Free Young Annabelle by Sarah Tork

mulligan.
    But once we were seated in the restaurant,
the smart brain cells didn’t stick around, not where my mother was
concerned anyway.
    “Please, Annabelle, get diet cola not
regular,” Mom begged in front of our waitress. “Please for
Mommy!”
    I stared at her and shook my head. She was
crazy. Did she not understand the concept of a pass day? We were at
an Italian restaurant where my favorite food, spaghetti and
meatballs, was their specialty. I hadn’t had spaghetti in a month
and a half!
    Calories at home can be
monitored more easily than at a restaurant! My mind mimicked in Mom’s voice, repeating
what she had said when I started this diet.
    I ignored her plea and ordered: “I want
a regular cola,
please.”
    Mom let out an exasperated breath and
dramatically flipped open her menu, scanning the drink selection
for herself.
    “Since a certain someone doesn’t want to make
the healthy decision, I’ll go ahead a get that diet cola. Maybe
she’ll change her mind later,” Mom told the waitress, letting out a
little giggle as if to say, ‘Oh this girl, she’s fat and doesn’t
know dieting should be a way of life for her. Because she’s fat.
Oh, did I forget to mention she’s fat? That’s because she’s fat,
and fat people shouldn’t drink regular cola, it’ll only make them
fatter!’
    Wow, she has no
limits.
    Mom had no problem acting like a fool in
public just to make her point.
    To put it simply: dinner was a disaster. But
I didn’t care. I got to eat spaghetti with meatballs for the first
time in nearly two months! If I had to sit through my mother
hounding me in front of an entire restaurant about getting diet
cola, just to get my favorite meal in the entire world, then I’d
happily do it again. But next time I’d pack earplugs.
    When we got home, I went to my room to see if
my cell phone was finished charging. I turned it on and it beeped
several times, telling me I’d received five text messages while I
was gone.
    Who sent me messages?
    TIGER sent you a message! (4)
    Jenna sent you a message! (1)
    I felt like I was about to have a mini heart
attack when I saw ‘Tiger’ on my screen. I was so confused. I’d told
myself that I was no longer interested in that douche – who dared
to flirt with that attention-whore Donna right in front of me, as
if I didn’t exist. He was supposed to be ‘so whatever!’ from now
on.
    My body dared to disagree with my mind. It
shivered in anticipation of discovering what he wrote to me. I
resisted the urge and tapped on Jenna’s message first. Her text was
probably going to be funny and I needed funny and lightheartedness
before delving into more pressing matters that concerned my
sanity.
    From: Jenna
    My dad’s kur-azy! He ordered special
t-shirts for my swim meets. Jenna’s Dad, arrow pointing up. And 1
for mom 2! Think I can get away with telling everyone we’re not
related? Bitch you better answer me! Laters
    Okay, that didn’t exactly help. In fact, it
made me depressed knowing that her parents cared enough about her
to get lame t-shirts made. They were proud of their daughter and
weren’t afraid to show it. Maybe Mom would get custom shirts made
if I managed to lose twenty-five pounds – my first achievement.
    ‘ My daughter lost twenty-five pounds and
I’m so proud!’
    I laughed, thinking about my mom walking
around the neighborhood proudly sporting the t-shirt, a huge grin
on her face.
    That feels better!
    I had a new smile on my face that I
desperately needed before diving into James’ texts. I tapped on his
name. Four messages popped up, one after the other.
    From: TIGER 6:00pm
    Hey you there?
    That’s it? Yes I’m here! But I’m gonna
need a bit more than that if you want me to text back,
DOUCHE!
    From: TIGER 6:28pm
    R u ignoring me? Because of Donna? Fireball,
you know it wasn’t like that!
    I shook my head. Wrong again.
    First of all, it wasn’t entirely about Donna; second of all,
you’re a spoiled little brat who thinks his