Forever & Always

Chapter 7

The next morning, I got up and got in the shower as usual, but I no longer had to rush in the morning to catch the bus. I could take my time because the only thing that affected whether I got to school on time was solely on me. I came downstairs and went into the kitchen to get some breakfast. It felt like a cereal kind of morning, so I started rooting through the cabinet to find a bowl. Turning to the pantry to grab some cereal, I caught a a glimpse of my mom sitting at the table in the dining room. 

"Good morning," I called to her, as I rooted through, trying to find the Frosted Flakes. I heard a sniffle from behind the door. 

"Okay," I heard her say. I poked my head around the pantry door again. She was on the phone, something I hadn't noticed at first glance. I couldn't hear what the other person was saying, or whether it was a man or woman speaking, but she sounded upset.

"Alright then," she said, sniffling again. "I'll see you soon, then. Goodbye," and she hung up. 

I closed the pantry door and saw her grab a tissue off of the counter behind her. "Mom, what's wrong? Who was that?" 

She looked a little startled to see me, even though I made my presence quite clear when I said "good morning". 

"It was nothing, Riley, don't worry about it, okay? I'm just a little emotional today, that's all." She was trying to smile to show that there was nothing fro me to worry about, but it was one of those crying smiles that just come off as kind of creepy. 

I wasn't stupid. I knew she was hiding something from me, and quite poorly if I might add. But unfortunately, the interrogation would have to begin when I got home from school, because if I stuck around and performed Chinese water torture till she broke and finally told me what was happening, I'd be late for school....and would have broken the law. I accepted her lame cover up answer and grabbed my back pack, kissed her goodbye and was on my way to school. 

****

Walking through the door, I was proud to say that I set a new record. I made it my locker without anyone trying to talk to me, which in my antisocial pessimistic mind, that was a major accomplishment. It was also probably good that they didn't. I am by no means what you would call a morning person. I started to take out some of the unnecessary things I had in my bag that I wouldn't need for first period when Lacey came and joined me at my locker. 

"Please tell me it isn't true," she blurted out, urgently. 

I stood up and looked at her. "What are you talking about?" She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear with intent. 

"You and Shane. Dating. Please tell me the rumor mill is wrong once again and this isn't happening." 

I shook my head and laughed. Don't you just love how things get taken out of proportions so easily? I'm not even a celebrity and these ridiculous rumors and shit gets started without you knowing anyone else knew you were just hanging out with someone. And not for nothing, but what does it say about our "progressive society" that we can't accept that some guys and girls can be friends without dating or sleeping together? Just sad. 

"No, Lacey, I can assure you that it is Grade A bullshit." She took a huge sigh of relief, which I know she overdramatized just to annoy me. 

"Thank God," she gasped, sounding incredibly relieved. "I would hate for you to waste your time on that lost cause, my friend. People have been going around all morning though, talking about how you guys were seen walking on the pier together last night, and then some idiot decided to start spreading that you were his rebound after he and Annie broke up. And we just heard that they broke up this morning, in case you hadn't heard yet."