Zoe's mom set down a plate of tacos in the middle of the table, and Zoe was about to grab one. But before she could, her mom set down a bowl of lettuce in front of her.
"Salad, again?"
"What?" her mom asked, getting defensive. "You always have salad for dinner."
This healthy eating is killing me, Zoe thought. Then she began to eat her "meal", all while feeling jealous, as she watched Jon and Mikey munch down tacos. Delicious tacos.
When she was almost done eating her salad (her mom let her eat crackers too - oh, hooray), she said "Can I go out tonight?"
"Zoe, you never have to ask permission to go out," her mom said.
I don't? Zoe thought.
"Just don't stay out too long. You have school tomorrow."
Zoe smiled. When she turned her attention back to the rest of her salad, she noticed Jon looking at her. For a moment, she could have sworn that he was smiling at her, but then as she looked in his direction, the smile went away.
"What?" she asked him.
"Nothing." He looked back down at his food and took another bite out of his taco.
She watched him a second more, then finished off her salad.
"Can I go?" Jon suddenly asked.
"Without dessert?" Zoe's mom asked.
He nodded and got permission. Zoe watched him leave the table and go upstairs.
"What's for dessert?" Zoe asked. They didn't have any the previous night and she was curious what a girl like Sarah (who has salad for dinner) would have for dessert.
"Well, for you, yogurt."
Ugh, Zoe thought. But, really, right now that sounded pretty good, considering that she just ate salad and a couple of crackers.
After dessert, Zoe and Mikey were excused from the table and Zoe walked upstairs to her room.
She was planning on going out that night, just mainly to be with her friends. And apparently, she had her mom's unconditional permission.
After entering her bedroom, she called Sabrina and asked if she wanted to go out.
"No fucking way. It's bad enough I have to wear these clothes. I'm not wearing them in public."
"You'll have to wear them at school tomorrow anyway," Zoe pointed out.
"Ugh," Sabrina groaned.
"And another thing. Try to use the word 'fuck' a little less often."
"Have you been talking to Amber?"
"No."
"She gave me hell about it."
"I think she's right."
"Who's side are you on here?" Sabrina asked. "Are you getting assimilated into that bitch's life? That's not really you, Zoe."
"Listen, I admit that there are parts of Sarah's life that are ... desirable. But I want to go back to being myself as much as you do."
"Yeah, well, it doesn't sound like it."
"Just play along, Sabrina. It doesn't mean you have to like it."
"Whatever," she said, then hung up. Zoe wondered if she was gonna be a problem.
