The One For Me(34)
I laugh. I guess that’s true. I wouldn’t know. I probably couldn’t beat up a puppy if I had to. I’d get attacked. “I guess so,” I say. “Any news from Dad?”
“I sent him the pictures, he said you looked beautiful.”
I shake my head. “Not about me, about you two.”
Mom sighs. “We went over this, Katy. Your dad and I--,”
I stop her with my hand. “I know, I just thought maybe you guys changed your minds. It could happen, right? Hayden seems to have changed his mind. He is jealous.”
Mom smiles. “It could happen, but please don’t worry about that. You have enough to worry about. Just worry about yourself. I’m a big girl. I have a wonderful life with or without your dad. You understand that right? You’re my life. I have a wonderful daughter.”
Do I understand? We’re no longer a happy family. We’re no longer the happy threesome. We’re two separate broken home. I want to scream. I should have never brought it up. “I think I’m going to hit the sack early, Mom.”
She nods. “Yeah, I’m going to finish my milk and turn in, too.” I lean over and give her a kiss before I walk up to my room and strip out of my clothes. I pull on a t-shirt and boxers. I crawl into my bed and stare at the ceiling. I close my eyes and push past all of the problems running a marathon in my mind. I finally find sleep, drifting off with the hope of change in grasp.
Chapter Seven
I crane my neck around the cafeteria. Still not here. I pull out my phone and check my texts. Nothing. Nada. Well, only a text from Jen that says, “Mr. Fringe looks super yummy today.”
I shove my phone back into my pocket. If her mother finds those texts, her ass is grass.
I fiddle with the strap of my bag, grab my lunch and sit down at our usual table. It’s empty; Jen is standing in line, making googly eyes at Mr. Fringe from across the room. I roll my eyes. I pick at my chicken nuggets. He is going to file sexual harassment charges against her, and I’m going to say I told you so.
“Why so blue, Charlie Brown,” Jen says, sitting down across from me. “Oh,” she smiles, “you’re missing your boo thang. How did it go? You ignored my calls all weekend. What’s up with that shiznit?”
I shake my head. “Hayden and Liam got into a fight,” I say.
Jen’s mouth drops open. “No, freaking way. That’s why Hayden has that big shiner; he is trying to cover it up with his hair, but it’s so totally not working. Why in the Hades didn’t you tell me! This is important information. You should be put in jail for withholding information.”
I almost smile. He deserves it. He has only ruined everything.
“Where is Liam?” she asks.
I shrug. “I have no idea. He won’t text me back. He kind of just left me at the house, he was mad.”
Jen cocks an eyebrow. “This is so juicy, two guys fighting over you,” she says, smiling. “Dreams do come true, huh?”
I dunk my chicken nugget in a big puddle of Ketchup. “Well, it would be if Liam would answer my phone calls,” I whisper.
Jen sighs, and then sits up, quickly. “Hottie alert,” Jen, says, fluffing her hair. “He is coming over here,” she whispers.
I glance over my shoulder at Mr. Fringe walking toward me. “Katy,” he says, smiling. He really is handsome, but about ten years too old for us. “How are you?”
“Good.” Liar.
“I wanted to come by and thank you for dealing with Liam.” I’m doing more than dealing with him. “You’ve done great for him. His grades have improved. I’m very thrilled to say that I’m happy I paired you to up.”
“Yeah, well he did it; I just gave him a push that he needed.”
Mr. Fringe smiles at me, and then he glances over at Jen. “Hello, Jennifer.”
She smiles. “Hello.”
“I see you in class,” he says, cocking an eyebrow. She tilts her head to the side. “You know what I mean.” He smiles and walks away.
A blush rides along Jen’s cheeks. “How humiliating.”
“What do you do in class?”
She laughs. “I fan myself when he walks past me. Blow him kisses behind his back and secretly wish he would give me two minutes of his time.” She wiggles her eyebrows.
“That is humiliating. I bet he feels like he is naked on stage at Chip-n-dales.”
“That sounds yummy.”
“That sounds like rape.”
When I open my locker, after lunch, I feel a hand on my shoulder. I relax into the touch. Finally. I turn expecting to see Liam, but Hayden is standing behind me. A purple-ish bruise barely hides behind his shaggy brown hair.