[ WP ] She did n't know it , but today she saved a life .

`` You stop right there!'' 
 
 Michelle spun around in the entrance hallway and glared at her mother, who looked livid. `` What?'' 
 
 `` Do n't'what' me,'' her mother said, holding up her phone. `` I just got off the phone with the principal. He said—'' 
 
 `` Yeah, yeah, I broke into his office. Big deal. It's just a prank.'' 
 
 She turned toward the door as her mother screamed, `` You're being suspended, you know? Your father was let go this morning; think of how high his blood pressure'll be after hearing about this. You stop there, you stupid girl. I said—'' 
 
 Her voice was silenced by the slamming door. Michelle strode down their driveway, pulling out a small pouch from her pocket as she went. 
 
 `` Hey, Mich,'' said Ellis, who had been leaning on the letterbox. He pulled her in for a kiss, but she held him back. 
 
 `` Mom's pissed,'' she said, sparing a glance at her home. `` Might appear any sec. Let's get out of here.'' 
 
 He shrugged, threw an arm around her shoulders, and dragged her onto the center of the road. `` Gave you a hard time?'' 
 
 `` She found out about the break-in.'' 
 
 Ellis snickered. `` Roger got it good too. Grounded for a month. Think his dad threw his computer out the window.'' 
 
 `` Serves him right. He's the one who gave us away.'' She lit the cigarette she had taken from the pouch, and offered her boyfriend one. He grunted appreciatively. 
 
 `` Sometimes, I do n't even know why I bother,'' Michelle said quietly. `` Going to school, trying to keep up appearances, all that crap. I'm just no good at studying. Ca n't solve a math problem to save my life. School's just hell for me.'' 
 
 She looked at him gloomily. `` Do n't you wish the same thing?'' 
 
 Surprisingly, Ellis looked uncertain. `` I dunno.'' 
 
 `` You do n't know? Hell does that even mean?'' 
 
 `` Getting into trouble is fun, do n't get me wrong,'' he said hastily. `` But... I think we might regret this someday. My parents do n't even give a shit anymore. After I graduate next year, they're gon na kick me out.'' 
 
 `` We can live together,'' she said, a tinge of hope in her voice. `` I'll—I'll run away. With you.'' 
 
 He looked at her incredulously. `` We'll be eighteen. Eighteen, Mich. How the hell are we gon na afford rent? I do n't even have any savings.'' 
 
 `` We'll think of something.'' 
 
 `` Of what? Work day to night at a Burger King? I hear even janitors need degrees these days to get a job. Do n't you want to go to university?'' 
 
 For some reason, she was growing angrier with every word. `` Maybe I have n't. Maybe all I've thought about is being with you. But now it seems you do n't think the same.'' 
 
 `` Bae, I'm not—'' 
 
 `` Stop lying to me! You do n't give a shit about me. You're just like everyone else in my life. My stupid parents, my stupid teachers, all they have are expectations and more expectations. I ca n't believe you of all people—'' 
 
 `` Grow up, Mich,'' Ellis roared. `` A suspension is n't a small matter—'' 
 
 `` Hey lovebirds!'' They turned to see a man waving at them from a nearby field, a baseball mitt on one hand. `` Sorry to interrupt, but you mind tossing that back to us?'' 
 
 Michelle followed his pointing finger to the ball at her feet. Slowly, she stooped to pick it up, rolling it in her hand and thinking. 
 
 `` Mind hurrying up?'' the man called. 
 
 She snarled and hurled it with all her might at the nearest parked car, shattering the side window utterly. An angry buzz rose from the players, while Ellis looked at her with jaw agape, but she ignored them all and stormed away. 
 
 *** 
 
 `` Hell was that bitch thinking?'' Floyd said, slapping a fist into his glove as he walked toward the car. 
 
 The boy had run off after the girl, of course, leaving them to give an explanation when the owner showed up. 
 
 Manny merely shrugged and said, `` Kids these days.'' 
 
 `` Well, I'm not paying for—holy shit.'' 
 
 A golden retriever poked its head out the window, panting heavily. Its coat shone with sweat as it dragged itself out of the car. As though exhausted by the ordeal, it collapsed onto the sidewalk, slobber pooling beneath its open mouth. 
 
 `` Shit, how long was it in there?'' Manny said. 
 
 `` Hey boys, get some water over here!'' Floyd shouted to his friends. 
 
 *** 
 
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