Mary tipped her head back as she parked her car out front of the trailer, swallowing back more medication to try and rid herself of the dull ache in her head that was granted to her from drinking too much cheep beer.

            Taking the keys out the car, Mary got out, her still slightly damp boots sinking into the mud before suddenly the door to the trailer was being flung open and her father stormed out, "Where the hell have you been?" He yelled, the cigarette in his mouth bopping up and down.

            Mary rubbed at her temple with one hand, holding up the other one as she squeezed her eyes shut, "Not so loud," She mumbled as Jim stormed down to where she stood, his hands on his hips and neck red from high blood pressure, "My heads about to explode." She stated.

            Jim pointed his finger at his daughter, "You're going to wish it explodes once I'm doing with you! Where the hell have you been? I've been up all night!" He shouted and Mary stared at him blankly, her brows pulled downwards.

             "What? Steve's. You knew that, we spoke about it last night —"

           "Yeah, I also remember saying that I wanted you home by el-ev-en!" Jim was yelling again, putting emphasis on the time he had wanted her home at and Mary groaned, throwing her head back in realisation, "Yeah, that's right. You suddenly remember? I have been worried about you all night!" He continued to shout.

          "Dad, I was at Steve's," Mary stated flatly, "It got pretty late and I didn't want to drive home so I just stayed." She said with a shrug but Jim laughed in disbelief, knowing his daughter better than her lies.

             "Meaning, you drank way too much and passed out, right?" Mary looked away, sliding her hands into her back pockets, "Answer me, Mary!" He suddenly yelled again, making her head snap back up to him, tears burning in her eyes.

            "You really wanna know the juicy details, dad?" She asked him bitterly, walking closer, "Charlie dumped me last night! So sure, you were right, he was a douchebag all along! Are you happy? Are you satisfied?" She rushed out bitterly and Jim stared at her with his mouth open before he sighed.

            He shifted the weight between his feet, "Mary, I stayed up all night — all night," He said as she stared straight ahead, "You could have called. I could have came to get you, I could have —"

            "Comforted me? Please, you and I both know you don't know how to do that." She said before pushing by him and heading into the trailer, slamming the door shut and leaving her father outside with nothing but the cold and the dying out cigarette in his hand.

            Mary stormed to her room, taking a moment to look at the polaroids of her and Charlie before she shook her head, grabbing them from the wall and pulling them off before throwing them to the floor.

           Noticing her father coming down the hallway, she stormed to her door before slamming it shut in his face and sliding down it, burying her face in her hands out of frustration,

       There were a long moment of silence, only Mary's small sniffles could be heard before her father spoke again, "I'll make pancakes." Jim called in and Mary heard his footsteps leave the hallway and she quickly perked up.

          "Thank you!" She called out and she heard her father's footsteps stop for a brief moment. She may not have said the actual word, but Jim understood it was his daughters way of saying sorry and he accepted it. And then he continued his way down the hallway with a small smile on his lips.

                                ———

         Upon arriving in the dining hall during lunch after a hectic morning in school, Mary had expected to see the usual crowd sitting at her table — including Charlie, whom she hadn't had a class with all day to see if he had actually shown up to school.

             But as she walked away from the lunch line, holding a tray full of macaroni and cheese she had came to a halt upon noticing Nancy Wheeler sitting in her set, right beside Steve whom had his arm draped over her shoulder.

             Mary felt angry. She wasn't sure what exactly it was. Maybe it were because Mr Sanders had stopped her in the hallway earlier in the day to tell her she needed to pay more attention in class otherwise she would be failing biology. Maybe it were the fact her heart had been broken and crushed into a million pieces the night before. Or maybe it were just her murderous hangover.

           But either way, she found herself storming towards her table. Her hips swayed with each long step, freshman ogling at her as they wondered what it were like to be with a girl such a Mary Hopper — that was more woman than girl, in fact, her mother always said she had developed like a Page 3 model.

             Mary's arrival was announced when she dropped the tray onto the table across from Nancy and Steve and beside Carol and Tommy. The group seemed surprised by her presence and were startled by the loud bang she had caused upon slamming the tray down.

                Nancy looked to Steve, shrinking into him further, silently asking him if she should say something with her eyes. Steve shook his head, but still Nancy opened her mouth, "Mary, are you —"

            The girl held her hand up, silencing the oldest Wheeler's words whom pursed her lips, "Please don't even open your mouth and speak words towards me." She said in a dull tone, picking up the fork and twisting it in her hand

            Silence lapsed over the table as Mary glared at her food and no one knew quite where to look until Nancy was speaking again, "Tommy, Carol — did either of you's see Barb last night before you's left?" She asked, looking between the couple whom stared blankly at her.

             "I seriously have no idea who you're talking about." Tommy said and Mary rolled her eyes, not bothering to eat her food but instead swirled it around the plate although the mere smell made her feel physically sick.

             "Come on, don't be an ass, man." Steve groaned and Mary looked up, her gaze momentarily meeting his with a firm glare he frowned in confusion at. It were as if suddenly, Steve were Nancy's little bitch — even though he weren't aware of it, Mary could spot it a mile off.

           "Did you see her leave last night or not?"

            "No, she was gone when we left. Probably couldn't deal with all the moaning — Oh, Steve! Oh, Steve!" Tommy exclaimed, acting similar to the way Mary had a few days back whilst teasing Steve atop of his car. Although it were different that time.

             As Carol joined in, the pair dramatically made moaning noises loud enough for the whole cafeteria to hear and Mary looked up from her food, her eyes settled on Steve as she watched his face. He was blushing slightly — only a little, you wouldn't even realise if you didn't know him. And Mary knew him all too well. He had slept with Nancy Wheeler.

           Steve suddenly feeling her gaze on him turned his head, his eyes locking on hers and he opened and closed his mouth, realising he hadn't actually told his best friend about the events the night before — and he usually always told her. Mary thought for sure that perfect little Nancy hadn't had sex with Steve — but she had.

             "Mary." He tried, but she was already tossing her fork onto her plate and getting out of her seat, storming away, her chest tight and emotions all over the place. Her boyfriend had dumped her and her best friend seemed to be too.

                             ———
        
        This chapter was so boring, I apologise! But boo! Steve and Mary's friendship is getting a letting rocky, agh!