disappeared? No one could know for sure. No one, that is, except my mother.
And my father.
Before, whenever I’d thought about the future, I’d imagined going away to college. Maybe I’d become a teacher or go to med school. Maybe I’d become a journalist or start my own business, like Meg. I didn’t really know, but the possibility to do whatever had always been there.
Now, I had so much more to consider: the tribe, Victor and Shyla, my feelings for Adrian . . . my father. Was he somewhere, out there?
I shivered at the thought of him. Of ever coming face to face with him. Of ever speaking to him.
I got out of bed and once again arranged the photos in their proper places. With my chemistry homework already done and in no mood to watch TV, I got ready for bed.
As I was mindlessly brushing my hair, a task that usually calmed me, a movement outside the window caught my attention. I was sure I’d seen the shadow of a person from the corner of my eye, and the hair at the nape of my neck prickled.
I scrambled to the window and cautiously stuck my head out a few inches. “Is anyone there?” I said, scanning the yard. But there was no answer. Even so, I slammed the window shut. And for the first time since the fire, I locked it tight.
Two weeks. That’s what was standing between me and summer vacation.
Since freshmen year, graduation had always hung just out of reach, the proverbial brass ring of my high-school career. Now it was just around the corner, and I was one step closer to the next phase of my life. But instead of being filled with excitement like I usually was, all I felt was doubt and fear about the future.
My head was in the clouds Monday morning as I said goodbye to Meg and set off on my way to school. Despite the weekend drama, I had finals to think about, and I was stressing out big time about the oral part of the exam I’d have to give in Spanish. It wasn’t that I didn’t know my stuff; I had a solid A in the class. But Katie was in the same period, and I wasn’t putting anything past her. Just the thought of what she might do to sabotage my grade made my palms sweat.
The grumbling rev of a car’s engine pulled me back to reality, and I looked up just as Adrian was backing out of his driveway. I did my best to ignore him, but my stomach flipped when he pulled up alongside me and asked if I wanted a ride. I cast a nervous glance over my shoulder, half expecting Meg and David to be standing there wagging their fingers in reproach.
“Why aren’t you walking?” I said. “We live, like, three blocks from school.”
“Exactly. Three whole blocks.” Adrian gave me a lop-sided grin. “I’m only kidding. Driving is one of the perks of being an upperclassman. Don’t you know that?”
“Of course I do, but . . .”
“But what? Get in. I’ll give you a lift.”
I wanted to say yes so, so badly. How could someone like Adrian, someone who made me feel this good and tingly inside, be bad? However, I was already on the outs with David and Meg, and I didn’t relish the idea of being grounded for the rest of my life if I got caught.
“It’s a nice day,” I said. “I think I’ll walk. But thanks for the offer.” I readjusted my bag on my shoulder and started off down the sidewalk again, watching the ground so I wouldn’t trip on the uneven pavement. No sense in making a fool out of myself by falling flat on my face.
“Wait a minute,” Adrian said. He pulled up alongside me again and let the Bug coast at a lazy pace as I kept on walking.
“You know you’re going to get in trouble for driving on the wrong side of the road.”
“It’s not exactly a busy street,” he said. “Stop messing around and get in.” I didn’t have to look at his face to know that he was smiling.
“I told you I prefer to walk this morning.”
Adrian laughed. “All right. I see how it is. I actually like a girl who plays hard to get.”
I stopped in my tracks and turned to face him, my mouth
And my father.
Before, whenever I’d thought about the future, I’d imagined going away to college. Maybe I’d become a teacher or go to med school. Maybe I’d become a journalist or start my own business, like Meg. I didn’t really know, but the possibility to do whatever had always been there.
Now, I had so much more to consider: the tribe, Victor and Shyla, my feelings for Adrian . . . my father. Was he somewhere, out there?
I shivered at the thought of him. Of ever coming face to face with him. Of ever speaking to him.
I got out of bed and once again arranged the photos in their proper places. With my chemistry homework already done and in no mood to watch TV, I got ready for bed.
As I was mindlessly brushing my hair, a task that usually calmed me, a movement outside the window caught my attention. I was sure I’d seen the shadow of a person from the corner of my eye, and the hair at the nape of my neck prickled.
I scrambled to the window and cautiously stuck my head out a few inches. “Is anyone there?” I said, scanning the yard. But there was no answer. Even so, I slammed the window shut. And for the first time since the fire, I locked it tight.
Two weeks. That’s what was standing between me and summer vacation.
Since freshmen year, graduation had always hung just out of reach, the proverbial brass ring of my high-school career. Now it was just around the corner, and I was one step closer to the next phase of my life. But instead of being filled with excitement like I usually was, all I felt was doubt and fear about the future.
My head was in the clouds Monday morning as I said goodbye to Meg and set off on my way to school. Despite the weekend drama, I had finals to think about, and I was stressing out big time about the oral part of the exam I’d have to give in Spanish. It wasn’t that I didn’t know my stuff; I had a solid A in the class. But Katie was in the same period, and I wasn’t putting anything past her. Just the thought of what she might do to sabotage my grade made my palms sweat.
The grumbling rev of a car’s engine pulled me back to reality, and I looked up just as Adrian was backing out of his driveway. I did my best to ignore him, but my stomach flipped when he pulled up alongside me and asked if I wanted a ride. I cast a nervous glance over my shoulder, half expecting Meg and David to be standing there wagging their fingers in reproach.
“Why aren’t you walking?” I said. “We live, like, three blocks from school.”
“Exactly. Three whole blocks.” Adrian gave me a lop-sided grin. “I’m only kidding. Driving is one of the perks of being an upperclassman. Don’t you know that?”
“Of course I do, but . . .”
“But what? Get in. I’ll give you a lift.”
I wanted to say yes so, so badly. How could someone like Adrian, someone who made me feel this good and tingly inside, be bad? However, I was already on the outs with David and Meg, and I didn’t relish the idea of being grounded for the rest of my life if I got caught.
“It’s a nice day,” I said. “I think I’ll walk. But thanks for the offer.” I readjusted my bag on my shoulder and started off down the sidewalk again, watching the ground so I wouldn’t trip on the uneven pavement. No sense in making a fool out of myself by falling flat on my face.
“Wait a minute,” Adrian said. He pulled up alongside me again and let the Bug coast at a lazy pace as I kept on walking.
“You know you’re going to get in trouble for driving on the wrong side of the road.”
“It’s not exactly a busy street,” he said. “Stop messing around and get in.” I didn’t have to look at his face to know that he was smiling.
“I told you I prefer to walk this morning.”
Adrian laughed. “All right. I see how it is. I actually like a girl who plays hard to get.”
I stopped in my tracks and turned to face him, my mouth
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