Chapter 24
“You know the drill,” my mom says without looking my way.
My brows furrow. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you come straight home, and I will call you to make sure you are home.”
“Oh, yeah,” I whisper.
“And while you’re at it, clean the house.”
Before closing the car door, I ask, “What do you want me to clean?”
“I don’t know, Blakely. You’re old enough to figure out what needs to be cleaned.” My chest tightens as I hear the disappointment in her voice. She hasn’t looked at me since Saturday night.
I nod, shut the door, and start walking into the school. As I walk in, Kai grabs my hand, pulls me toward him, and wraps his arms around me. “I miss you.”
I dig my head into his chest. Being in his arms makes me feel better.
Safe.
At home.
It was hard being home all day Sunday with no one to talk to and knowing my mom didn’t want me.
You’re going to foster care. Her shocking words made me feel unwelcome and unwanted.
I felt like I had to ask permission for every little step I took.
I didn’t even eat all day. Not once did my mom even check to see if I was hungry.
I don’t blame her. I sat in my room all day until the Monday morning sun rose.
“Let me guess, you didn’t get in trouble?” I ask.
Kai shakes his head. “I got a ticket like everyone else. How mad was your mom?”
“She’s pissed. But I think more disappointed than pissed.”
“Hi, guys.” Paige walks in and stands next to us.
“Did you get caught on Saturday?”
“Yes,” she says and rolls her eyes. “Guess why the damn cops came?”
“Why?”
“It was that stupid bitch, Allison. Her parents called the cops when they found out she was at a party.”
“What!” I exclaim. “I thought her parents let her do whatever she wanted.”
“I guess not. I think she’s all talk.”
“Wait. Whose Allison?” Kai asks.
This makes me feel even better knowing he didn’t even know her name.
“Remember the girl that was eyeing us at the party when we were kissing?”
“Oh.” His brows raise. “Her.” He scoffs.
Paige and I both nod.
“What a bitch,” I say.
The bell rings, and Kai pulls me in for a kiss. “I’ll see you before I go to work,” he says.
Paige and I have the same class right now. Although, something tells me our moms might split us up soon–especially if my mom and hers talk and they find out we were together at the party.
“So, how long are you grounded for?” I ask Paige while we walk into English class.
“Who knows? She took away my phone, and I can only go to school and home. She said she would have taken the car away from me, but since she works nights, she’s willing to let me drive it to school and back so I don’t disturb her sleep.”
During lunch, Paige and I sit by ourselves in the far corner, not wanting to be around anyone.
So many rumors and whispers have been going around about the party.
A lot of people from our school were there, or at least heard about it.
Every time I overhear a conversation, Allison’s name gets brought up, and people are pissed at her.
I haven’t seen Allison today, but I heard after that she left school.
“What if we got our own apartment?” Paige says, taking a sip of her chocolate milk.
I chuckle. “Who the hell is going to rent to us? We’re underage.”
She takes a bite of her chicken sandwich. “How do Kai and his brother do it?”
“Kai’s brother is twenty. He’s old enough to rent an apartment.”
Her grin drops.
“You think two minimum wage jobs would pay for an apartment?”
“Doesn’t hurt to try. We can find an older roommate to sign the lease.” She shrugs her shoulders.
This might work, and Kai turns eighteen soon. All three of us could live together. Paige and I can get part-time jobs after school. Kai would help us. Especially if that lets us be together more.
My mom doesn’t want me, anyway. This will take some stress off of her since she won’t have to worry about me anymore. It will show her I can make it on my own.
“First, we need to find jobs,” I say.
Her brows raise, and I can tell she’s hopeful. “So you want to?”
“Let’s see what jobs we can get first.”
“Claires at the mall are always hiring. We can try there.”
The mall closes at nine every night. The school day ends at two fifteen. By the time we drive there, we could start work at three thirty—if we drive fast. That would give us six in a half hours of paid time a night.
This might actually work.