Masked Risks

Chapter 5

It was 9:30 on a Saturday morning and I was awake. I tried to fall back asleep so that I could stay holed up in my room for as long as possible, but a girl’s gotta eat and my ankle was still swollen. The pain killers wore off hours ago and I didn’t have ice. I limped down the stars and prayed that neither of my parents were out there. If they were, I just hoped they wouldn’t ask questions, but that would take a miracle.

I heard noise coming from the dining room. Maybe I can just sneak into the kitchen, grab my supplies for survival and bolt.

Of course, fate was against me, as per usual. My mom was walking into the kitchen with an empty pitcher that looked like it was once holding orange juice.

She looked at me. “Did you forget something?” She put the pitcher on the island and stood before me with her hand on her hip. Her lips had disappeared and she wore the famous glare that told me how angry she was.

I racked my brain for anything she might have told me this week. I hadn’t seen her much in person this week because she was busy with work and I had a lot of work for AP classes at school and my brain was occupied elsewhere.

I shrugged my shoulders, too afraid to speak. She sighed and returned her focus back to the empty pitcher. Walking to the refrigerator, she just said, “Brunch with the Turner’s?”

Then I remembered the text she sent me the morning before about the plans she made Friday morning with Mrs. Turner. Honestly, I was surprised I forgot because I actually like the brunches my mom planned. I loved breakfast food, and she always had tons of stuff laid out on platters. It felt a lot like Gossip Girl looked, except we actually ate the food.

“Oh my gosh,” my hand flew to cover my mouth. “I’m so sorry, I completely forgot.”

She just nodded her head and poured the orange juice into the pitcher. As she returned the carton to the refrigerator and closed it again, she gave me a stern look. “Go get changed. We just sat down to eat a little while ago.”

She brushed past me to return to the dining room. I grabbed a glass and filled it with water so that I could swallow some Advil when I went back upstairs to my bathroom. I took a breath and started limping back to my room.

Luckily, I made it up the stairs and back to room with no damage. I expected to drop the glass or something, which would only draw more attention to me.

It was only brunch, so I just wore a floral sundress and flip-flops. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail, since I didn’t shower last night, and swiped on some light eyeshadow and mascara.

I planned on wrapping my ankle in an ace bandage, but that would have to wait a few more hours until I could hide in my room again.

Before I went downstairs again, I checked my phone quickly. There were a few texts and missed calls, most from Chad.

Chad. What was I supposed to do? I didn’t have feelings for him like that. At least, I didn’t think I did. I mean he’s a good kisser and he is attractive, but I never saw him in that way. He was just one of my best friends. I felt like kissing him was wrong because Avery sort of had silently claimed that territory in my mind because I was aware of her feelings. But I didn’t kiss him; he kissed me.

Ugh, why did he have to go change everything?

I shook my head as I left my phone my desk next to my laptop and started limping back to the dining room. As I entered the room, I tried to be as inconspicuous as possible about the pain in my ankle.

“Here she is!” My mom was back to her friendly hostess self, all smiles and happiness.

“Good morning,” I gave a small wave to everyone. I noticed an empty space next to Erik. My dad and his dad were engaged in some sort of intense conversation. “Sorry I’m late.”