Today was a great day! I am so happy! I graduated with an excellent grade - ready for college - and I got a date tonight! I finally gathered the courage to ask my crush - Isabella, a.k.a. Izzie- out for a movie. 18 years spent on this earth, and I finally did it!

Mom doesn't know about my date, and I'd prefer not to tell her. I planned to have an early dinner with her then leave the house for Izzie!

As my mom and I sat around the table, I have nervously peeked at the clock: 3 pm. I wanted to get out by 4, so I had enough time to buy flowers.

"What are you doing, Bel? You are acting weird." Mom got suspicious; she had probably noticed my leg shaking or my eyes shifting left and right too quickly.

"Oh, the school has a post-graduation get-together around 4 pm. Is it okay if I go?" I asked with the most innocent voice I could.

"That is okay, darling. This is your day after all." She smiled, crisis averted! "I have also made plans. I have a visitor coming over. You will meet her before you leave."

"Uh," I acknowledged with a mouth full of pasta. I tried eating as fast as I could. I was about to finish the meal when the doorbell rang. It was 3:30 pm.

"Damn, mom's guest is here too early. I might need to do some introductions and some boring chit-chat with them." I thought to myself. I grabbed our plates and took them to the dishwasher to speed things up.

"Ah, you are a bit early, but do come in!" I heard mom's voice inviting her guest in.

"Thank you, Mrs. Coup. I am glad to be here." The stranger's voice sounded strangely familiar, but I didn't learn about their identity a few minutes later.

It was Isabella.

"Isa... Isabell..." I stuttered. She was gorgeous. Standing there in a long black gown. Silky, parting two ways around her thighs, revealing her perfect skin. She had no visible jewelry, but I could see a cute tiny tattoo at the end of her sleeves. Her smile could unarm any man. She was the hottest girl in class.

"Hello, Bel. Are you surprised?" Izzie's smile and voice remained balanced. I couldn't guess if she was trying to be mean or nice. She was so mysterious and scary!

"Well, I think you guys were planning a date?" Mom interrupted our moment. "Why don't you both take a seat. We still have a few minutes before we need to start."

"Start what?" I gasped.

"Oh, now you are interested in what I am doing tonight, hm?" Mom's confidence radiated from her. I found it scary - no, terrifying - how easily she could assert control in the room.

We returned to the dining table. Izzie stayed silent, looking at mom expectantly. Mom looked around slowly like she was doing the last touches to a Christmas tree or a painting. I sat between them, growing confused. My forehead was burning, and my skin felt itchy.

"You lied to me." Mom leaned back. "You weren't going for a graduation party. You had a date with Isabella here. Thankfully, I knew all about your little plan. Probably several months before even you thought about it." Her smile grew from casual to ominous.

"What do you mean? I have... I have asked Izzie... Isabella out only yesterday." I knew every word I said would have a consequence. They always do. I turned to Izzie for support. She stayed silent.

"Izzie and I were talking about you for a while. The naughty things you do in school since you turned 18. The lies you spread. How immature you behave when I am not around."

"I don't understand... what?" She confused me. I wanted to escape with Isabella. But she did not seem keen on leaving.

"You know what I mean. Very well. That you lied about the party tonight to avoid telling me about your date. That you made fun of some of your classmates. That you confessed to stealing my money and buying cigarettes! Izzie here helped me to understand who you really are and volunteered to help me punish you."

What she said was true, but I didn't care. I attempted a last-minute plea to Isabella.

"Izzie, please. Let's go. Let's go on our date. The new Avengers is playing. Then I wanted to take you to my favorite place."

"Date? Are you kidding me? I have no interest in going on a date with you! I said yes only because your mom asked my help." Isabella's words were crushing.

"But... but... you said yes! You said yes!" I repeated, but to no avail.

"Doesn't matter. The date is over. Come here." Mom sat next to me, grabbed me, and pulled me across her lap.