Journey Home

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Miss Flavrin just stares at me, the silence stretching out and out.

"Zoey..., I have told you quite enough," she says firmly. "I told you the things concerning you. But digging into my private matters is another thing." She stares at me with the same dislike I used to face every day.

But I'm not intimidated.

She puts her head on the desk. "I erased his memory without- without his father's consent... He was furious. We fought before that, too, but nothing like this.

"He told me he thought it would be best if I stayed out of Austin's life." She took a long breath. "I told him I hated him, and I was done with him, go raise your precious son by yourself. We got a divorce as soon as we could."

Another deep breath. I realize she is trying to hold back tears.

"I've told you now, Zoey," she snaps suddenly, sitting up in attempt to regain a professional air. "Go to your precious boyfriend and leave me alone."

I gulped down words, not moving. My jaws open and close like an idiot goldfish.

"Get. Out," Miss Flavrin - Mrs. Noble? - says dangerously.

I just stand there. She has his eyes.

"Zoey!"

I stumble back and run, ashamed of myself for staring like an idiot and for trying to see Austin in the face of the woman I hated.

I run and run, past the gas station. I run along the abandoned road for a while. Running' what you do best, after all, I think sarcastically. Run from everywhere you go. What does that make you, Zoey? A coward?

I hear other footsteps behind me. I pick up the pace, but the footsteps do too. "Zoey!" Austin yells.

I force myself to halt, but don't turn around.

He runs and puts a hand on my shoulder. I can't honestly say that I have come to get used to his touches, having barely felt any before, except for Mom and Dad's few hugs. I gulp something down.

But you do enjoy them, a small voice reminds me.
Shut up! I say back to it, inside my head of course.

"What are you running from?" he asks quietly. I can't bear to look at him. Miss Flavrin's words swell up in me, pounding against my skull.

"You," I whisper, almost hoping he'll leave me alone.

A long sigh.

"Remember, Zoey, I ran away from my d-dad in the hospital for you."

"...how is he?"

Another long silence. Then, "They doubt he'll see the week out."

"Austin!" I scream, turning around and hitting him. "Why - didn't - you - tell - me - before?" I demand, punctuating each word with a blow.

He grabs my wrists and pulls me into a hug, kissing my hair. "I don't know."

"No, you don't understand! Miss Flavrin - your mom - Mr. Noble - Austin!" I yank back. To my disgust, I'm nearly shaking. I tell myself it's out of anger.

"Calm down," he says quietly. "I don't... I don't know if I want to get to know my mom. She's been rotten to you, and... Let's just be my dad, you, and I."

Exasperated, I hit him again, more out of desperation than anything else. "Listen to me! Miss Flavrin needs to see your dad!"

Shaking his head, Austin gently tugs me along while I spit choice words and explanations at him.

"Lay down for a bit, Zo," he says comfortingly. "You look tired."

"Not the point!"

"I'm not going to listen," he says, cutting me off and tossing me a chip bag, his face hard. "I have to soak it in. Leave me alone. Please."

I glare at him and break open the chip bag. "But Miss Flavrin-"

"Zoey!" he says, exasperated. "I'm going on a walk. You're being foolish."

I follow him out the door and walk beside him for a while in silence. "Austin...this is serious."

"Zoey. Please. I'm serious too. I'll have nothing to do with Miss Flavrin. Ever."