I go onto the kitchen and make a banana and chocolate milkshake to take up to my room. Once I'm up there I begin reading again, occasionally taking sips of the delicious drink.
......
"Hayley!" I hear Alison call from downstairs.
I rub my eyes and yawn, realising that I must have fallen asleep while reading.
"Hayley! Come downstairs!" Alison calls again.
I can tell she's getting annoyed so I follow her order and make my way down to the lounge. When I get down there Jack and Alison are sitting on the only two available chairs, leaving me no choice but to stay standing up.
"Where were you this afternoon Hayley?" Jack questions, taking me by surprise as I suddenly remember that I ditched school and went to Sharki.
"I was at school," I lie, hoping that they believe me.
"Are you sure? Because we just got a call from your principal on the way home telling us that you weren't in your last two classes," Jack states, raising his eyebrows.
My mouth hangs open, not sure what to say next, but luckily Alison leans forward in her seat and speaks up.
"Hayley! You have to go to school! We didn't sign you up so you could just leave half way through the day!" She shouts angrily.
"Where were you?" Jack asks in a calmer and more sympathetic tone.
What was I supposed to say? If I told them the truth then that would expose my secret about Sharki and Mayfield Ranch. I decide that not replying is the best way to go and look down at my feet.
"Hayley if you ever ditch school again or we get another call from the Principal, you will be in serious trouble!" Alison yells.
"Okay." I mumble under my breath.
"You know what! I don't think you are taking this seriously enough Hayley! If you don't go to school then we won't get paid!" Alison blurts out.
Alison suddenly realises what she has said and immediately leans back in her seat. Jack and I glare at her with wide eyes until I decide to leave the conversation at that, and go back to my room without dinner. I sigh with relief when I make it to my room without being called back, and having to make up a pathetic explanation again.
I sit on my bed processing the information Alison has just blurted out. They are getting paid if I go to school?
YOU ARE READING
Unbridled Beginnings
AdventureSixteen year old Hayley Lowe is still struggling to cope with the grief of losing her parents in a car accident less than a year ago. But with the help of a gift that her parents leave behind, and some extraordinarily lucky escapes, Hayley can prove...
