The Ex Games (Chapter 2)

Over the weekend, Madeline went on the date she planned with her boyfriend, Homer. He drove her in his gray Chrysler several minutes to a beach where a fair took place. After parking the car, they entered the area and passed by the young ones filling up the boardwalk. Madeline put her arm around Homer's arm and put her head on his shoulder, enjoying the breeze of the early afternoon and the warmth coming from her friend's neck.
"What should we do first?" she asked.
"Whatever you want to do, Madeline," Homer replied.
"Aw, I like it when you put me in charge. How about the 'Ring the Bell' game? I want to see how strong you are."
"I'm pretty strong."
"I'll believe it when I see it. But you got big arms so I believe it."
Homer chuckled. "You know, Madeline, I've been having a really good time ever since we met. It's so weird for me to say something like this but I really like you--"
"Wait a sec," Madeline demanded, stopping Homer. "Stay right there."
"Why? What's up?"
Madeline faced her handsome friend. "You look so fine in this light. I got to take a selfie of us." She began to take out her pink cell phone.
"Okay, when are you going to stop taking so many selfies?"
"'Til the day I die."
Madeline opened the camera application on her phone and switched the view. She held up the phone so the two could see their faces on the screen. She wrapped her arm around Homer and the two smiled into the camera. After she took the picture, she heard a voice call her name. It was a familiar voice. A voice of a young male. She put down her arm and looked to the right. She looked over Homer and found her old friend, Terry, from Fake Cabo, standing a yard away. He walked towards her with a nostalgic smile, formed by his thin yet soft lips.
"Oh, my goodness. Hey!" he said.
"Oh, hi, Terry," Madeline politely smiled. "I haven't seen you in a while."
"I know. It feels like forever although I've last seen you during the spring."
"Yeah." Madeline nodded.
"Who's Terry?" Homer asked, slowly filling with suspicion.
"This is Terry."
"I know; I see him. What I'm asking is who he is?"
"Oh, he was-- Or he is my-- What do you call it?"
"Ex-boyfriend?" Terry replied.
"Ex-boyfriend?" Homer repeated.
Madeline quickly chuckled. "No, he's not my ex. We were never in a relationship."
"Oh, yeah," agreed Terry, nodding his head.
"No, I've known him for a while."
"Were you guys a thing?" asked Homer.
"Uhhh, sorta."
"Yeah, sorta," said Terry.
"We used to talk. Maybe text each other."
"We made out once."
"Yeah, we made out. No, we didn't!"
"We didn't."
"Don't tell Homer that, Terry."
"I'm sorry."
"Wait, now I'm confused," said Homer. "Did you make out or not?"
"Why do you want to know?" asked Madeline.
"Because I-- I just-- I just want to know these things. He obviously meant something to you if you were making out with him."
"Yeah but I don't make out with him anymore. I barely talked to him at all since last summer."
"Yeah, we haven't talked that much," said Terry. "But we should really catch up."
"Yeah, we should."
"No, don't start talking to each other!" said Homer. "Just because you haven't spoke in a while doesn't mean you got to talk to each other again."
"What is the big deal?" Madeline asked almost loudly. "We're friends."
"Yeah, we're friends," Terry agreed.
"We're friends now, Homer."
"Alright," Homer almost mumbled. "I'm sorry for raising my voice."
"Listen, Madeline, I'll catch you later," said Terry.
"Alright," Madeline softly smiled.
As Terry walked off, Homer pointed at him. "No!" he disapproved. "No catching. No catching anyone later!"
"Homer, chill. He's just a friend. There's no need to be upset. Like really."
"Okay, I'm sorry. I apologize again. Just no catching."

The Ex Games (Chapter 1)

