Trust Me [Book 2]

Chapter 17: Hang Ups

Chapter 17 - [October 28th]

            Why did I go back to school?

            A promotion and raise were excellent incentives but sitting in three hour night classes after working all week and taking care of my daughter all weekend made a raise seem like bird seeds.

            Also the dumb professor had the window open freezing us all.

            A team leadership PowerPoint covered a giant projector screen but I couldn't focus. I skipped lunch to help Chelsea with her food policy homework.

I'm miserable, I texted my brother.

            He responded a minute later with a question mark.

Ma cooked dinner tonight?

            More question marks.

Bring me food plz plz plz

Ty: Funnyyyyyyy

Tell ma I'm hungry

Ty: She said pray

              Where was the familial support? It was horrible that they didn't mind me starving.

             The professor continued to drone on as I scrolled through young pictures of Rocky on my phone. Her angelic face motivated me to stay in school. I missed her so much. Weekends weren't enough especially since I split that time with homework.

            In another year and a half, this would be over and Rocky would move back in with me full time. Or... I could move in with­-

            Smiling, I rolled my eyes at that ridiculous thought. It was too far fetched. Rick and I were unofficially good and I didn't want to rush things. Craziness of the day made it impossible to talk. He called me while I was helping Chelsea but I had to rush him off the phone.

            I pulled an old sweatshirt out of my tote to pull on then tossed some sour patch kids candy in my mouth. I wished I bought the family-sized pack instead of the individual size. They went entirely too fast. The teens from the center had gotten wind of my candy stash. Now my lovely ladies expected candy each time we had a conversation.

            The class was so boring I could've fallen asleep. Instead, I marked up my page of notes, scattering random doodles along the margins. Soon the page was covered in hearts, spirals and flowers. The bouquet of roses I'd left at Elaine's house entered my mind.

           They were a pretty bunch. Vibrant red, trimmed thorns and long thick stems. Why didn't I keep them? It probably was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Rick wasn't that type so I didn't expect flowers again.

           He said he was trying and changing so maybe I still had a chance to receive another bouquet.

           Lately New Rick had consumed my daydreams. Thoughts of his evil twin returning kept me single. Diving head first in a pool of uncertainty honestly scared the crap out of me. We'd already failed once.

           But, how long could I deny him and all the goodness that came from New Rick?

"Essay questions 1-5 are due Sunday at midnight." The professor announced as students began to pack up. "And, start studying. Some of the topics we reviewed tonight will show up on the final exam."

            Somehow I managed to zone out for the entire last hour of class. Normally I would make sure I didn't miss anything. Not tonight.  Exhaustion and hunger overruled education this late. After shoving my belongings into my bag, I filed out of the classroom with the others.