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— "So, Emma, cat got your tongue?" — Maddie drawled mockingly, folding her arms across her chest. — "I was starting to miss your little stories! Maybe you’ll tell us another one about how you were some kind of superhero? Or wait… are you actually an alien who landed on Earth in the body of a dumb girl?" — She burst into loud laughter, leaning forward as if searching for a reaction on Emma’s face. Her friends snickered behind her, eagerly echoing her taunts.
Mark felt his fists clench even tighter, his breathing becoming heavier. He was ready to explode, but Jessica stood firm beside him, her grip on his wrist keeping him from snapping.
— "Go to hell," — he hissed through clenched teeth, sharply pulling his hand free from Jessica’s grasp, but still taking a step back.
— "What was that you just mumbled?" — Maddie raised her eyebrows, her scornful gaze sweeping over him. — "Listen, Crazy Em, I can put you in your place and then go straight to the principal. My dad’s a school sponsor, you know. He can pressure your mom, and you’ll end up out of school with a pile of problems!" — She took a step forward, deliberately invading Emma’s personal space.
Before Mark could respond, something shifted. Maddie’s taunts suddenly ceased, and her gaze moved past him, over his shoulder. He turned and saw Monica walking down the street.
Her sharp figure in a tailored gray blazer was as poised as ever. She carried a grocery bag, her eyes focused straight ahead. But as soon as she noticed the group of girls, her pace slowed, and she stopped. Monica’s gaze darted from Mark to Maddie, lingering on Emma’s tense posture and tightly clenched fists. Her expression darkened immediately.
— "What’s going on here?" — Monica’s voice was cold and firm but not loud. She stepped closer, casting a quick glance at the other girls. — "Emma, I’m talking to you."
Catching Monica’s gaze, Mark felt everything inside him collapse. "Monica! Damn it, I forgot she was coming home early today. This is a disaster!" raced through his mind, instantly showing on his face. He knew any attempt to explain himself would only make things worse. Over the past few months, he had grown used to no one listening to his side of the story—especially Monica, who only saw him as a rebellious teenager incapable of self-control.
Maddie immediately put on an innocent face, straightening her shoulders.
— "We were just talking, Mrs. Livingston," — she began, her tone that of a perfect victim. — "I wanted to apologize for the last time, you remember, when Emma and I had that argument? But she started teasing me again…"
Monica’s sharp eyes lingered on her for a moment before turning to Mark. He stood there, his face taut with tension, fists clenched—more a sign of bad intentions than innocence in Monica’s eyes. "God, I’m so sick of this! Is this some kind of joke? How can she be so blind? Maddie’s lying right to her face, and I’m the one who gets blamed again!" The thought shot through Mark’s mind as he opened his mouth to retort, but Monica cut him off, raising her hand to silence him.
— "Emma, how many times have I told you to behave yourself?" — her voice was sharp, laced with disappointment. — "You’ve already been called to the principal’s office, and you were supposed to apologize to Maddie. Or did I miss something? Why is this still happening?"
— "Because she…" — Mark began, but his voice faltered. He knew too well that any attempt to defend himself would only reinforce Maddie’s version of events. He saw the triumphant glint in her eyes, the expectation of another dramatic scene, and it infuriated him even more.
— "Because she what?" — Monica interrupted, her brows furrowed. — "Because you decided to pick another fight? I’m tired of your behavior, Emma. You’re always stirring up trouble, and then everyone else has to clean up the mess. You act like some rough man instead of a proper young lady! "
"Maybe because I am a man, Monica! Because I’m Mark, damn it!" — the thought flared up in his head, but instead, he shouted:
— "She’s lying! Why do you believe her and not even try to understand me? It’s obvious she’s making it all up!" — His voice trembled with a mix of hurt and rage, but it sounded more like the helpless cry of a teenager than the frustration of an adult.
Monica’s frown deepened as she slowly scanned her daughter from head to toe. Her eyes stopped on the smoldering cigarette on the ground, and her expression turned even grimmer.
— "You… smoke?" — Monica’s voice dropped a tone, as if she were trying to contain her anger. She slowly closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again. The moment felt stretched, like a cheap slow-motion scene in a bad movie.
— "Breathe," — she commanded curtly, pointing to her own face.
Mark’s heart sank. His knees felt weak, and his palms grew slick with sweat. Behind him, he heard the barely suppressed giggles of the girls. He cast a quick glance at them but immediately met Monica’s stern, demanding gaze. A moment ago, he had felt at least a bit like Mark—a confident man ready to stand his ground. But Monica’s piercing look and sharp tone stripped away the illusion, leaving him feeling like the flustered girl she believed him to be.
— "I’m waiting. Breathe, Emma."
Unbelieving that he was being treated like a child, he clenched his teeth and took a short breath. The exhale was faint, but Monica caught the scent immediately. Her face hardened further, and his cheeks burned with humiliation and fear.
Monica grabbed Emma’s arm firmly and started pulling her toward the house. Her expression remained cold and focused, but the corners of her eyes betrayed disappointment. Mark gritted his teeth and followed her, his cheeks blazing with shame. He cast a fleeting glance back at Maddie. She raised her eyebrows, feigning innocence, and said with a sweet tone:
— "Mrs. Livingston, I really was trying to make peace with Emma. I hope one day she stops being so angry."
Monica shot Maddie a brief look but said nothing.
"Choke on it, you bitch," — Mark thought angrily, but said nothing aloud. He barely managed to contain himself as Monica dragged him away, Maddie’s mocking gaze burning into his back.