Constant

Chapter 18

Even though school was hell on earth, it had become less of a hell compared to what waited at home. I didn't know if Mom would force me to the community. She couldn't very well drag me into the car. I tried to make my movements as slow as possible, so it would take me longer to get home. If I was lucky, Mom wouldn't even be there. I sighed. This was ridiculous. What was I doing? Maybe I needed to go to the community one last time just to... I groaned inwardly. Just to what? I didn't know.

"Hey." I turned my head toward the voice. Ben, of course.

"What?" I said, harder than intended.

He didn't seem to take note of my tone, as his eyes were anywhere but at me. They flickered around as if he was afraid he'd be caught talking to me. The hallway was completely empty. I was the only one dragging behind... and Ben, apparently.

"I heard you had surgery," he said, his voice emotionless. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Yeah, I'm part machine now," I said, sarcastically. "Life sucks, you know."

"Yeah, I do know, Scarecrowe" I looked at him quizzically—didn't we have this conversation already?

I scowled. "Don't call me that."

"Fine, Penguin," he quipped.

"Penguin? Why penguin?" I asked.

"They have wings, but they can't fly," he replied. "And your wing is broken."

"And whose fault is that?" I asked, not enjoying the nicknames. Ben always found a way under my skin, even when he tried being nice. What was his problem?

He groaned loudly. "You're impossible," he spat. "I'm trying here!"

"Are you? Just so you can settle your own bad conscience?" I barked.

With a loud snort, he turned around and stalked off. I glared at his back. He couldn't even give me a proper apology for hitting me with his damn car. I had no obligation to be nice to him or accept his apology—or lack thereof.

I slammed my locker shut and walked toward the exit.

The parking lot was empty, and Ben stood by the bus stop. I decided to walk home. I could use the fresh air—and more time to kill. The later I came home, the better. Maybe I could ask Bethany to hang out tomorrow. I hoped I hadn't misread any signs, considering that she and Joyce had eaten lunch with me, as well as drawn on my cast. It must mean something. We might not be friends yet, but I was staying hopeful—because it was the only thing that kept me sane. I needed something constant in my life, something, or someone to rely on. I thought that was Hannah, but I had been wrong. I also thought that was Mom, but she had also gone to show that she wasn't on my side anymore. She didn't listen to me. She didn't believe me. What was I supposed to do?

A foreign car was parked by the curb by our house, and a chill ran down my spine. Mom's Fiat was parked in the driveway. Did we have visitors? Who? Maybe they were visiting a neighbor. It didn't need to belong to us. I slowly walked up the path to the front door, and I heard voices when my hand hovered over the doorknob. Damn it. With a heavy sigh, I opened the door and stepped inside. The voices carried through the hallway from the living room. I knew I couldn't avoid this.

Be brave, Maya, be brave.

Lady Keller and Douglas stood in our living room, standing out like sore thumbs. Their style didn't match our house. They talked to Mom, who wore Lumenoil clothes like always. She was turning into a cartoon character, just like everyone else.

"Maya, there you are. What took you so long?" Mom asked. "School let out well over an hour ago."

"I walked," I replied.