and vibrant girl. She has pneumonia and is really suffering. We are all anxious for her to recover and get her strength back. Take care and enjoy your senior year! Love, Lea.
Again, I closed the email without replying. My problems seemed so small in comparison to what Lea just described. And even though I knew in my head that wallowing in this misery was stupid and detrimental, I didn’t have the power to stop it. Lea didn’t deserve to have all of my issues dumped on her when she had so much else to focus on.
When I heard Mom’s keys in the door, an hour earlier than usual, I closed my laptop and pretended to still be sleeping. Her footsteps stopped as she came through the living room and I could tell she was looking at me lying on the couch.
She headed to the kitchen and had just set her keys on the counter when the phone rang.
From her end of the conversation, I could tell it was Mr. Burton. I sat up and rolled my eyes, quite sure he was delivering more great news. I picked up my book and tuned them out.
Mom lowered her voice. Even though I couldn’t understand her, the frustration in her tone was evident.
Great.
“That was Principal Burton,” Mom said, coming into the living room a few minutes later.
I gave a noncommittal grunt.
“Another student has a video,” she began, dropping to sit next to me on the sofa. “It’s a cell phone video of the hallway when Mr. Austin’s things were stolen. The student didn’t realize until today that he’d inadvertently taped someone putting the items in your locker. He showed it to Mr. Burton.”
It took a second for her words to sink in. When they did it was with a thud in the bottom of my stomach, a weird combination of relief and uncertainty. “So I’ve been cleared?”
She nodded. “The administration met together after school. Your punishment has been revoked, of course.” She sat down next to me. “Zoe, I’m so sorry. I wanted to believe you. I just didn’t know what to think.”
“Save it Mom.” I shook my head to stop her from continuing. “I know I’ve been a real pill for a while, but I was making an effort. It would’ve been nice to have the benefit of the doubt from someone.”
Thankfully, she didn’t respond. There was just no way I could have a conversation with her right now. My brain was still processing the fact that I was off the hook, and wondering who in the world had managed to get a cell phone video. True, the hall had been crowded, but most kids had been barreling toward the cafeteria. Of course, I’d been busy dealing with Courtney and her unceremonious stop at my locker, so it’s not like I would’ve noticed.
But I had noticed Adrian at the end of the hallway.
Adrian.
And just like that I knew what I needed to do.
“Mom, can I please have my car keys?” I figured she might feel bad enough about not believing me that she’d hand them over, at least temporarily. “Just for tonight. I’ll give them back. I just need to clear my head.”
I could tell she struggled with the idea, but even she had to admit that this latest blunder had not been mine.
Without a word, she walked to the kitchen, returning seconds later with my keys. And my cell phone.
“I ate junk food all day, so I’m not hungry. But I won’t be out late. I promise.” I thought it would be a good idea to play nice.
She took a deep breath. “Okay.”
I headed for the door.
My hand was on the doorknob when her voice stopped me.
“Zoe,” she said, and I paused and turned around. “I love you. I realize it’s been far too long since I said that.”
Emotion clogged my throat, and though I’d spent the better part of the day completely pissed at her for doubting me, I couldn’t help but smile.
Chapter 19
A drian’s bike stood, gleaming black in the late afternoon sun, pulled to the gravel shoulder near the creek. I managed to park my car and turn off the ignition, though in my haze of urgency I didn’t remember either.
When I hit the
Again, I closed the email without replying. My problems seemed so small in comparison to what Lea just described. And even though I knew in my head that wallowing in this misery was stupid and detrimental, I didn’t have the power to stop it. Lea didn’t deserve to have all of my issues dumped on her when she had so much else to focus on.
When I heard Mom’s keys in the door, an hour earlier than usual, I closed my laptop and pretended to still be sleeping. Her footsteps stopped as she came through the living room and I could tell she was looking at me lying on the couch.
She headed to the kitchen and had just set her keys on the counter when the phone rang.
From her end of the conversation, I could tell it was Mr. Burton. I sat up and rolled my eyes, quite sure he was delivering more great news. I picked up my book and tuned them out.
Mom lowered her voice. Even though I couldn’t understand her, the frustration in her tone was evident.
Great.
“That was Principal Burton,” Mom said, coming into the living room a few minutes later.
I gave a noncommittal grunt.
“Another student has a video,” she began, dropping to sit next to me on the sofa. “It’s a cell phone video of the hallway when Mr. Austin’s things were stolen. The student didn’t realize until today that he’d inadvertently taped someone putting the items in your locker. He showed it to Mr. Burton.”
It took a second for her words to sink in. When they did it was with a thud in the bottom of my stomach, a weird combination of relief and uncertainty. “So I’ve been cleared?”
She nodded. “The administration met together after school. Your punishment has been revoked, of course.” She sat down next to me. “Zoe, I’m so sorry. I wanted to believe you. I just didn’t know what to think.”
“Save it Mom.” I shook my head to stop her from continuing. “I know I’ve been a real pill for a while, but I was making an effort. It would’ve been nice to have the benefit of the doubt from someone.”
Thankfully, she didn’t respond. There was just no way I could have a conversation with her right now. My brain was still processing the fact that I was off the hook, and wondering who in the world had managed to get a cell phone video. True, the hall had been crowded, but most kids had been barreling toward the cafeteria. Of course, I’d been busy dealing with Courtney and her unceremonious stop at my locker, so it’s not like I would’ve noticed.
But I had noticed Adrian at the end of the hallway.
Adrian.
And just like that I knew what I needed to do.
“Mom, can I please have my car keys?” I figured she might feel bad enough about not believing me that she’d hand them over, at least temporarily. “Just for tonight. I’ll give them back. I just need to clear my head.”
I could tell she struggled with the idea, but even she had to admit that this latest blunder had not been mine.
Without a word, she walked to the kitchen, returning seconds later with my keys. And my cell phone.
“I ate junk food all day, so I’m not hungry. But I won’t be out late. I promise.” I thought it would be a good idea to play nice.
She took a deep breath. “Okay.”
I headed for the door.
My hand was on the doorknob when her voice stopped me.
“Zoe,” she said, and I paused and turned around. “I love you. I realize it’s been far too long since I said that.”
Emotion clogged my throat, and though I’d spent the better part of the day completely pissed at her for doubting me, I couldn’t help but smile.
Chapter 19
A drian’s bike stood, gleaming black in the late afternoon sun, pulled to the gravel shoulder near the creek. I managed to park my car and turn off the ignition, though in my haze of urgency I didn’t remember either.
When I hit the
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