The Secrets We Keep

The Twelfth Chapter

Hayden

"Please tell me you're fucking joking right now," my mom says as we stand by her car in the parking lot. I came over here to tell her I wouldn't be able to get a ride with her due to my new detention schedule. To say she's not taking it well is a bit of an understatement. "Did I not tell you not to get into any more trouble today?"

Damien sits in the backseat, staring at us with unmasked joy. I'm trying not to take it personally. I think he's just chuffed I'm back to being the 'naughty' sibling. 

"You did and I know and I barely did anything to upset the guy! All I did was arrive late to class and ask to borrow a pen!" 

If you ask me, this whole thing is Christopher's fault. If it weren't for him and his big stupid mouth, we probably wouldn't have landed in detention. 

Mom sighs and starts shaking her head at me. "I need you kids to try for me. Is that so hard? I'm putting myself out on a limb here for you guys to have this amazing education and you keep throwing it in my face!"

Damien loses the smirk and stops staring at us. I look down at my feet and wish I could have a do-over of today. But, unfortunately, life doesn't work that way. 

"Everything you kids do reflects on me as a mother and as a teacher. How do you think I look when my son is writing prank emails and my daughter lands herself in detention and you haven't even been here a whole month?" I can feel her eyes bore into me as Damien and I stay quiet for a second. Her words have triggered a sense of shame and guilt I never thought existed.

"We're sorry," I answer for the both of us, looking up at her guiltily. "And as much as I would like to proof it, I really should be going-"

"Just go," Mom says, pinching her nose between her fingers. "Get an Uber when they let you go. Charge it to your dad's account." 

"Thank you," I say as she opens her car door and gets in. I don't wait for her to leave and instead hoof it back to the chemistry classroom. But no matter how fast I walk, something heavy feels like it's pressing me down by the shoulders, making my steps sluggish and slow. I sigh as I pass all the empty classrooms. It's going to be a long week and it's only Tuesday. 

I don't know what's worse. That I got myself into trouble and landed in detention? Or that I'm stuck with Christopher every afternoon for this entire week? Or that my mom is wondering where she went wrong with me? 

I shake my head, ridding myself of the thoughts and deciding it's better to put them off until another time.

As soon as I get to the classroom, I find Christopher already there with his feet propped up on the desk he's sitting at. It seems like a risky way to sit considering his 'disrespect' was what got us into this mess in the first place. 

"Where's what's-his-face?" I ask as I sit down at my usual desk. Christopher has thankfully chosen a different place to sit in the front. 

"Who knows? But if he doesn't show up soon, I'm leaving," he says, sinking lower into his seat. 

"That's just really great, Christian. I can see you're taking this whole thing seriously." 

"And I see you're back to the childish games," he notes with an air of boredom. 

"I don't know what you're talking about," I say with sickening sweetness. All I know is that he seems to bring out the worst in me. 

"You know damn well what my name is," he says and drops his feet down so that he can turn to stare at me. 

"You know what, I have an idea, why don't you keep your mouth shut and never ever speak to me again," I say, watching as his brown eyes narrow on my face.