Breathe

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

*~*~*~*

"Have I told you how kick ass your hair is?" I asked Hannah as I looked up from the book I was reading. I was laid out across my friend's bed while she sat at her desk, running a hand through her now short hair, having decided to cut her hair short as part of her 'fresh start'.

"About twenty times, but thank you." She chuckled.

"They're not gonna shut our power off because of one late payment." We both looked towards the open bedroom door at the sound of her mother's voice, alerting us that her parents were home.

"I don't like it." Mr. Baker told his wife. "We have to find another way to save."

"Well, maybe we can get Hannah to pitch in-" Mrs. Baker suggested as Hannah got up from her seat, stepping out into the hall.

"Hey, Mom." Hannah got her mother's attention as I followed her out into the hall. Both of her parents looked our way, their eyes widening at the sight of their daughter's new haircut.

"Hey," Mrs. Baker smiled, shaking her head. "I almost didn't recognize you."

"Reminds me of when you were little, with those floppy pigtails." Mr. Baker smiled at his daughter as he headed into the kitchen.

"Okay, so I'm gonna heat up some leftovers." Mrs. Baker said before glancing at me. "Are you staying for dinner, uh, Courtney?"

"It's Penny, and no thank you, Mrs. Baker." I shook my head.

"I'm not really hungry." Hannah said.

"No?" Mrs. Baker raised a brow at her.

"Actually, there's this back to school party at Jessica Davis' house tonight." Hannah informed her parents, causing me to raise my brows. While I knew about the party, thanks to Jeff, this was the first I was hearing Hannah talk about it. "But I don't have to go if you don't want me to."

"It's Saturday night. Go have fun." Mrs. Baker encouraged her. "Is Penny going?"

"Uh, I guess, if Hannah's going." I shrugged, in no real mood to go to a party that was comprised of a bunch of drunk teenagers.

"We do have homework we need to get done by Monday." Hannah pointed out. "And I was gonna try and get ahead on the syllabus."

"Oh, Hannah, go, don't go. I don't know. It's up to you." Mrs. Baker told her as she helped Mr. Baker get some leftovers out of the fridge. "I really think staying open later will help us stay competitive."

"It's not going to help at all. We're not a Walplex." Mr. Baker shook his head, the couple seeming to forget about Hannah and I altogether, focusing on their previous conversation about their store. "We can't stay open twenty-four hours."

"Come on," Hannah grabbed my hand, pulling me out of the kitchen.

*~*~*~*

"I'm soaked!" I spoke above the pouring rain as Hannah and I walked towards Jessica's house later that night. I glanced across the street, spotting the familiar house, people practically pouring out of it.

"Come on!" Hannah looped her arm through mine before leading my across the street and towards the house. No one really paid attention to us as we stepped inside, dropping off our dripping raincoats by the door so we didn't trek water throughout the house.