Then
I’m starting to wonder if there’s a reason why they deliver all my horrible news right before science. It’s like every time I’m outside of this door, I have to prepare myself for what the girls on the other side already know—especially Tanya, who doesn’t seem to miss a thing.
“And another one,” a man says when I open the door. I guess he’s the substitute teacher. “You are?”
“Not going home!” someone yells, and several girls laugh.
“Jasmine,” I say, looking around for any open seat other than the one next to Tanya.
“Well, Jasmine, like I told the other girls, you’re stuck with me for a few days, so get settled.” He points to the empty seat I’m avoiding.
I put my hands in my hoodie pocket. The urge to walk out instantly disappears when my fingers touch a folded piece of paper. The other girls talk quietly among themselves, and for the first time, I’m grateful for their short attention spans.
I avoid eye contact with Tanya all the way to the seat and brace myself for her to say something annoying. I’m not in the mood today.
“You didn’t know about the roof alarm?” she says, moving her notebook from the empty chair.
I look at her. She can tell I’m confused.
“The silent alarm?” she goes on.
My stomach turns and I feel like I might throw up.
The teacher shoots Tanya a look of disapproval and she stops talking. The class starts reading together out loud.
I need some air. I push my chair back, grab the bathroom pass, and leave the room.
Ms. Bree is right outside the door. “Missing class? Aren’t you in enough trouble already?”
“I don’t feel well,” I say.
“Since you’re here, your mother called,” she says. “I’ll take you so you can call her back.”
I follow Ms. Bree down the hall, wondering who Tanya heard from and what happened to Amari. Then I remember the reason we are walking to the unit and my stomach twists itself into a new knot.
“Jasmine, the roof? Seriously?!” my mom screeches when Ms. Bree hands me the phone.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I’m really sorry.”
“Jesus, Jasmine, you’re going to miss the wedding,” she says, her voice breaking. “How could you?”
“I didn’t do it on purpose.” I must be raising my voice because Ms. Bree shoots me a look on her way out.
No yelling, she mouths.
Sorry, I mouth back.
“Why is it always something?” my mom asks. “Travis and Kayla are going to be so disappointed.”
“We didn’t think we’d—” I stop. “Wait, who cares about Travis and Kayla?”
“What? Get caught? Jesus,” she says. “And I do! You should! They care about you!”
“So, you guys are still going to have the wedding? Without me?”
“Seriously, Jasmine? The world can’t stop every time you do something wrong. This is already paid for. It’s happening.”
She sniffles, and I feel my heart squeeze in my chest.
“Well, if you want me to be there, why can’t you just wait until I get home?”
“Because that’s not how life works,” she says. “Actions have consequences.”
“But you were waiting before. Why can’t you just wait a little longer? Do I not matter to you because I made one mistake?!” I press, even though I know what I’m asking isn’t fair.
“You snuck out onto the roof with another girl the night before you were coming home, Jasmine. Do I not matter?!”
Ms. Bree appears in the doorway. “That’s it, wrap it up,” she says.
“I gotta go,” I say, choking back tears. “Have fun with your new family.”
My mom sniffles again, and I almost feel bad enough to apologize. “That’s not very nice, Jasmine,” she says. “I love you.”
I wipe a tear from my face and hang up without responding.
“Did you hang up on your mother?” Ms. Bree asks.
I wipe away another tear and ignore her question.
“You can’t be doing that and expect to get out of here anytime soon,” she says.
“Well, that’s convenient,” I say, “because I’m not getting out of here anytime soon.”