That evening Carol found herself driving the long way home. Anything to minimise the time spent with the Peletier's should they already be there. When she eventually got home she was greeted by a shiny red sports car in her space, a white BMW parked next to that, well…here goes nothing.
Locking up her own car, she straightened out the hem of her skirt, then tugged at her loose jumper making sure to look presentable as she ascended the three steps to her house. Taking a deep breath – and preparing her best fake smile – she opened the door, tucking her bag away before going to the dining room where they'd no doubt be entertaining their guests.
"Carol, sweetheart!" her mother greeted in a sickeningly sweet tone.
"Mother," she responded, a perfect hundred-watt smile plastered on her face.
She turned as her mother began to introduce her to the Peletier's, their hard-set faces breaking into all too brief smiles.
"You must meet the Peletier's darling, this is Jeffrey Peletier and his wife Susan and oh of course you know Edward," her voice just an octave too high as Carol politely extended a hand to each of them, even Ed.
"Pleasure to meet you," she said to each of the parents, resisting the urge to yank away from Ed's slimy grasp as he kissed her hand.
"Good to see you again Carol," Ed said, licking his lips as his mouth left her.
She crossed her arms tightly around herself to prevent him from touching her again, god she hated him.
"You too," she said, her lips pressed into a thin line.
"Carol do help bring through the food, I've been cooking up a real treat all afternoon," her mother said cheerily.
"Of course," she complied, anything to get away from Ed.
Once she was in the confines of the kitchen and out of earshot her mother turned to her with a pleased look on her face.
"That Peletier boy seems just lovely."
"Believe me he's not," Carol muttered under her breath, picking up several plates of food.
"Enunciate Carol," her mother scolded, before sweeping back into the dining room.
"Yes mother," she breathed, low enough she knew her mother wouldn't catch it.
Heading back into the dining room her stomach dropped a little at the only remaining space next to Ed. Great, just…great. Endurance Carol, all you have to do is endure this one evening.
Placing the steaming plates of food down onto the table, one to Ed and one to his father, she walked to her own seat, pausing as Ed swiftly got up, pulling out the chair for her. Ever the gentleman she thought bitterly, smiling to him as she took her seat.
Idle chatter began across the table before Carol's father perked up to speak to Ed.
"So Edward, what are your plans for after school?"
Ed finished his mouthful of food, patting at his mouth with a napkin before speaking, "well sir I've got high hopes to go into the family business," his dad smiling proudly at him for that comment, "but I've got a scholarship offer to continue in American Football as well. I think it comes down to weighing out what I really want more."
At least he gets a choice.
"Ah that sounds wonderful," Carol's mother said encouragingly, clapping her hands together, "Carol's applying to Yale to do molecular biophysics and biochemistry, she wants to go to medical school."
Do I now? Carol wasn't aware her mother had even planned her field of study.
She couldn't help but shoot her mother a glare, she couldn't believe she'd gone and said that without even discussing- in fact, to hell with discussing- even telling her that that's what she was going to be doing with her life now.
"Well that sounds awfully technical, simply remarkable," Susan Peletier said making Carol's mother's eyes glitter with smugness.
"That it is," Carol commented, her blazing stare still focused on her mother.
Her stare was quickly adverted though as she felt Ed's hand come down to rest on her thigh, he damn well knew there was no way for her to squirm out of this situation.
"You never told me you were applying for college," he said, feigning impressed.
"Yeah well why else would I work my ass off at school?" Carol asked with a bite to her tone, right now he was lucky it was all the bite he was getting, she wanted to rip his arm from its socket.
"Language!" her mother's shrill voice rang, "I do apologise, I don't know what's gotten into her."
The anger within her was bubbling, she knew she needed to reign it back in.
"Think nothing of it Mrs Miller," Ed brushed off, "I must admit, I have taken quite a shine to your daughter, always keeps me on my toes."
I'll fucking cut your toes off in a minute if that hand creeps any higher.
Shit she really did need to calm it down.
She made sure her nails bit into Ed's skin as she discreetly as possible shoved his hand off of her, all while trying to focus on what her father was saying.
"Well I'm sure she'll be glad to hear that, charming young man like you would be a perfect suit for our daughter."
What. The. Shit.
This could not be going where she thought it was, no way, no fucking way, she refused- point blank refused- to date Ed Peletier. No. No no no no.
"I'm glad to hear you say that sir, I'd be thrilled if she'd maybe let me take her out sometime? If she'd allow me of course?" Ed looked down at Carol expectantly and she opened her mouth ready to happily decline his offer- but she never got the chance.
"Oh she'd love to!" Carol's mother gushed.
Time moved in slow motion from there on out, it was like a switch in her was flipping and there was no turning back. The fire was lit, roaring and ready to go.
Abruptly she pushed back from the table, the chair making a god awful screeching across the floor as she rose, heading towards the kitchen with a furious pace as she glared at both her parents, making sure she had their attention.
"A word, please?" her voice was coarse, one she wouldn't have even recognised as her own had it not come from her.
"Excuse us," her mother apologized, closing the kitchen doors behind her.
"Do you care to explain what the hell that was Carol?" her father hissed, attempting to keep his voice low.
Carol spoke slowly, enunciating each syllable so she knew they understood her, "I am not, under any circumstances, going on a date with Ed Peletier."
Her mother scoffed, dismissing her with the wave of a hand, "nonsense Carol, the boy is perfectly charming-"
"I don't care what you think he is!" she whisper shouted, throwing her hands up in the air, "I don't like him, I don't want to go out with him! He's a vile specimen."
"Carol! I will not have you speak of the Peletier's boy that way. You will do as we say, it's not going to kill you to spend some time with a nice likeminded individual," her father said sternly.
"He is by far not a likeminded individual and if either of you would take your heads out of your asses for just a minute you might actually see that!" She was shouting now, but she couldn't help it, it's like now she started she couldn't stop.
"Carol Grace!" her mother cried out.
"We are not having this discussion, you will be going out with Edward whether you like it or not."
"No."
"What did you just say?"
"I said no," Carol had never felt this empowered, it gave her an air of confidence she'd never embodied before.
She watched her mother's jaw twitch in frustration as she lowered her voice, telling her she meant business, "Carol if you do not do this then there will be consequences."
Carol shrugged nonchalantly, nothing they threw her way could be worse than dating Ed.
"Go to your room, now. We'll continue this later," her father fumed.
"Gladly," she said, turning on her heel heading straight for her room, this was it now, it was all or nothing and fuck was she all in.
Locking her door behind her she got ready for bed, thinking about how to make a real stand against her parents.
The refusing to date Ed thing wouldn't be enough, if she left it at that they would push and push and push until she cracked. They wanted to punish her then she'd give them a damn good reason too.
She laid down in bed thinking of all the things she could do to really give her parents a reason to complain. Not petty shit like getting a B instead of an A, or refusing to date a boy of her 'class' just because she didn't like him, or wanting to major in arts because it's something she actually enjoyed. No, she was going to make their life a living hell if that's what it took. Her needs were simple, she just wanted to control her own life and until such times as they let her do so, she was going to be the rebellious teenager she never got to be.