warnings - swearing, kissing, angst, arguing
12:34pm
"Sure, i'll come pick her up as soon as possible." I put a fake happy tone on my voice as the principle of my 12 daughter Estrella's school tells me i need to come pick her up because she punched a girl in the face.
The principle hangs up the phone as i sigh, tapping my pen twice before grabbing my papers and stacking them on my computer, i worked in an office as a journalist, luckily i already have what i need for my new article im producing.
"Leaving already?" My best friend at the office, Cassidy, asks me.
I nod, "Estrella." I say.
Her eyes widen, "Again? She's been getting in trouble a lot lately, she doing okay?" Cassidy takes a sip of her coffee as she asks.
I shrug, "I honestly don't know. Matt's been working a lot lately, he’s barely home lately and every time he's home we argue, which is probably why she's been acting up. It's not like i have time to punish her with work. And she seems perfectly okay with me taking her phone away, she stays in her room." I rant, i let out a huff.
"Alright, i gotta go, bye Cass." I smile.
"Bye babe, let me know how it goes." She smiles back at me.
12:48pm
I walk in the schools office, seeing Estrella looking down as she holds an ice pack on her right hand knuckles. I then walk in the principles office.
"Mrs. Sturniolo! Please, have a seat." Ms. Patterson, the principle offers.
I smile, "Hi, uh thanks.." I clear my throat as i take a seat.
Ms. Patterson flashes a smile at me, "So you know why you're here, we spoke on the phone, but i just wanted to give you a run down of what Estrella told me, if that's okay with you?" Ms. Patterson asks as she picks up a paper with notes on it.
I let out a breath and nod.
Ms. Patterson clears her throat, "Right, so when Estrella punched Gia, she said it was because she made fun of her for being stupid, which is obviously not okay, and should've never happened but at this school we do not respond in violence, and this has been the third offense in three weeks with something physical, i'm sorry to say but next time Estrella is looking at suspension or even expulsion." Ms. Patterson tells me.
I sigh and rub my forehead, "But this girl gia, she came at my daughters intellect, shouldn't that have been addressed?" I defend Ella.
Ms. Patterson nods, "Of course, and it was-"
"Was it? Does Gia also have a week of detention like my daughter or..." I trail off, waiting for the principle to speak.
Ms. Patterson lets out a dry cough but shakes her head. "Uh.. no, the insult was overruled once Estrella put her hands on Gia."
I nod, "Right, but if Estrella didn't start a fight, then the teachers would have never known about Gia insulting her, am i right?"
Ms. Patterson furrows her eyebrows, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Sturniolo. I'm not following."
I shrug, "Would Gia have gotten in trouble in the first place for insulting my daughter if Estrella didn't react the way she did or would it have just been ruled off?"
"Uh- well i'm sure a teacher would have heard Gia say some-"
I cut Ms. Patterson off, "And if a teacher didn't?" I ask.
Ms. Patterson stays silent.
"Yeah, right. My daughter would have been screwed either way, sorry but we are done here. Thank you for trying but i am always going to defend my daughter. I do apologize and i hope Gia's nose gets better." I say, standing up and leaving the room.
As i leave the office i see Estrella look up at me.
"Not a word and in the car, now." I demand, pointing at her to walk first.
Estrella goes to speak, "Bu-"
I cut her off, "Not a word."
1:12pm
We walk in the house and Ella takes off her shoes, she then goes to walk upstairs.
"Where do you think you're going? I've let it slide the past two times because i've been busy but lucky you i finished all my work today so we are going to have a nice long chat. Sit down, Estrella." I cross my arms as i look at her.
She looks at me and stands on the second stair, not moving.
"Estrella Leylani Sturniolo!" I yell.
Estrella jumps as i raise my voice, i was never the parent to yell at her, so that must of scared her.
I clear my throat, "Please sit down, Estrella." My tone lowering as she comes and sits down on the couch.
"You wanna tell me what's going on?" I ask as i stand in front of her.
She shrugs and bites her nails, habit she got from Matt.
"You're going to speak to me." I say but she stays silent. "Now!" I yell.
"Mom, what!?" She yells at me.
I bite my lip and nod, letting out a scoff.
"What's going on with you? Punching a girl in the face? This is your third physical altercation in three weeks! You're going to get expelled, Ella! Do you even care anymore!? You've gotten in more trouble in school then your father and I ever have!" I tell her.
"No, I don't care! I hate school and i hope every time Gia gets a bloody nose she thinks of me!" Estrella uncrosses her arms.
I let out a huff, "Just wait until i call your father. I was gonna give you a chance to explain yourself but you ruined it."
