The rest of the week goes a lot like that. Starting Tuesday morning, Lucas picks Tyler up for school every day. I find them at lunch and I still hang out in the band room, sitting close to Ty but not talking to anyone. Christian doesn't come all week. I see him once a day between 4th and 5th and he doesn't even look at me. I have too much pride to apologize to Ty or Christian. In the evenings, I have dinner with the family but I don't talk. Ty kisses me on the forehead every night before bed but we still haven't said one word to each other.
By Thursday, my conviction is running weak and I don't have much anger left in my body. I'm tired of fighting and without Christian or Ty to talk to, I'm left with no one. The only words I have said in the last 3 days are answering questions in class or giving short answers to Avenlea and Zion around the dinner table. I only speak when spoken to and I have so much stress and anxiety building up inside me that it feels like its eating me alive. I haven't slept much either. I still have too much pride to talk.
Friday morning is a little different. I'm walking to the bathroom after just waking up and my eyes are mostly closed. I woke up at 4 instead of 6 and I was just going to the bathroom. I ran straight into Ty and I bounce right off him. I, still being ridiculously groggy, pat his chest and say, "sorry buddy didn't see ya there" only I'm too tired to know what to do next.
I forgot momentarily what I'm doing in the hall to begin with so after a moment of racking my brain, trying to figure out how the hell I even got there, I turn around and head back to bed. Right before I close the door, he catches my hand and turns me around, planting a kiss firmly on my lips. That wakes me up and it takes me about 5 seconds to remember that I'm supposed to be mad at him. I back away and put one finger on his chest and gently push him out of my room then close the door and go back to sleep.
By the time I wake up again, he's already gone with Lucas and I have about 2 minutes until its time to leave. I just throw on a gray long sleeve top and a pair of jeans. I grab my shoes, jacket and school bag and walk to my car in my socks. I don't put my shoes on until I get to school. I sit through first period. Ty laughs when he sees me come in so I'm guessing my hair is a rats nest. I push it straight back out of my face and try not to fall asleep at my desk.
I have my head resting on my hand and my eyes are slowly closing when the P.A. system squeaks sharply, jerking me awake. It then resumes to tell us about track tryouts, cheer sign up and some stupid dance thing coming up in a month. The teacher starts up a movie about atoms and molecular structures and since its a no-notes assignment, I decide its the perfect time for a nap. As soon as the lights go out, Ty gets out of his seat and quickly comes around to sit next to me.
"Are you still mad?" He whispers to me.
"Shut up. I'm watching this." I say sarcastically. I let my head fall on the desk gently and I almost fall asleep. The last thing I hear is Ty saying "I'll take that as a yes".
He wakes me up at the end of class and I start trudging my way to class. I barely make it through 2nd and 3rd period and when lunch comes around, I go to the band room and sit on the floor next to Tyler and rest my head against his leg and fall asleep yet again.
He pokes me and shakes me several times before I wake up for good. I look up at him and yawn.
"The office just called for you and lunch is over."
"Okay." I get up and grab my stuff then I wave goodbye to the boys and they wave back. I head down to the office.
The lady at the front desk gives me a million dollar fake smile and asks my name. I tell her and her smile falters for a split second, barely enough to catch it. She asks me to have a seat and the principal will see me in a minute.
A half an hour later and I'm thinking a minute my ass when Mrs. Bentley pokes her head out of her office and smiles at me. "We're ready for you dear."
My head starts spinning and my stomach fills with butterflies. I'm the good kid. What could the principal want me for? As soon as I step into her office, my palms start sweating because my appointed school counselor, Mrs. Medina, is sitting with her legs crossed and a smile that says, "I'm so sorry but I'm about to crush your dreams, sweetheart." Its the same look she gave me after Skylar died.
Mrs. Bentley sits down at her desk and gestures at the chair in fornt of Mrs. Medina. "Please, have a seat. This will only take a minute."
I sit hesitantly and smile awkwardly, bracing myself for the bad news that is sure to follow.
At first, it doesn't come. We all just sit there with different meaning smiles on our faces and my mind is going a million different directions. I try to think of everything I could have done. Is it because of how I treated Christian? Wait. Have I even seen Christian today? I think back quickly. No. I haven't seen him since Wednesday. What if something happened to him? Its all my fault. Oh my god would someone please just explain why I'm here?
Mrs. Bentley and Mrs. Medina share a meaningful look and Mrs. Bentley looks down at her desk and clears her throat before putting on her fake smile again and finally speaking. "So I understand that you've been staying with the Penn family recently?"
Oh god. Something happened to one of Ty's parents. Oh god oh god oh god. I nod but don't say anything. I gulp.
"And you haven't had any recent contact with your mother?"
I shake my head.
"Can you explain to me why you moved houses?"
Okay wait. She cannot seriously be here to tell me off about moving. Its not like she can do anything about it now anyway. I'm 18. I'm legal. "I decided that it was not safe to be in her home any more and Mr and Mrs. Penn offered their home to me." I don't say anything more and they share another look. "Mrs. Bentley may I ask why I'm in here?"
She just clears her throat again and looks at Mrs. Medina. I follow her gaze. Mrs. Medina has dropped the fake smile and her face now holds a look of concern. She scoots to the edge of her chair, leans forward and puts her hand on my knee. She looks directly into my eyes.
"Miss Adams, your mother is dead."
