Make Me Better

I had to keep sneaking around with Frank since my dad was still being an arrogant idiot. To be totally honest, it was getting really tiring. Frank and I would spend less and less time together which annoyed me but I knew that I couldn't ask my dad to go out because he would catch on. So, Frank usually came over around the time would go to sleep. We talked in hushed tones while laying in my bed in complete darkness. We would hang out at school, but it just wasn't the same.

Jenna would always try and talk to me when she would get the chance but I learned to shut her out completely. I also had to deal with my random classmates asking me if Frank really got Jenna pregnant. It was harder to ignore them. I usually stayed quiet and didn't bother to answer but sometimes I would snap and tell them that they needed to mind their own business. Luckily, we had just gotten off on winter break. I kissed Frank quickly before I headed out the school, my dad was supposed to pick me up, so the last thing I wanted was to walk out with Frank and have him cause a scene. To surprise my dad's car wasn't waiting on the curb, instead it was my mom's car. I sighed in satisfaction, I hated having to ride home with my dad. Mom greeted me happily and I returned the happy smile. Her stomach had gotten rounder, much more noticeable now.

"So, your father tells me that you two aren't getting along." She gave me a sad glance before pulling out the school parking lot.

"It's all his fault!" I exclaimed, "He won't hear me out."

"So, Frank didn't get that girl pregnant?" I was a bit taken aback that she knew but I got over it quickly,

"Did he tell you?" I asked, she nodded.

"No, Frank didn't even have sex with her."

She sighed, "And you believe him?"

"I do." I nodded.

"Well, then. I'm sorry, honey. I'll try and talk to your father about it since I don't think it's fair that he's keeping you from Frank."

"Okay, thanks." We drove to my grandma's house, which I was grateful for because being confined in a house with my dad was the most life draining thing ever. As usual my grandma was dressed as her hippy self. A flower in her hair, and a white top matched with a long weird colored skirt.

"Olive, honey." She greeted, taking the flower out her hair to put it into my wavy locks. I smiled as I pulled her into a hug. She forced me to eat something, muttering something about my dad no being capable to feed a growing girl. I laughed a bit and I looked around the dining room, expecting to see my mom, but she was nowhere in my sight. I could hear her faint voice from somewhere in the living room.

"Where's your mother?" Grandma asked, pushing a plate of spaghetti and meatballs towards me. I shrugged, reaching over to grab a fork and napkin. My grandma was quiet as she sat opposite of me. I couldn't think of anything to say, but I really wanted to since we could clearly hear my mom's conversation. She was talking on the phone, but I wasn't sure on who she was talking to. Quickly and out of nowhere, my mom snapped loudly, causing me to play with my food awkwardly. My grandma shot me a smile,

"I'll be right back, honey. Finish your food." She left the room and I knew she went to go try and figure out why my mom was so upset. They were both gone for a couple moments, I wanted to go listen to their conversation but I then I'd look like a nosey idiot. I finished my food and I decided to walk into the living room. I stood slightly hidden as my grandma spoke in an angry manner.

"So what? He's getting out because someone paid the bail? He hit you, Ellen! While you were pregnant, he doesn't deserve to get out of-"

"Olive." My mom said quickly, cutting off my grandma.

All I could mutter was a , "Hi." My mom smiled at me and I looked over her face, instantly knowing that she had been crying. I wanted to ask what was going on but before I could mutter a word the doorbell rang, leaving me in confusion.

"Get the door, please." My grandma said, motioning towards me. I nodded and stood on my tiptoes to look into the peephole. It was my dad. I sighed angrily, I didn't want to go home with him. I opened the door slowly, making sure to have a scowl on my face when he looked at me.

"Olive." He said. I ignored him and turned around, walking back into the living room.

"Hey, just came over to pick the thing up," He muttered, I scoffed at his choice of words. He looked directly at my mom and then at me, "Hey, what's wrong?" My mom only sniffled. My grandma had to explain since my mom was too shook up to even mutter a word, apparently the guy she cheated on my dad with, the guy who was abusive, was getting out of jail because one of his family members paid the entire bail.

"But don't you have to go to court?" I asked, looking up at my dad. He nodded slightly,

"You can press charges, he might not be in jail but you have a right to get a restraining order against him. But seeing that you're pregnant and...." My dad coughed, looking uncomfortable," that it might be his baby, it might be a harder process."

"He didn't want the baby." I interjected, "Therefore, there shouldn't be a problem with getting a restraining order against the asshole."

"Olive!" My grandma snapped. I mumbled a sorry and decided that I should leave the talking to the 'adults'. After countless minutes of discussing the problem, my mom, dad, and grandma, decided that getting a restraining order would be the best ordeal. My grandma left her room, she was going to call mom's lawyer and set everything up. During the last half of their conversation, I was stuck playing solitaire on my phone. My mom's soft laughed snapped me out of my card playing trance. I glanced at her slightly,

"Loosen up, she said he didn't do it." My mom said, looking up at my father, who had a hard expression on his face.

"Yeah!" I exclaimed, as I figured out that my mom was talking about Frank and I , " Frank didn't sleep with her."

"And why do you believe him, huh?" My dad questioned, an eyebrow quirked. I sighed, we were going around in circles. I had explained this over and over.

"I just do, because I know Frank wouldn't lie to me."

"Everyone lies, Olive. Get that through your little head." His tone annoyed, as if I had said the most stupidest thing ever.

"Be nice." My mom said, glaring slightly at my father. He sighed and shook his head, "I just want what's best for you, kid. And that kid is not good for you."

"But he is." I contradicted.

"Leave them be, they're only teenagers. if Olive believes Frank, then so do I. You should too." My mom said, smiling brightly over at me. I smiled back just as bright. At least she was trying to help me out.

"That's the thing, he's a teenager. Teenage boys are filled with thoughts of having sex and-"

"Ew. Dad, no. " I shook my head, causing my mom to laugh.

"God dammit, Ellen!" My dad groaned, looking fiercely at my mother. "Fine, spend time with your boyfriend. If he breaks your heart, don't come crying to me."

"Yay!" I smiled, "And don't worry, I won't." My mom and I exchanged high fives while my dad muttered under his breath about having an uncontrollable teenage daughter.