Friends For Tomorrow

Chapter 4

I was exhausted.

Even more so than I was on Friday, if that was humanly possible. And to add to everything, school was becoming my own personal hell.

I'd gotten called on by a teacher in almost every class today—their way of making sure I was paying attention. And no surprise to them, I wasn't. All I could do was stress over the fact that Ava was home, and so far I was the only one that knew. Steve was going to blow a gasket when he found out. And my Dad, well, I could only hope that he was having too much fun with his drinking buddies to come home anytime soon.

Not to mention the fact that I was so unused to having an adult around, and all weekend long I'd practically been attached at the hip with Ava. She was almost like after a child after coming back, needing constant attention, reassurance, all the works. Hell, the only adults I ever bothered to be nice to were a handful of teachers and Foster's self-entitled mother.

Speaking of him, he was completely beside himself with me. I hadn't told him about Ava yet, and I'm sure he was about to throttle me for acting so strange. I usually told him everything, but I didn't know what to say about her. I didn't even know how I felt about her yet.

All I knew was that I was completely exhausted.

"Thea?" Mrs. Small asked me, staring at me for an answer to a question that I was too caught up in my own head to bother listening to.

"Can you repeat the question?" I muttered, looking at her with a sheepish smile.

She walked over to the white board with a frown. English was usually my best subject—I loved everything about it—but I just couldn't do it today.

"I asked the class their opinion on Okonkwo's abilities as a father," she repeated, raising her eyebrows at me.

Yet another dumb question. Anyone who had read about Okonkwo from Things Fall Apart knew he was a terrible father.

"What abilities?" I joked, receiving a couple of laughs from some of the kids around me.

Thankfully she smiled, either at my joke or because she was taking pity on me, but nonetheless turned back to the board and began writing a quote.

I slumped down in my seat and let out a breath of relief, until a tap on my shoulder got my attention. I turned around to the kid behind me as he handed me a note. I wanted to roll my eyes at the cliché gesture, already knowing who it was from.

Meet me by the boys bathroom. We're going to talk. -F

I guess I thought I could put off telling Foster for a little longer, but I must've underestimated his inability to keep to himself.

What a shitty place to have a heart to heart. -T

I handed the note to the kid behind me who rolled his eyes, probably fed up with our antics. I slumped lower in my seat, dreading having to talk to Foster. He better at least appreciate my pun.

English droned on for what felt like eternity. But even when the bell finally rang, I deliberately lingered by my seat, delaying our conversation.

Foster caught up with me as I headed out. We walked the distance to the boys bathroom in silence, which was rare for us.

When we approached he turned to face me, his eyes boring into mine.