Chasing White [Draft 1]

Chapter 40: Brace For Impact

Belmont High. January 30, 2017.

The sound of someone spinning around in a squeaking chair has never been infuriating until this moment.

"Bewo. Bewo." Tori's fire truck sounds fill my classroom as she pushes herself in a circle. I glare up from the practice test that Rachel gave me for Tori, hoping that the single look will shut her up but she continues to make noise.

"Don't you have something better to do?" I snap, checking to see if thirteen is right.

"Bewo. Bewo-" Tori continues, the spinning growing repetitive as she gets into a rhythm. I roll my eyes, moving onto the next problem.

"You could play on my computer instead of making that noise."

"Bewo. Bewo-"

Fourteen correct. "You could just not do anything."

"Bewo. Bewo-"

Fifteen wrong. "Okay. I'm done!"

Tori stops making the noise but continues spinning in the squeaking chair. I walk over to her with the test. Setting the test down, I put my hand on the back of the chair and stop it from spinning. Tori sets her chin on the desk and looks up at me, giving me an innocent smile.

The tension in my bones melt away when I see her beautiful smile. I let out a sigh of content, putting my hand on her cheek.

"You're an asshole."

"I'm your asshole." She smiles wider.

My hand drops onto the table. "You're my asshole who got three problems wrong." I slide the papers over to her. She sits up and looks down at her practice test.

"Seriously?"

"It's better than last time." I lean on the desk.

Tori glares down at the test. "I don't understand. This is stupid!"

"You just don't understand it."

"Which is exactly why it's stupid." She shoves the papers away, crossing her arms over her chest.

"If we go over them, then maybe you'll understand." I slide the papers back over to her. Tori shakes her head and turns away from me like she's trying to stop me from feeding her vegetables.

"C'mon. You have to finish before your mom gets here."

Tori rolls her eyes, turning a little more. I lean over the desk, trying to catch her eye. "She isn't coming, is she?"

"A woman came into the ER. She had a pole that went straight through. She couldn't pass that up."

I take in a deep breath, sitting up. "How long's the surgery supposed to be?"

Tori turns her chair so she can face me again. "Who knows. The scans weren't exactly clear. She had a fucking pole through her stomach."

"Tori," I rest my hand on hers. "This is the second time this week. This can't keep happening."

"I welcome another solution." Tori grumbles, grabbing my hand. "A new mother would be preferred. Maybe my own place."

I lean my forehead against Tori's and take in a deep breath. "I'm sorry all this is happening to you. You deserve so much more than this. You deserve to be a kid."

"The universe doesn't seem to think so."

"Tell you what." I pull away from her but keep my face close. "Let's make a deal, you and I."

The corner of Tori's lip twitches in some resemblance of a smile. "A deal? What kind of deal?"

"You let me take you home. Every day. If you don't need a ride, you tell me at lunch which I will provide."