In the Middle of Nowhere (Willow's Journey #1)
Page 28
Saturday slowly crept by and I still hadn’t heard a word from Michael. I was sick with worry, but there was absolutely nothing I could do about it, except sit around and hope that he contacted me.
My mom took James out for lunch so I took advantage of being alone in the house and went downstairs to see if I could find something edible. I rummaged through the cabinets and couldn’t find anything. Finally my hand touched something in the back. I found a stale, hard bagel. I was hungry and desperate so I popped it in the toaster, figuring it couldn’t get any harder. I’d just smother the deadly weapon with cream cheese and hope for the best.
Just as the bagel-rock popped up, my cell phone beeped, telling me I had a new text message. I didn’t recognize the phone number, but I opened it and read it anyway. The message was from Michael. He said that he was using his mom’s cell phone to text me. The rest of the message read: “So sorry about tonight. I won’t be able to get together. I’m in the hospital doing okay. I’ll call when I get a chance.”
At first I was disappointed that I wouldn’t be seeing Michael later that night, but so relieved to know that he was doing all right. I wondered why he was in the hospital and when he went there. I hoped that he really was doing okay and that he didn’t just say that so I wouldn’t worry too much.
Well, I couldn’t help myself. I started to worry. How long would Michael be in the hospital and how sick was he, I wondered? I quickly realized that I couldn’t solve anything by worrying, so I piled on the cream cheese and tried to think of what I would text back. “Feel better soon,” I wrote. I didn’t want to say any more in case his mom read it.
I closed my cell phone and walked over to the table. As I sat alone in the cold, lonely kitchen and ate my tasteless bagel, I wished that it was nighttime and that the sky was dark and cloudless so I, too, could wish upon a star for the recovery of a sick boy whom I found myself falling for. Hard.
• • •
I spent most of the afternoon in my room surfing the net and listening to music. I still had homework to do, but wasn’t in the mood to do it. For that matter, I wasn’t in the mood to do anything. I was too worried about Michael.
I heard my mother and brother return shortly after lunch. I wasn’t looking forward to spending the night home with the two of them and hadn’t yet told my mother that my plans were cancelled. Then I realized that I hadn’t even told my mom that I had any plans to begin with. I had avoided her as much as possible since her latest and greatest announcement. I tried not to think of my mom being engaged to Brian. I tried not to think of my mom at all.
I didn’t know whom else to call to go out. For a split second I thought of Tessa. I wondered what she was doing, but thought better of it, guessing she’d most likely be going to some wild party. I didn’t want to socialize with people and make idle chit chat. I was in no mood.
As if reading my mind, my phone rang. It was Tessa.
“Hey. What’s up?” I asked.
“Nothing. What are you doing tonight?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“Wanna hang?”
“Where?”
“Dunno.”
“You mean a party somewhere?” I asked.
“No. No parties tonight. Wanna just come over here? I’ll pick you up.”
“Will your brother be there?”
“Yeah, but he’s already in a stupor. He won’t bother us.”
“What time?”
“I’ll get you at seven,” she said as she took a drag. “Wanna sleep over?”
“Are your parents home?”
“What do you think?” she snapped, as if I should always be up to date on her parents’ whereabouts.
“I’ll have to ask my mom. You may have to come in and meet her, especially if I’m gonna sleep over.”
“What am I,” Tessa asked sarcastically, “your babysitter?”
“Forget it then!”
“Fine, fine,” she huffed. “I’ll make sure to wear something professional, too. Maybe I’ll borrow one of the outfits my mom wears to her charity events.”
“Ha, ha. Funny. You have to act mature and tell my mom that your parents will be home if she asks.”
“I’m always mature, Willow,” she said and blew her smoke into the phone.
“And,” I added, “don’t smoke before you come here. I don’t want you smelling like it.”
“Are you serious? Am I gonna have to take a Breathalyzer, too, for Christ’s sake?”
“Then forget the whole thing!” I yelled.
Tessa relented. “Alright. Calm down. I’ll act all proper and shit and behave like a young lady and won’t drink or smoke until we get back to my house.”
“Okay. See you at seven,” I said and hung up.
I stood and walked over to my mirror and studied my reflection. I looked pathetic, like I just rolled out of bed. I turned toward my closet. First I wanted to pick out a cute, but comfortable outfit and then I’d shower.
In the meantime, I had to think about how I was going to convince my mother to let me stay overnight at Tessa’s, when I had never even mentioned her name before. I didn’t know why my mom would care where I slept. Sometimes it seemed like she cared too much about what I did or with whom I did it, but other times I felt as though my mother was so wrapped up in her own little world, she didn’t care about me at all.
• • •
Tessa rang the doorbell promptly at seven. I ran down the stairs to answer it. I wanted to take a whiff of her to make sure she didn’t reek of smoke or booze, for that matter. I just never knew with her.
I was surprised earlier when I had asked my mom if I could go over to Tessa’s and spend the night. I told her that Tessa would come inside so she could meet her first. I felt as if I was going on a date.
My mom had said, “yes,” so easily. What was up with her, I wondered? Maybe she felt guilty for making me stay home with James the Saturday night before or because she knew how unhappy I was that she was planning a future with Mr. Roberts. That’s what I felt like calling Brian from now on; Mr. Roberts, just to show them both how much I disapproved of their impending union.
I should take advantage of her guilt and ask her if I could get my driver’s permit soon. I had already asked her a bunch of times and she had said, “no,” each and every time.
Tessa looked nice. Thankfully she didn’t follow through with her threat and wear one of her mother’s suits. Again, I never knew with her. She had on a down jacket, pair of jeans and UGG boots. I too settled on my UGGs, a comfy sweater and pair of yoga pants from PINK.
Tessa followed me into the kitchen where my mom stood, baking cookies.
I cleared my throat. “Mom, I’d like you to meet my friend Tessa.” I sounded so ridiculous, like I had just finished interviewing Tessa for a position at a company where my mom was the head of HR.
Respectfully Tessa stuck out her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Flynn.”
My mother surveyed Tessa from head to toe before she wiped her hand on her apron and reciprocated. “Nice to meet you, too.”
My mother smiled. “Will your parents be home tonight, Tessa?”
Without missing a beat, Tessa answered. “Yes, they will be, Mrs. Flynn. Would you like me to call them, now, so you can speak with them?”
I almost keeled over. Why the hell did Tessa say that? We both knew very well that her parents weren’t going to be around. Why would she offer my mother the chance to talk to people I had never even met?
My mother put up her hand and shook her head. “No, that’s alright, dear. Maybe another time.”
Tessa looked over at me and smirked. She was a piece of work all right. Somehow she knew my mother would say, “No.”
“Gotta go,” I said as I spun on my heels and headed for the front door. Tessa was right behind me. I grabbed my overnight bag and my North Face jacket and practically ran to Tessa’s car so my mother wouldn’t have the chance to ask any more questions that could potentially incri
minate us.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE