“I'm going to drop you off to get cleaned up and go get something to eat, any preferences?”
“Nothing with bananas,” Tamara said as she got out of the car.
Once inside the empty house Tamara headed straight for the bathroom. She kicked off her shoes halfway up the stairs and left her tights outside the door. After carefully taking the dress off without covering herself with banana pudding, she wiped off as much of the goop as she could. It was beginning to dry, so there wasn't much she could do about it. The dress was dry clean only.
After changing into her pajamas Tamara remembered the text she ignored on the way home and retrieved her cellphone, settling into her dad's armchair.
Surprise, surprise, she thought, it's from Hayden.
“Okay, I believe you now.”
“Good. If you didn't I'd say you were the crazy one.”
“Nope. I'm just as sane as you are.”
“Poor thing.”
“?”
“I'm being driven crazy very quickly.”
After sending the message she turned off her phone.
Chapter Nine
Tamara's alarm screeched and she jumped to her feet. She hadn't slept at all. Instead she lay awake counting down the hours, then the minutes, until she could climb out of bed without drawing attention to herself. Every creaky floorboard and flickering shadow made her nervous. Despite her lack of sleep Tamara was wide awake. Her eyes were huge and bloodshot. She dressed quickly and headed downstairs. Tina and Tally were staying home to go to their checkups, so they could sleep in. The house was quiet as Tamara ate a breakfast of a bagel with cream cheese. She had skipped dinner last night, having lost her appetite as a result of being covered in banana pudding.
When she was finished with breakfast Tamara dropped her plate into the soapy dishwater from the night before and turned to double check her backpack. She knew everything was still inside, where it should be, but she needed something to do with her hands.
The water in the sink sloshed and Tamara snapped in the direction of the sink. The plate was airborne and traveling straight for her head. Tamara's reaction time hadn't slowed since the volleyball team was disbanded. Her hands sprang up in front of her face instinctually. The edge of the plate collided with her palms and her fingers gripped the soapy dish. It slipped from her grasp, but she recaptured it inches from the floor.
“Stop it you guys!” she said out loud.
“Who are you talking to, Tam?” Mr. Page asked, entering the kitchen and heading straight for the coffee pot.
“I was practice my monologue for drama,” she lied.
“Sounds good. Am I taking you to school today?”
“What time did Mom get home?”
“Dunno,” he shrugged, “Guess I am then. Hopefully, she rises from the dead in time to take the girls to their checkup.
“Good luck with that.”
“Let's get going, kiddo,” Mr. Page said.
“Don't you need to get dressed first? I don't think Mr. Herold would like it if you showed up to work in your pajamas, not to mention the five o'clock shadow.”
“He gave us the day off to recover from the catastrophe last night. If you want I'll let you play hooky too,” he laughed.
“No thanks,” Tamara shook her head, “School is the only time I escape the insanity around here.”
“Then let's go,” Mr. Page yawned, stepping into his slippers.
Tamara sighed in relief upon seeing Amber and Josh standing at their morning meetup.
“I need to talk to you!” Tamara tugged on the sleeve of Amber's hoodie.
“We're okay now,” Amber laughed, “but I think you should go find Hayden.”
“Is he okay?” she asked too quick, her words slurred together.
“He was looking for you,” Amber giggled, “but I think it's something you need to see for yourself.”
“Okay,” Tamara sighed, “Which way did he head?”
“That way!” Amber and Josh laughed, pointing to the left.
Tamara turned, nearly running into Hayden.
“Why didn't you guys tell me he was right behind...” her words failed her and she bit her tongue hard trying not to laugh.
“Is that why you said you believed me now?” she managed to say.
She ran her fingers through Hayden's hair. Yesterday it had been a dark chestnut brown with natural highlights of lighter browns. Today it was splotched with bright pink patches. Hayden didn't speak while Tamara examined the damage.
“Your little brother did this too?” she said, biting back a grin. me
“No, I think this was the work of our little friends,” Hayden said, looking rather miserable.
Tamara frowned up at him, “Sorry.”
“So what do we do?” he asked.