It was an easy, breezy afternoon and the girls were already settled in the cafeteria in time for lunch. Everyone was in a good mood, especially Madeline. While the girls were eating, Madeline decided to show them pictures from her cell phone. She went through every picture by swiping the screen and told her friends what was each picture of.
"That's me and Homer at Starbucks. That's me and Homer at Cool Beans. That's me and Homer at Subway. I'm going on the Subway diet of course. That's me and Homer at the movies. We sat in the back so it was okay. That's me and Homer at his house. That's me and Homer at my house. That's me and Homer making funny faces. That's me and Homer wearing funky sunglasses."
"Man, you and Homer took a lot of corny pics together," noticed Skye.
"Yeah, I can't resist. He's so cute. And I'm so cute. We're cute together."
"Is Homer your boyfriend?" asked Lizzie.
"Yep but he doesn't know. So, shh, don't tell him."
"Ooh, you're sneaky."
"'Sneaky' is my middle name."
"I thought your middle name was Louise."
"Figure of speech, Liz'."
"When will he know that he's your boyfriend?" questioned Debra.
"When he introduces me to his friends. But if he doesn't call me his girlfriend in front of them, I'll tell them myself. Think I won't? Because I will."
"You like him so much, you wanna ruin his life?" Andrea queried.
"Uh, I'm too bomb to ruin his life. Wait, let me rephrase that. A girl like me can't ruin his life; I make it better."
"I assume you're busy with Homer Simpson this weekend," shared Skye.
"Why are you calling him that?"
"Because that's his name. I'll say it to his face, too."
"Well, you're right. I am going to be busy with Homer this weekend. He's taking me to the boardwalk which I think is so romantic because we met at a fair."
"Another location to take pictures in," said Andrea.
"I know, right? I think I should make a scrapbook."
"You known him for weeks."
"But I got a bunch of pictures! It's gonna happen."
"Ooh, we should have a scrapbook," Lizzie suggested.
"Yeah," Debra smiled.
"We may have a bunch of pictures but it ain't gonna happen," said Skye.
        "Come on," said Lizzie. "We can use stickers."
        "That doesn't convince me."

Grandma Got Ran Over By a Hyundai (Chapter 5)

It had been almost hour since Esth was in the emergency room. Finally, a fully dressed doctor came out and approached Lizzie and her family.
"Are you guys waiting for Esth Giannini?" he asked in a deep voice.
"Yes, we are," answered Lizzie's father. "Is she okay?"
"Oh, she's awful. No, I'm kidding; she's fine. She's awake but she broke a few bones. She also asked to see a young Elizabeth."
"I'm a young Elizabeth," Lizzie raised her hand.
"Only her?" asked her mom.
"Yep, for a few minutes," the doctor replied.
"Okay," Lizzie said, unsure.
The doctor gestured to follow him. Lizzie glanced at her friends before walking towards the doctor's way. He entered this long hall filled with doors. After a minute, he showed Lizzie an open door. He entered the room and saw her grandmother lying on a hospital bed, hooked up to monitors with a cast on her leg and arm.
"Uh, hey, Grandma Esth," Lizzie said with a weak smile, walking closer to the bed. "Did you lose weight?"
"No but I almost lost my arm," Esth answered.
"That's... good?"
"Elizabeth--"
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, okay? I wasn't trying to kill you. I was just trying to get to the car wash. They let you sit in the car while they wash it, you know?"
"Elizabeth--"
"You're not gonna seek revenge on me and kick me with your broken leg, are you?"
"Quiet! Elizabeth, I'm not mad."
"Why not? I almost killed you."
"I know. But you're my granddaughter and I love you and I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt me."
Lizzie genuinely smiled. "Aw, thanks, grandma."
"Besides, maybe this is a sign that I should slow down."
"No, you shouldn't."
"I'm getting old."
"Yeah but Kris Jenner is getting old and she does... stuff."
"I don't know who that is."
"Good. Grandma, don't slow down. You love to love and that's okay."
"You don't like it when I pinch your cheeks."
"You can still pinch them. I'm a big girl; it's not going to kill me. Your hands are not a car."
"Thank you, Elizabeth. But there's a sign for something."
"Grandma Esth, if I looked at my mirrors, I would have never hit you with the car. If God is trying to kill you, then he is a bad man."
"You're right. I'm going crazy."
"Yeah, but it's good to be crazy sometimes. Look at Miley Cyrus."
"I don't know who that is."
"Good." Lizzie began to groom Esth's short, dark hair.
"Young Elizabeth, maybe you're not a naughty, naughty girl after all. I won't tell your mom that you wear honeymoon shoes."
"That is not what those shoes are for. But thank you. Can you convince her not to hate me?"
"She doesn't hate you. She loves you to death. I taught her well."
"You did. You taught me well, too."
"I did?"
Lizzie looked into the air. "I don't know."
"You need to get an education."
"And you need to get gloves."
The two laughed as they began to hold hands, healing what could have been broken.

