Everyone Talks

6 - Our Lips are Sealed

Nellie winced as she slammed the door to Charlie's truck closed.

She was tired but thankfully not hungover. The only beer she had last night was the one at the party.

The three girls ended up staying up most of the night eating ice cream and devising different ways to take down CreekTalk and Sophia before passing out in Charlie's room.

Unfortunately, that wouldn't make what was about to go down any easier.

"May the odds be ever in your favor," Charlie called out the window.

Nellie glared at her before starting across the overgrown lawn to the front door. Charlie's truck roared off, leaving her to her fate. Once at the front door, Nellie closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them and walking inside.

The TV was on. Nellie thought about creeping to her room but figured it was best to get this over with. She squared her shoulders and walked past the kitchen and into the small living room at the back of the house.

Her dad was sitting in his recliner, sipping coffee while watching the news. Nellie came to a stop and stood behind the sofa, waiting. Daniel glanced at her and put his coffee mug down.

"Do ya know how worried I was?" he said, his voice deceptively soft.

"I told you where I was goin'. I was at Charlie's."

He narrowed his eyes at her as he stood.

"And I told you that ya needed to be home by curfew. Not to mention, ya turned yer damn phone off again."

"No one my age is home by 9:30 p.m.," Nellie replied. "That's barely enough time to get home after the game."

"Well, they should be. If they were, my job wouldn't be as hard as it is!"

"I was fine. We didn't do anythin' stupid, and we were home by a decent hour," Nellie scoffed. "Why can't you trust me?"

"Because ya haven't given me a reason to trust you," her father shouted.

"I haven't done anythin' that anyone else isn't doin'! It's not like I'm out gettin' drunk or doin' God knows what! I was just at my best friend's house!"

"Christ, Nellie!" Daniel looked away, rubbing his hand with his face.

He then looked over at her but didn't say anything. His jaw ticked, and something inside told her he really wanted to unleash on her right now. But for once, he didn't. Instead, he ground his teeth together as he glowered.

Nellie glared right back. It was the same argument they had every time he caught her sneaking out, or she missed her curfew. Sure, she probably should cut back on that, but it was the only way she could get out to spend time with her friends. To have some control over her life. And his rules really were getting ridiculous. If her father had his way, she'd never leave the house.

She wasn't sure why. Even he had to know that he couldn't protect her from everything. He couldn't protect her mother from cancer. Or from death. No one could.

"Give me yer phone."

Nellie's eyes widened, and she took a step back.

"No."

"Nellie Christine Castle. Yer grounded for the rest of the weekend. Give me yer goddamn phone, and do not leave this house until Monday mornin' unless I tell ya to," he seethed. "Or maybe I should take away somethin' that'll get it through your head just how serious I am about ya bein' home when I tell ya to." Nellie gulped. Newspaper. He wouldn't jeopardize her future like that, would he? "Bad shit happens to kids who are out that late at night. I can't protect ya if ya don't listen to me!"