Stephan(23)

Stephan pulled around the back even after I asked him to drop me out front. “No way, little bit. Did you see all those bikes and cars? Anything could happen while you were getting back here.”

Rolling my eyes, I got out of the car and grabbed my bag. Stephan followed. Oh no. I didn’t want him following me. There was no way I wanted him to see how I lived. I’d seen his house, well mansion. The whole apartment was almost this size of his bathroom. “Stay here. I’m fine from here.” But of course he didn’t listen as usual and followed me up the steps. No way was I opening the door. “I’m here now. You can go.”

“I want to come in and say hi to your grandfather. I also want to help you set up the phone.” There was no way he was seeing or talking to my grandfather, and I had forgotten about the stupid phone.

“Grandpa is downstairs. It’s busy tonight.” I snatched the phone out of his hand. I knew he wouldn’t leave unless I took it. “I can set this up myself.”

Stephan gave me a stern stare, the one he used to make me cave, but not this time. I was too embarrassed about how I lived, no way was I showing him and I hated feeling like that. He must have known I wasn’t going to fold because he ran his fingers through his hair and sighed.

“Fine, you win this time. But you better have the phone tomorrow. I’ll call you in the morning and if you don’t answer, I’ll be around. Okay?”

I nodded because right now I’d agree to anything as long as he left. I opened the door, slipped in, and shut it in his face. Leaning against the door, I closed my eyes and sighed in relief. Opening my eyes once I knew he was gone, I clutched my bags and went to my room to play with my new phone.

*****

The ringing woke me and I shot up out of bed searching for the mobile before it woke Grandpa. Grabbing it off the charger, I slid my finger across the green phone icon. “Hello?”

“Hi, little bit.”

I got back into bed groaning until I saw I’d slept in and my alarm hadn’t gone off “What do you want?”

“That’s not a nice way to talk to me, especially since I’m ringing to tell you I’ll be there to pick you up in in half an hour—so be ready.”

It took a minute for my still groggy mind to register what he’d said, and then it hit me. “What. No. You can’t pick me up. I can get to school on my own.” I was too late though, he’d hung up. Wanker.

Getting back out of bed, I emptied my school bag of clothes and put my school things back in. Gathering my school clothes I rummaged in my garbage bags for clean underwear then headed for the shower, grabbing a towel from the closet on the way. I needed to be ready and out front before Stephan got any ideas of coming up the apartment.

*****

Stephan





Jade met me out the front of the pub for the next four days. I made sure she had her phone with her every time she left. My goal was to get her into the habit of taking it with her wherever she went.

I’d finally started to crack her hard shell. I picked her up and drove her to school. On Monday she’d retreated as soon as we arrived, but every day since then it got a little better.

“Thanks for the lift.” Jade smiled at me and jumped out of my car almost running to the school. I let her run and hide. I’d find her later in the day.

At recess on Monday she’d hid. Her friends thought it was hilarious and wouldn’t tell me where to find her. At lunch I didn’t let her hide. I may not be in any of her classes, but my brother was in a few. When he wasn’t able to be there, one of my friends were with her. Brad had been in her class before lunch and I’d asked him to bring her to where we sat. If she kicked up too much of a stink Brad would follow her and call me.

Brad called me. “She doesn’t like to be told what to do and she has some mouth on her—some of the things she called me…” Brad chuckled. “She’s in the library. I’ll wait for you here.”

I’d gone to the library and found her in a back corner reading.

Brad whacked me on the back. “Good luck. I don’t even think me Mum’s death stares are as vicious as hers.”

She knew the instant I came in because she put the book down and gave me her best glare. I don’t think she realize how hot it made her look. I ignored her glare, kissing and hugging her until the librarian, Mrs. Vren, interrupted.

“Mr. Silverman, take it outside.”

I’d picked up Jade’s bag, wrapped my arm around her, and guided her out of the library.

We walked through the school and down toward the oval where I sat.

“Let me go. I can walk by myself.”