Grandma Got Ran Over By a Hyundai (Chapter 4)

After a while, the girls arrived at the hospital, separately but quickly after one another, in support of Lizzie just like the time when Lizzie's mother was having a baby. The girls were crowding her when she stood up to greet them.
"Oh, Lizzie, how are you feeling?" asked Madeline.
"Are you alright?" Andrea asked after.
"I'm fine," responded Lizzie. "I'm just... freaking out."
"You weren't clear on what happened," mentioned Skye. "Like, what exactly happened?"
"Well, I got into my parents' car so I could take it to the wash. I was excited because I wanted to be inside the car while it's getting washed. And when I backed up, I felt a bump! So when I got out of the car, I saw my grandma lying on the floor."
The girls glanced at each other for a moment.
"So wait," said Skye. "So you're telling us that you ran over your grandmother?"
"Yes," answered Lizzie. "Well, no. But yes."
"Liz', this doesn't have anything to do with... you know, right?" said Madeline.
"What? No! I would never run over my grandmother on purpose."
"Are you sure?" asked Andrea. "I heard you were hating."
"I'm positive. I would never do such a thing."
"Lizzie, you can't run over your grandmother," said Debra. "That's like shooting your dog when it's not even that old yet."
"Why are you guys making me seem like some killer?"
"Because you are!" barked Lizzie's mom.
Lizzie's dad held onto his wife, trying to simmer her down.
"Thanks, mom," Lizzie said sarcastically. "Appreciate it."
"I can't believe you ran over your grandma," said Andrea. "That's so petty."
"I didn't do it on purpose."
"It doesn't matter. It's still trifling."
"You guys are making me feel bad. I thought you were here to support me."
"Yeah, you guys," started Madeline. She walked over to Lizzie and put her arm around her. "We're supposed to make her feel better. Lizzie didn't mean to hurt her grandma and possibly kill her. Lizzie is just a bad driver."
"Now that I can believe," said Skye.
"I believe that," Debra nodded.
"You guys, I am not a bad driver," said Lizzie.
"So you're just a grandma killer?" questioned Andrea.
Lizzie paused. "I mean I am a bad driver."

Grandma Got Ran Over By a Hyundai (Chapter 3)

After finding Lizzie's grandmother, Esth, unresponsive in the garage, Lizzie's father called 911 so someone could pick up Esth. A few minutes later, an ambulance came to the house and the doctors put Esth's body on a gurney before pushing her into the truck. After the ambulance drove away, Lizzie's parents put her baby son in a carriage and everyone got in their car and drove to the hospital where Esth would be treated. The family were told to stay put in the waiting room until they hear some news. Lizzie's parents sat together with angry looks on their face. Next to them was Lizzie's brother, Dallas, and Lizzie so the baby separated the parents from their daughter.
Lizzie leaned forward. "Are you guys mad at me?"
"You ran over your grandmother!" Her mom spat.
"It was an accident!"
"How was it an accident?"
"I didn't look in my mirrors."
"Why?"
"I really wanted to go to the car wash."
"You would think that if a person gets their driver's license, it means that they can drive."
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't wake up my mom."
"I'm sorry with a cherry on top?"
"Just stop."
"Now, honey, don't be so hard on Lizzie," said the father. "She was nice enough to buy you those honeymoon shoes."
"That's not what those shoes are for," Lizzie reminded. "Can I invite my friends here so I can have someone to talk to?"
"Whatever, Lizzie," responded her mom.
Lizzie took out her cell phone. "Don't frowny-face at me. It was Grandma Esth who decided to walk in front of the back of your car."
As Lizzie dialed a number into her phone, her mom slowly put out her hands to simulate that she was going to choke her. Her husband clasped onto her wrists and pushed her arms down.

Grandma Got Ran Over By a Hyundai (Chapter 2)