"Go ahead call dad! Maybe he'll actually come home for once!" Estrella stands up now.
I groan in frustration, "God, ella, what are you talking about?!" I scoff.
"Dad is barely home! And when he is all you guys do is argue! I- i thought maybe that if i got in trouble you guys would stop arguing a-and he would come home- and we could be a family again but clearly that's not gonna happen so forget it." Estrella says, running upstairs, i hear her door slam shut.
I sniffle and wipes my eyes, taking my phone out of my pocket and calling Matt.
The phone rings three times before he answers, "Hey, y/n. I'm kind of busy right now can i call you lat-"
I cut him off, "It's Ella. Can you come home, please?" My voice cracks.
"W-what? What's wrong? Is she okay?" Matt asks.
"C-can you just come home?" I ask, my voice evident that i'm on the verge of tears.
"Okay, i'm on my way, baby. Take breaths for me, sweetheart." He says softly, the most civil we've been in a while.
I take a breath like Matt said. "Okay, I love you." I say, almost in a whisper. The last time we said i love you was like two weeks ago.
I hear Matt chuckle, "I love you too, baby. Forever and always." Matt says before hanging up, presumably on his way now.
1:38pm
I was pacing in the living room, picking at my earlobe as i think of every time i went wrong.
The front door opens and i see Matt walk in, he was wearing a black t shirt, black jean jacket and black cargos.
“What took you so long?” I snap, probably shouldn’t have been my first move.
“Accident on the highway.” He replies, now taking his shoes off and setting his keys down.
“What happened?” He walks towards me.
I give him the write up that Estrella got today.
Matt’s eyebrows furrowed as he reads the paper, him opening his mouth to speak. “Isn’t this her th-”
“-Third time. Yes.” I confirm, nodding as i cross my arms.
Matt lets out a frustrated sigh, handing me back the paper and starting to walk upstairs.
“Matt wait,” I grab his hand.
“Estrella told me the only reason she got in trouble today was because she wanted you to finally come home, and for us to stop arguing.” I tell him.
He looks up at me, his look was upsetting, almost guilty. “What?”
I nod, “She’s been struggling and we haven’t known about it.”
He lets out a breath, him now clearly upset.
“We can call her down here to talk.” I suggest, playing with my fingers.
Matt rubs his stubble and nods, “Okay.”
“Estrella!? Come down here please!” I call out.
I hear her room door open and watch as she walks downstairs. Her eyes flicker between Matt and I and she lets out a huff.
I give her a sad smile, “Sit down, please.” I motion towards the couch.
She looks at me, not moving, like she had done before Matt got home.
“You can listen to your mother, Estrella.” Matt chimes in.
She scratched her head before walking and sitting on the couch, crossing her arms and leaning back.
Matt takes a seat next to her while i stay standing.
“What’s going on, Ella? Mom told me you got in trouble again.” Matt starts, looking at Ella.
Ella bites her lip and shrugs, bringing her nails up to her mouth to bite her nails.
I shake my head, “Tell him what you told me, El.” I say as Matt takes Estrella’s hand out of her mouth.
“You guys argue too much.” Ella says, her eyes flickering over to Matt as she speaks again, “And you’re never home anymore, dad. I miss you. A-and our family.” She says, her voice was quiet but determined to get her point through.
Matt nods, taking in a breath. “Your mother and I are perfectly fine, Ella. We argue yeah, but it’s not anything that deep, we love each other so much, just like we love you so much. And i’ve been working a lot with your uncles, but i can take some time off from now on, would that be okay with you?” He looks at ella, she smiles and nods.
Matt chuckles, “Great. No more getting in trouble, i’m only letting it slide because i know you don’t mean it.” Matt says.
She looks down and nods before Matt brings her into a hug, she hugs back. “Thanks dad..” She whispers against his chest.
He kisses her forehead. “Of course, baby.” He whispers back.
Ella gets up and looks at me, “I’m sorry for being rude, mom.. i don’t mean it, i pinky promise.” She holds her pinky out, i smile, that was a habit she got from me.
I interlock pinkies with her, “It’s okay, my love.” I smile before bringing her in for a hug.
She then goes back upstairs.
Matt stands up and looks at me. “I’m sorry i haven’t been home, and that i’ve been a bad father and husband.” He apologizes.
I shake my head and wrap my arms around his neck, “You’re an amazing husband and an even better father. I argue back all the time too. So as long as we work together we will stop, for ella.”
Matt nods, “For ella.” He then leans in and kisses me.
taglist: @sturniolosmind @novasturniolo03 @hearts4chriss @vinniehackerslefttoe
