calling me for dinner or needs something. It used to be the Marigold girls against the world. Now we might as well be strangers.
I dig my phone out of my purse once my door is closed and text the only friend I have left in my hometown—Sarah Carson.
Ainsley: So, I just got back from the police station.
Sarah: What the hell did you do this time?
Ainsley: Shoplifting…
Sarah: Seriously? Why?
Ainsley: I don’t know. I just wanted a Red Bull.
Sarah: You need Jesus.
Ainsley: I think he gave up on me a long time ago. Can you text me the address for the party this weekend? I thought I saved it in my phone, but I can’t find it.
Sarah: Yep. 144 Fuller Avenue. It’s an office building. You can’t miss it.
Ainsley: You sure about this? We’re not going to know anyone there.
Sarah: That’s the point. Everyone will be wearing costumes. Trust me, my dad used to work for the company, and he said the Halloween parties are always packed. You just tried to shoplift a Red Bull. Are you really turning down an open bar?
Ainsley: No…
Sarah: That’s what I thought.
It will be nice to get out of this small town for the weekend. Free drinks are just a bonus. The city isn’t that far away. It’s a short enough drive to commute, but Sarah decided to get a hotel room not far from where the party is being held.
This is something of a fuck you to the company her father used to work for. He got fired, probably for good reason considering what I know about him, but Sarah swears it wasn’t his fault. She plans to vandalize his old boss’ office while we’re there.
There’s a reason we’re friends. On any other day, Sarah would have been right beside me in that gas station. I might have convinced her to snatch a Monster drink while I tried to walk out with a Red Bull, or she would have come up with something that got us into a lot more trouble. We enjoy being each other’s bad influence.
Now I just have to make sure I fit into my Halloween costume.
It’s not like I can afford a new one before the weekend.
“Ainsley, please tell me you’re not leaving the house in that.” My mother shakes her head in obvious disapproval when she sees my Halloween costume.
“What’s wrong with it?” I shrug and wink at her. “Too sexy for you?”
“Have some respect for yourself.” She sighs. “I can practically see your panties, and what the hell are you supposed to be anyway? A cheerleader? You didn’t even do that in high school.”
“I’m going to be a zombie cheerleader. I just haven’t done my makeup yet.” I smile. “Then again, all of the cheerleaders I knew were already zombies, so maybe I don’t even need makeup…”
“Do whatever you want to do, Ainsley. You never listen to me anyway.” She turns around to the stove and flips a knob; she’s slaving away on another meal I won’t even eat.
I expected her to have more to say about my costume, but I’m not going to argue if I can get out of the house without having to fight with her over it. She did let the reins go quite a bit when I turned eighteen. For some reason I thought I’d be one of those kids who had her mom’s thumb on her until she moved out of the house. Maybe I just wore her down.
There’s no time to dwell on it. I need to meet up with Sarah, and I’m already running late. That’s why I haven’t bothered with my makeup yet.
Sarah and I were originally going to ride together, but she’s planning to go see her grandmother next week, and it’s faster to get there from the city than drive all the way back here. That’s the main reason for the hotel room, although neither of us are eager to risk a DUI on Halloween night. The cops in our town are always out in full force on the holidays—especially at the end of the month when they’re trying to meet their ticket quota.