The next day, after the family arrived from church, Lizzie head up to her room and hopped on the bed. She took her cell phone out of her little satchel and began to call Madeline. She held the phone up to her ear and listening to the ringing until her friend picked up.
"Hello?" Madeline's voice protruded out the phone.
"Hey, Maddie."
"What's up, Doll?"
"I just came back from church." Lizzie held her phone to her ear using her shoulder.
"Did you go with your grandma?"
"Yeah, I sat next to her."
"Aw, that's nice."
"Nice? She was basically assaulting me the whole time. That woman is mega religious."
"Oh, sorry to hear. She's not getting on your nerves, is she?"
"Totally but my words would be different inside Jesus' safe house." Lizzie took off her lavender cardigan.
"Safe house?"
She got up, walked over to her closet then opened it. "I mean, my grandma has been bothering me ever since she stayed here and it's been, like, one and a half days. Which is how long it took Jesus to become a zombie."
"Uh-huh."
"She slaps me, she pinches me, she hits me." Lizzie took an unused hanger from the rack inside the closet and entered the ends into the inside of the sleeves of the cardigan. "She almost got me in trouble yesterday. I'm telling you, Grandma Esth is trouble herself. I think she's Cena."
"You mean 'senile'?"
"Oh, that makes sense." Lizzie pushed one half of the clothes and hung the cardigan in the space. "What's 'Cena'?"
"I don't know. Perhaps John Cena?"
"Oh, right. He's cute." She closed her closet.
"I know, right?"
"I want him to bounce me on his muscles." Lizzie turned around so she could sit on the bed. But when she turned, she froze when she saw her grandmother standing by the door. Lizzie, with wide eyes, held her phone with her hand. "Mads, I got to call you back."
"Okay. Later."
Lizzie hung up and held her phone near her stomach. "Hey, Grandma Esth. Did you lose some weight?"
"Quiet!" Esth demanded before walking closer to Lizzie. "What is this I hear about you saying I'm trouble?"
"Oh, see, what had happened was that I was... uh... it's a nickname. You know how us kids are. 'Trouble' is a nickname for someone cool and it means that... you are cool."
"I don't believe you."
"Oh, shoot."
"Why are you such a naughty, naughty girl?"
"I am not a naughty, naughty girl, okay? I love you but you hurt me."
"I 'hurt' you because I love you."
"I love you, too, but I don't pinch your cheeks like I'm playing with Play-Doh which I wish I still had."
"You're eighteen and you want toys. I don't understand you. But I understand that the shoe in the hall was yours so you're lying to your parents."
"You don't got any proof. Not enough to testify, of course. I'm innocent. I overrule you. Yeah, I tell nothing but the truth."
"You are like a child. You should get an education."
"And you should get gloves."
"Hey, what's going on here?" asked Lizzie's dad, just arriving at the door.
Esth turned around and faced her son-in-law. Lizzie put her arm around her.
"Oh, nothing," she smiled. "I was just telling Grandma Esth that I love her."
Esth scoffed. "If you loved me so much, I'd die."
"Okay," said Lizzie's father. "Uh, Esth, I got to go change Dallas and I left my cornstarch in the garage. Do you mind getting it for me?"
"Of course, not at all. I'll do anything for my grandson who loves me."
She stared at Lizzie crazily before walking off past Lizzie's dad, disappearing into the hallway.
"And you," started Lizzie's father, looking at his daughter, "can you go to the garage as well and drive the car to the wash?"
"Ooh, can I stay in the car while they're washing it?" she asked. "It looks like I'm getting washed except I stay dry."
"You can do whatever you want, sweetie. Just get it washed."
Lizzie ran past her dad and walked into the hall. She went downstairs into the lounge and snatched the car keys from the little table. Then she went into the kitchen where the door to the basement was. She opened it and went downstairs then headed to the door across. She opened it and entered the garage.
        She pointed the keys towards the Hyundai in the center of the carport and unlocked it. She opened the front door to the driver's seat and hopped in. She closed the door and stuck one of the keys in the ignition, twisting it until the car turned on. When it did, the radio turned on, playing gospel music. She switched the channels until she found a pop station, playing, "Heaven is a Place on Earth" by Belinda Carlisle. She pulled the gear shift into reverse before she gripped the wheel with both hands. She stepped on the gas pedal softly, backing the car up. As the car went into reverse for a few seconds, Lizzie felt something hard hit the back, which shook the car a bit, then heard a thud. Feeling confused, she took her foot off the gas and parked the car. She opened the door and got out of the car. She sprinted to the back of it and gasped when she saw her grandmother laying unconsciously on the ground. She shrieked into her hands and knelt before Esth.
"Grandma, are you okay!" she asked. "Nod your head if yes."
There was no response. Esth was out like a light.
"Okay, you're not nodding. I assume that's a no?"
Lizzie automatically felt screwed when her parents opened the door to the garage just a few seconds after.
Her father began to say, "Esth, did you find the corn-- Oh, my goodness!" He laid eyes on his mother-in-law's body.
Lizzie's parents ran over to Esth and crouched down.
"Oh, mommy!" Lizzie's mom began to cry. "Speak to me! What did you do, Lizzie?"
"It was an accident," Lizzie frantically answered, standing up. "I swear!"
"Oh, my goodness. Mom!"
"Esth, can you hear me?" asked Lizzie's father, pushing her chest.
"I'm not gonna get grounded, am I?" asked Lizzie.

