This Hard Life

Chapter 14: The Phone Call

Chapter 14

The next morning, Claire and I got ready mostly in silence. She lent me a black and turquoise skirt with a matching turquoise shirt. We then got into her car and went to school.

As we arrived, I was about to get out before she could say anything about her image. The whole school knew about what happened this past weekend at the party.

“Hey, Char? I’m so sorry about this past weekend.”

“It’s okay,” I muttered an automatic response.

“No, I mean I really am. And I feel really guilty about it, especially after what happened last night with Scott. I’m here if you want to talk about it, I hope you know that.”

“Okay, thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” I then got out of the car.

I walked into the building, and headed straight to my locker. There I saw Scott waiting for me.

“Hey Charlotte,” I was trying to call you all night last night. I was getting worried when I didn’t hear from you,” he said as I arrived at my locker.

“That’s for good reason. I was ignoring your calls. I’d also really like it if you would go away right now. I have to get to class, and I’d prefer not to go into class with a bad attitude,” I said politely. Whenever I was really angry, I spoke in a polite manner. I have no idea why though.

“Why are you mad? What happened last night?”

“Are you seriously kidding me right now? Do you really not know?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Well, then I’ll leave you with your thoughts then,” I sneered as I gathered my materials for first period before I slammed my locker door shut and left Scott behind with a puzzled look on his face.

The school day went by so fast once more. I ignored Scott when we were in gym class together. Claire and I also weren’t avoiding each other as much; we started to make much more eye contact.

When the school day ended, I went to my locker and gathered my textbooks that I needed for the weekend. Out of the corner of my eye, I could’ve sworn I saw Scott staring at me intensely. Once more, I ignored him.

Since I had everything out of my locker, I was ready to leave the school. All of a sudden, my cell phone started ringing. I pulled it out and answered it.

“Hello?”

“Is this Miss Woods?”

“Yes, speaking.”

“This is Nurse Walker from Los Angeles Community Hospital. I’m afraid I have news about your mother. She passed away this afternoon.”

I dropped my school books. “Okay, I’ll be right down there,” I muttered and hung up my phone.

Scott must have seen my face. He rushed over to catch me just as my legs were gave out. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, Charlotte talk to me. What just happened?”

“My mom. I have to get over there.”

“Where? The hospital? I’ll take you there. Let’s go. Can you stand up?”

I nodded and he helped me get up. He picked up the school textbooks that I dropped and we were headed to the hospital.

Were my mom was no longer living.