Otters

Chapter 7

I took out the first cigarette of my new pack as I walked back to Jo's house for dinner that should've been starting in fifteen minutes. I drew my lighter from the inside of my pocket and lit it. My phone buzzed from my back pocket.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Shane." It was my mom.

"Yeah?"

"I need your help."

"With what?" I got really worried. I almost dropped the cigarette.

"What to wear."

I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they were going to fall out of my head. "Oh my gosh. Fine. I'll be there in five minutes."

"Why are you mad?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"You sound irritated."

"Ever heard of the little boy who cried wolf?" I asked.

"Be here in three."

"Fine."

I hung up, took one last drag of my cigarette, and raced home. I burst through the door to her room, panting as Momma held up two different shirts.

"Which one?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowed. She held up a royal blue long sleeve and a red blouse.

I scratched the back of my head. "The blue one." I turned around as she changed shirts.

"So, this Jo girl is pretty nice," Momma said.

My heart dropped to my stomach and my stomach jumped to my throat at the mention of Jo's name. "I guess so," I replied, trying my best to act nonchalant.

"Is she in any of your classes?" I could hear the smile on her face.

"She's in all of my classes." I fiddled with my zipper which seemed extremely interesting at the moment.

"That's nice." She was silent for a moment. "Do you think she likes you?"

I spun around (thankfully she had finished getting dressed) and exclaimed, "Momma!"

She threw her hands up in the air innocently. "I'm just curious." She grinned as she ran her fingers through her short blonde hair.

I huffed out a breath and rolled my eyes. "You ready?" I asked.

"Ooh, excited to see Jo?" she teased.

"I'm leaving now, Momma," I yelled as I walked through the doorway.

"Oh, c'mon, Shane! I was only teasing." She followed behind me, trying to catch up to my long strides.

I rolled my eyes as I left the house with her right behind me. I approached Jo's house for the second time today and took a deep breath.

"Nervous?" Momma asked.

"Yeah," I admitted quietly.

"Me too." She smiled and rang the doorbell. "Oh, I forgot my phone. I'll be back in a second." She spun around on her heels and left me alone on the porch.

"Momma, don't leave-"

I was cut off by Jo opening the door. She adjusted her glasses and smiled. "Hi again," she said softly with a giggle.

I smirked. "Hey. My mom will be here in a moment. She just forgot her phone."

Jo nodded as she stood back to let me through. "Gosh, you've been smoking, haven't you?" she whispered under her breath.