Hello Neighbor: Hidden Shadows: Unofficial AFK Book

CHAPTER 10

    Surprisingly, mom let me walk home with Enzo, Trinity, and Maritza, who is now in the eighth grade, with the luck of having the chance to use the office phone. I walk side to side with Maritza, who I feel more comfortable being around now.

   "So we're having a sleepover Saturday?" asks Maritza, who oddly seems happy today.

   "Yeah, If my parents let me," I reply, looking over the streets. I know I'm not looking at her when I'm speaking, but I feel like something across the street it grabbing my attention. I turn back to Maritza, who for some reason had been looking at me the whole time. Right when I had looked back, she quickly turned the other way, fiddling with her hair and blinking about ten times in a row really fast. Weird. I notice that we are at my house now, and I feel kind of disappointed that this walk didn't last longer than I thought it would.

   "Well, I guess I'm here," I say.

   "Yeah. We'll see you at school tomorrow Nicky," says Trinity. I've never heard anyone say that to me. I kind of feel honored in some sort of way.

   "Okay, bye," I say awkwardly. I waddle to my doorstep, taking another look back. Maritza turns back around from looking at me again. Why is she doing that? Is she suspicious of me again? She can't be. They already know the truth. I open the door to my house, seeing Mom in the kitchen.

   "Hello?" I call. Mom glances back to the door, who looks disappointed and worried for some reason.

   "Nicholas Roth, where have you been?" she asks, making me confused.

   "What do you mean? You said I could walk home with my friends today," I say. Mom narrows her eyes at me, making me anxious. She takes steps closer to me, making me step back further to the door, making my want to yank the door handle.

   "No, I didn't Nicholas," she says, making me seem like I'm crazy again.

   "I called you at school today, and I asked you. You said yes. I know you did," I say. She stands there frozen again, her face loosening up.

   "No, I did get a call. In fact, I didn't get a call at all today. From anybody," she informs. I stare at her. What the heck does she mean 'I didn't get a call today'. Who did I call?

   "Is it possible that you may have called the wrong number?" she asks, raising a brow.

   "I mean, maybe, but I'm pretty sure I called this house. The exact number," I reply, putting emphasis on the word 'house', even pointing at the floor.

   "What's the house number then?" Mom challenges.

   I say it.

   Now mom just looks confused. And so am I, so I can't really blame her. We both look at each other in confusion, until one of us says something.

   "Next time, just make sure you don't miss any numbers, okay?"

   I nod.

   "How was your first day at school?"

   "Fine," I shrug.

   Mom gives me that look. She knows I don't really mean fine, so she's definitely going to mess with me now.

   "Can't be just, 'fine'. Give me some details. Like, did you make any new friends? Did you like your classes at all? What happened?"

   I knew I wouldn't get out of this. "No, barely, and nothing special," I answer quickly, trying to head up the stairs as fast as I can.

   "Is that so?" Mom asks, giving me a smirk from the corner of her lips.

   "Yeaaah. Aren't you supposed to be working today?" I ask suspiciously.