FRIDAY'S GIRL ·ϿʘϾ·

Chapter 41

I woke up that Thursday with such positive energy that I couldn't help but hum in the shower and while I got dressed. When I walked into the kitchen to sit down for breakfast, my sister eyed me suspiciously. She looked half surprised and confused by my unexpected good mood.

"You're not on drugs, are you?" she asked jokingly, spreading jam on a roll, while my mom, who was finishing getting ready in the bathroom, let out a loud laugh at her joke.

"Jesus! Of course not, you're always on about the same thing. I'm just happy, that's all. If you keep nagging me about it, I'll have to start calling you 'Drama Queen.'" I grabbed a toast and spread some butter on it.

Lucy had always been overly protective of me since we were kids. She wasn't fooling me with her fake sense of humor—her joke was partly serious. She had been acting like a mother hen for months, ever since the police brought me home in a squad car last year, the weekend before Halloween. And her neurosis had only gotten worse after what happened to me during the field trip to the living history museum. Mom, on the other hand, trusted me and my good judgment, though she had given me pepper spray and signed me up for self-defense classes starting in the summer. Dad had also called me a few times after what happened, but I had ignored him despite Mom's scolding. I didn't want to talk to him—I hadn't forgiven him, and no matter how hard he tried, I wasn't going to. The wound he left by abandoning us for a twenty-something was as deep as the universe, as irreparable as shattered glass.

"I have a feeling your sister is in love." Mom's voice sounded lively, despite coming home exhausted the night before, not even wanting to have dinner.

"In love?" my sister echoed like a parrot, her eyes looking at me with a venomously inquisitive gaze. "With who? Can we know the lucky guy's name?"

"With no one, with life!" I replied hastily, taking a sip of my latte to avoid continuing the conversation.

"Lately, she's been acting really strange, always coming home late, and last week a very handsome guy brought her home on a motorcycle." Mom's words made my sister smile, waiting for a confession from me.

"Moooom!" I protested, speaking with my mouth full of food. "I'd better go or I'll be late for class."

"Run away, coward! But sooner or later you'll have to tell us who you're seeing," Lucy teased as I hurriedly grabbed my backpack and stuck my tongue out at her like a little kid.

It was true that secrets couldn't last forever. Not to mention that Brad was becoming more careless and reckless by the day. He insisted on taking me home on his motorcycle far too often after our secret dates.

As I got on the school bus, my mind immediately went to him. Involuntarily, a smile spread across my face. Every time we crossed paths in the school hallways, we exchanged knowing glances filled with promises, casual hand touches, and flirty notes or texts. The crazy guy used any excuse to find me, dragging me to the most unexpected places to steal a kiss. His behavior made me laugh and filled me with joy. We lived our love in a bubble where no one else was allowed.

When I arrived at school, the cool breeze caressed my face, filling me with good vibes. That morning, I felt especially happy because in my backpack, I carried the second-to-last gift I had prepared for Brad. I walked down the long hallway with a smile on my lips, imagining his expression when he saw it. Just the thought made my heart race.

"Hey, April!" Grace greeted me as she approached. "Did you get it?"

"Yeah, though it cost me an arm and a leg, and the shirts barely arrived on Saturday afternoon."

We stopped in front of my locker. Looking cautiously in all directions, I pulled the recycled paper bag, which held my gift, out of my backpack and carefully placed it on the bottom shelf.