Tongue Tied

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

My alarm shrills me awake. It's the buzzing one that shakes you up like an emergency. "Ugh. ok. Ok. I'm up." I sit up halfway, pressing the snooze button. My vision is blurry, I rub the crust away from my eyelids. I slept all night. I didn't have dinner. Since today is friday, it should be good, the weekend starts. Oh yeah, the party. I don't want to go. If I ditch, I'll hear the ranting from Quinn and how I missed all the fun. I get out of bed to the bathroom to brush my teeth and shower.

After I got dressed, I went downstairs. I have some time before I go to school, I'm hungry for cereal. What am I forgetting? Hmm. Whatever. When I get the box of Trix cereal, I pour in the bowl with milk. Mom comes down, opening the fridge. "morning mom," I say while she pours herself a cup of coffee.

"Morning," she replies groggily. "Where's the creamer?"

"I think on top of the fridge." On top of the fridge was where I pointed out. I scoop some cereal into my mouth. Trying to find the words to ask what happened yesterday. Instead, I keep my mouth shut, chewing slowly. Mom sips her coffee, resting her hand on the counter, looking at the cabinet. Her face is tense, clenching her jaw. When I finish, I wash my bowl and spoon.

"Bye mom." I go over to hug her, squeezing her tight. I feel she needed it more than me.

"Have a great day." She kisses the top of my head, grabs a banana and went back upstairs. Huh, usually she would make herself a big breakfast before work. There's no sign of dad. He probably left. No sign of him. Or Craig. I walk outside, I'm a few minutes early for school. I take out my phone to text Quinn. My phone! It's still on the charger.

I run inside, mom asks "what's wrong?"

I told her "I forgot my phone!" Jogging upstairs two steps at a time and barging in my room, I unplug it and text Quinn. The three bubbles pop up then disappear. Ugh, this again. Be there in a few. I jog back down, "bye mom!" I yell upstairs and lock the door behind me. I step down, planting my feet on the pavement. I hum away My Shot again, I can use that. No, something melodic. I look up, a boy at the bus stop waiting. Not just any boy. The same one, the one with the dog yesterday. My silver lining for the day. I grin. Does he go to our school? He looks my way, I wave. He doesn't wave back. I drop my hand, scratching my forehead. Ok, he didn't see me. Quinn drives up, I jump into the passenger side and head off.

We arrive on time. Before I entered class, one of my drama classmates, Daphne, stops me in the middle of the hallway. "We have to go to the music room."

"Now?" I ask.

"Now," she nods. I follow her. She opens the door, we're the first two here. I sit near the piano, dropping my backpack against my feet. Others piled in the room, Daphne sits somewhere else in the back.

I tap my foot against the piano chair. Nathan's not here today, doctor's appointment. I have no one to chat with as everyone spoke to themselves. Sam's here. He's typing away on his phone with a smile on his face. Look away, Maya. I sigh out loud. Why are we meeting here?

"Whoo, ok." She comes in sounding out of breath, "sorry I'm late, kids. My husband and his emergency calls." She rolls her eyes with a laugh.

"You're probably wondering why we're meeting here." She drops her bag next to the desk, "the stage is being reconstructed for the whole week. So until it's done we will meet here." I lean against my knee as she continues. "So I have decided what our next production is! Drumroll please." She pointed to the girl seated near the door. She drums her fingers against the desk waiting for Ms. Laughlin to announce it. "Spring Awakening!"

I perk up, yay! I begin a slow clap for the class to join. Production costs, there's not enough in the school budget, is there? But this is cool. The rest join in, Sam claps three times and then goes back to his phone. I know we have to figure out a way to raise money. Budget costs, public schools don't have enough.