Life with the Stevens' Boys

Chapter 7

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"Who is this?" Natalie's voice came across confused.

"It's me. Vanessa." I held my breath.

There was nothing on the other line but slow breathing until -

"VANESSA? Where have you been? Nobody's told us anything! We've been so worried about you! Where are you? What the hell?" Natalie said, in one quick breath.

"I-I know. I'm sorry. How's Claire?" I ignored her questions. They were too hard to answer.

"She's worried about you. Just like I am. It's been weeks. Where are you? We drove by your house today and it was completely deserted." Natalie said quietly.

"I'm in Texas."

"Texas? Why?" Natalie screeched.

"I want to talk to you and Claire. Together."

"How? You're in Texas..." Natalie's voice trailed off.

"I don't k--" There was a knock on my door. "Hold on."

I opened the door to see Nate.

"Hey, dinner's ready." Nate informed me. I nodded.

"WHO'S THAT?" Natalie said obnoxiously. Nate and I locked eyes.

"Uh," I swallowed, staring at Nate's green eyes."Somebody I live with."

"Ness, what the--"

"Look, I gotta go. I'll call you and Claire soon and explain everything."

"You better!" Natalie threatened.

I laughed sadly and said, "Bye, Nat."

"Bye, Ness."

I hung up and peeked through my eyelashes. Nate was still there.

"Who was that?" He asked, curious.

"My friend, Natalie. From California." I went to step around him, but he moved, blocking my pathway.

"What do you have to explain?"

"What do you mean?"

"You said that you would explain something to her. What do you have to explain?" Nate pushed. Why was he suddenly so interested in me?

"Oh, um... just like why I left California and moved here." I told him hesitantly.

"Why did you leave?" Nate's eyes bored into mine, like he could see right through me.

"None of your business." Nate has barely spoken to me. He doesn't get to ask me questions. "We're not friends."

"We're not?" Nate asked, his voice full of hurt.

"No. You barely talk to me and you think you can ask me about my life? Why don't you go talk to your girlfriend?" I pushed past him, wondering if I was strong enough to tell Natalie and Claire why I had to pick up and leave everything I've known in California for a world of emptiness in Texas.

* * *

"Vanessa! Over here!" Brenda called me. We were in Theater III, but I hadn't been expecting her to be in my class, since she's only a sophomore.

"Hey," I shuffled over to her. "Sophomores can have Theater III?" I threw my bag in one of the auditorium chairs.

"Only the good ones." Brenda winked.

"But you weren't on here the first day."

"I ditched."

That took me by surprise. "You skipped class?" I asked. "By yourself?"