Grandma Got Ran Over By a Hyundai (Chapter 1)

During the weekend, the girls chilled in each of their homes during a pleasant afternoon. Lizzie was spending time in her living room, reading a book that one would read in preschool. Her parents were in the kitchen, helping each other cook food for later, so she was dressed in the rags she usually wears around her folks. At one moment, the doorbell rang.
Lizzie put her book down beside herself on the couch. She stood up and shouted, "I'll get it!"
She left the living room and walked toward the door. She looked through the peephole and saw an elderly brunette standing around. Lizzie recognized the old woman and made a weird face. She opened the door and greeted the woman with sudden cheerfulness.
"Young Elizabeth!" the old woman said in an Italian accent.
"Hi, Grandma Esth," Lizzie grinned.
Esth stepped forward and squeezed Lizzie like a teddy bear. "Oh, il mio bambino. I haven't seen you so long. You're tall as a tree."
Lizzie struggled in her grandmother's grip, slowly losing air. "Grandma, I can't breathe," she gasped.
Esth let go of her granddaughter, letting her catch her breath. Esth cooed and grabbed Lizzie's rosy face, taking a better look at her. "My young Elizabeth, you've grown." She slapped Lizzie on the cheeks then pinched them.
Lizzie winced as a reaction to the constant pulling of her face. "Well, I'm eighteen now so that qualifies as grown," she tried to smile.
Lizzie's parents soon left the kitchen into the little lounge.
"Mommy!" exclaimed her mom.
She ran towards her mother and gave her a big hug which Esth reciprocated. They soon pulled away, smiling at each other. Esth smacked her daughter on the cheeks then pinched them.
"You get more beautiful every day," she said. "How's my sweet little bubby?"
Lizzie's mother pulled Esth's hands off her face. "Bubby is fine," she smiled. "How have you been?"
"Wonderful, wonderful. The gout on my toes is going away so one day, I might be able to dance again."
"Nice to see you, Esther," greeted Lizzie's father.
"Joseph, you still got that mouse living under your nose?"
"Yep and I'm not getting rid of it."
Esth groaned. "So where is my little grandson? I've only seen pictures and I want to meet him in person."
"Oh, he's upstairs in his room, sleeping," responded Lizzie's mom. "I can't let you bother him but you can look at him if you want and wait until he wakes up."
"Oh, of course. But first, what is that shoe over there?" She pointed at the door to the living room.
Lizzie and her parents turned their heads and spotted a red peep-toe heel sitting by the edge of the door. Lizzie's eyes widened, internally freaking out; her parents did not recognize that shoe.
"I don't know," said Lizzie's mother. "It's not mine."
"Then it must be Elizabeth's," concluded Esth.
"No, it's not," Lizzie said quickly, looking at her grandma.
"Joseph, do you know whose shoe that is?" asked Lizzie's mom, looking at her husband all suspicious.
Lizzie's father leaned back, feeling like he was getting poked by his wife's cold stare. "Why do you gotta look at me like that? Just because there are shoes lying around the house doesn't mean you can't trust me."
"There are shoes lying around the house?"
"No, I didn't mean it like that."
"Guys," Lizzie caught their attention, "uh, when I said that that wasn't my shoe, I meant it actually is my shoe. I bought it... so I can give it to you, mom. Yeah because you go to church wearing the same shoes. But if you go wearing some pumps, you'd be poppin'. Your calves will be poppin', mom."
Lizzie's mother just stared at her. "Um, thank you, Lizzie. But I'm not into wearing pumps so I'm sorry. Thank you for getting me them though. Maybe I'll wear them for something special like our wedding anniversary." She smiled at her husband.
Lizzie's father walked up behind his wife and grasped her shoulders. "I don't have a problem with that," he said.
He purred into his wife's ear, making her titter.
"Ew," uttered Lizzie, "that is not what those shoes are for."
Lizzie's mother took her husband's hands off her shoulders. "So did you bring your stuff, mommy?"
"Oh, yes," responded Esth. "My sweet Alberto is outside with the van, trying to gather everything for me."
"Oh, Joseph and I can help him with that."
"Wait, what is going on?" questioned Lizzie.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you but it shouldn't matter. Grandma Esth is staying with us for a week."
"Yes, I want to spend time with my beloved children and grandchildren," added Esth.
"Come on, mamma. Let's get your things before Alberto turns into a pretzel."
Lizzie's parents and grandmother went out the open door into the driveway. Lizzie just stood there, staring at the door.
"Ain't this about a... hmm, man?" she muttered to herself, kicking the air.