You Could Be Home by Now by Tracy Manaster Page B

u?
    LilyBee : I’m busy. I told you.
    Secanthelpit : fine. ta. meeting R in a sec
    LilyBee : I see ROCKY gets caps.
    Secanthelpit : always, lady, always.
    LilyBee : Great. Have fun. Say hi for me. See you next Tuesday.
    Secanthelpit : thought u weren’t home till next month at least?
    LilyBee : Sorry. That’s what I meant.
    Secanthelpit : counting down 2 it!!! c ya!!
    LilyBee : I’m really sorry I wrote that.
    LilyBee : Really, really.
    LilyBee : Sierra?
    LilyBee : I didn’t mean it.
    LilyBee : I’m worried about my gran.
    Secanthelpit : Secanthelpit is offline and will not receive your message.
    LilyBee : She’s really into her neighbor.
    Secanthelpit : Secanthelpit is offline and will not receive your message.
    LilyBee : He’s a dick.
    It didn’t have the same effect. Dick cock balls . The words were brassy and arrogant and only anatomically related to cunt.
    LilyBee : He’s a worm.
    Secanthelpit : Secanthelpit is offline and will not receive your message.
    LilyBee : A weak wan flaccid little worm.
    â€œWell.” Gran was in the doorway. “It looks like we’ve been stood up.” She said it twelve times calmer than Sierra would’ve if Rocky (a) deigned to agree to a standing date and (b) broke it. She brushed her hands like a gymnast chalking up. She rocked up on tiptoe. Lily clamped the laptop shut. Mom and Dad would have a fit at that. House rules: all Internet business is to be conducted in communal areas. Gran shot her a look. Gran had probably heard the whole Safe Cyber Choices lecture in excruciating detail. Poor Gran. She must’ve made the parentals’ shit list for letting Lily within fifty feet of a functioning computer. She hadn’t said a word though. Every cell that comprised Lily hoped her grandmother had never been called cunt.
    â€œGood,” Lily said. “I’m glad.”
    â€œWhat?” Gran frowned.
    â€œI said, good. I don’t like him.”
    â€œBen?”
    â€œHe’s sketch city.”
    â€œI hope that’s slang for generous neighbor.”
    A pause. A sigh. Gran sunk back on her heels and it was amazing the height that she lost.
    â€œNo. I didn’t suppose it was. Lily, I’m—”
    â€œHe’s always around and I saw a—”
    â€œI’m sorry.” Gran shook her head, all highlights and shine. Maybe Mona Rosko wasn’t the brave one, letting her color leach away like autumn in reverse. Maybe Gran was, holding on to brightness while it lasted. “I’ve left you on your own too much. I should’ve—”
    â€œThat’s not why I don’t like him. He—”
    â€œI thought you might want the space.” Another sigh. “I know you’re having a prickly time of it back home.”
    â€œI’m not. I’m fine.”
    â€œYour folks said a change of scene would be just the trick. Sunshine, sleeping in. A chance to take your mind off things. The last thing I wanted was to smother you, but if you prefer”—she spread her arms wide—“this old girl’s ready to smother away.”
    â€œGran. They didn’t pack me off here like a delinquent.” They’d sent her down for Gran’s sake, so she wouldn’t be alone as her first year without Grandpa passed. An open-ended ticket because it was anyone’s guess how much she’d hurt, and how long.
    â€œNobody thinks that. Nobody.”
    â€œI’m not some kind of project .” Lily was fine. Better than fine. She was SAT word superlative .
    â€œOf course you aren’t. You’re a welcome guest. Always. Whatever the reasons.”
    â€œ You’re the reason.” Only: Dad and Aunt Manda’s plan came right on the heels of Headmistress Brecken’s office. “ You’re the project.”
    Gran’s expression was unreadable, or maybe Lily was lousy at reading them.
    â€œI’m here because of you. They wanted me to