Motherless

37

Talia

The drive to school was mostly quiet, except for the soft hum of music playing from Mom's favorite playlist—some old R&B song she always sang along to off-key. Usually, I'd make fun of her for it, but today, I just stared out the window, twisting my fingers in my lap.

"You're quiet," Mom said gently as she turned into the school parking lot.

I forced a half-smile. "Just mentally preparing."

She nodded, as if that made sense, and pulled into a spot near the side entrance. "You'll do great, mi amor. Remember, deep breath in, deep breath out."

"Got it." I undid my seatbelt and reached for the door handle, but Mom stopped me with a quick squeeze of my hand.

"If anything—or anyone—bothers you," she said, her voice soft but firm, "you tell me. You don't have to go through it alone, okay?"

I nodded, too quickly. "I know."

But the truth? I didn't plan to tell her anything. Not about Becca. Not about the weird silence between me and Peter. Not about how sometimes it felt like the world moved just fine without me in it.

I got out of the car, slinging my backpack over my shoulder as the chatter of students filled the air. Everyone looked like they belonged—like they knew who they were and where they were going.

Meanwhile, I was already sweating in my long sleeves and wondering if my deodorant would last past homeroom.

I barely made it five steps before I heard it.

"Look who decided to crawl back."

Becca.

I didn't stop. Didn't turn around. But the sound of her voice still made my stomach churn.

Her friends snickered, their laughter slicing through the morning calm like tiny knives. I gripped the strap of my backpack tighter and kept walking. Mom was just behind me, talking to another teacher. Thank God she didn't hear it.

But someone else did.

"Becca, why don't you try minding your own business for once?" Peter's voice rang out.

I froze.

Turned slightly.

He was standing not far away, his brows pulled together in a frown as he glared at Becca.

She laughed, flipping her hair. "Aww, are you defending her now? That's cute. I thought she ghosted you."

Hector didn't flinch. "Maybe she just got tired of people like you."

My mouth went dry.

The courtyard was unusually still for a second. Becca scoffed, then turned on her heel with a muttered "Whatever," dragging her crew with her.

Hector looked over at me. Our eyes met for half a second, and I felt something twist in my chest.

I turned away and kept walking.

Because I didn't ask him to step in.

Because now everyone had seen it.

Because now it was worse.

******

By the time I made it to my locker, my hands were still shaking. Becca was going to have a field day over that little scene. She already hated me—this would just give her something fresh to chew on. And Hector... why did he even say anything?

I avoided him all last year. Not because he did anything wrong, but because I was too tired to hold up conversations. Too tired to smile like nothing was wrong. And he noticed. Of course he noticed.