Soda Pop

Chapter 40- The Dislocation

"Disowned? By who?"

The sobbing gets worse. "My mom. She-she said. She said if I choose to live with my scumbag of a father, I am just as bad as him, and I shouldn't even bother talking to her."

"Della, that's awful. How could a mother ever do that? She doesn't deserve you if she acts like that. What are you doing right now?"

"Crying in my room. Why?"

"It's not too late to join us at homecoming," I offer.

She perks up a bit. "Maybe your right, but I never bought a dress, remember?"

"What about that dress you bought over the summer? The red one? You could wear that one couldn't you?"

"I guess. Fine. Can you pick me up?"

"Sure. We will see you soon."

I hang up just as Courtney appears in the doorway. "What's going on?"

I explain about Della, and how we need to leave a little early to pick her up.

"She's really coming?" Her eyes widen with excitement.

"Yeah, but we have to get going if we want to make it to her house before we head to homecoming."

I shoo her out the door, and we both explain the situation to our dates. I leave enough money to pay for the bill on the table and we leave.

By the time we get to Della's house, the dance had already started.

I continually text her, but she doesn't reply. Finally, after what seems like forever, Della comes out. She looks like more that a million bucks. She looks amazing. Her gorgeous red dress cuts off just short enough to keep it interesting. The sleeves are partially cream with accents of red. It looks stunning. Like a red carpet dress.

She has on nude suede pumps, and her hair gathered at the back in a low looking ponytail with her hair curled.

She climbs into the back seat of the car, and the car is filled with the scent of lavender- Della's signature smell.

And I only have one question. "How did you get ready so fast? If that was me, I probably wouldn't have even been dressed yet."

"It was so weird. Suddenly my body was like in super speed or something."

I laugh, assuming she is kidding, but when I realize she isn't, I awkwardly clear my throat and stop laughing.

"So, um, you must be Brett. I'm Della," She introduces herself.

He laughs unsteadily. "Oh, yeah that's me."

"Casey told me so much about you. So you go to school at Penn State?"

"Yeah, I'm studying Pre-Med."

"Wow, Casey can pick 'em! A doctor in training!"

"Okay, okay," I turn to give her a Stop-You-Are-Embarassing-Me look. She shrugs in response, giving me a What-Are-You-Going-To-Do-About-It look.

Brett laughs awkwardly, and the car is filled with a pregnant pause. The silence fills the air, suffocating me.

"So, how is your sister?" I break the silence. I see Brett relax a bit.

Della stares at the floor, messing with her sleeve. At first I think she is going to pretend she doesn't hear me, but then she surprises me and speaks up. "I think we are better. Once my mom disowned me, she thought that was really mean of her. And Alyssa is deciding to live with my dad too. Because how can a mother do that to her own child?"