Haley Braverman Forever Young

Chapter 2

I wake up in the middle of the night to a loud bang. My dad, Adam, has a vendetta against a possum that lives on our property. Last time this happened we saw dad outside with a tennis racket trying to kill the possum. Needless to say it didn't work. I assume he's back at it again and just roll over and go back to sleep. I wake up at my usual time and get ready for school. I want to get there early today for a SAT prep class. I feel pretty good about the SATs but Amber goes so it's a chance to hang with her without Haddie. I get myself ready and go downstairs to grab breakfast.

"Hey" I say, surprised to see my parents both up and ready for the day.
"Haley" my dad says awkwardly. My mom says nothing.
I sigh, "great, what did I do now?" I sit at the table with my arms folded. I think about what's been going on and honestly cannot think of anything that I did that would be so bad that I'd be on trial first thing in the morning.
"Honey, do you have something you want to tell us?" Says my mom, bordering on tears.
I look at the both of them. I'm very confused. "Um, no?" There's an awkward pause. "Ok then...I have SAT prep so I'm going to go" I gesture to the door.
"Right home after school today Hail" says my dad, somewhat angrily.
"Sure" I hurriedly grab my bag and go out the door.

I get to school and meet up with Amber. We start quizzing each other on vocab until I put the cards down.
"Amber..." I pause. "Can you think of anything I've done in the last few weeks that would set off the almighty Adam and Kristina Braverman?"
Amber laughs, "no" she says quickly.
"Amber think!" I laugh back, "my parents asked me this morning if I had something to tell them, and of course I didn't because I had no idea what they're talking about"
"Maybe they are just testing you" she questions.
I think for a second..."nah, mom was in full Kristina cry mode, like if I told her what she wanted to hear, she would lose it completely" I put my head down. "Ahh I can't keep doing this with them, I wish my mom was as cool as aunt Sarah"
Amber laughs even harder, "trust me, my mom isn't much better"

I wait until lunch to find Haddie. I walk over to her, Steve and their group of friends.
"Had, can I talk to you for a sec?" I ask.
"Yeah sure" she says not looking at me.
"Over there maybe?" I gesture to the next table.
"What's wrong?" She says getting up "guys I'll be right back" She kisses Steve
We walk over to the next table.
"That was gross" I say about her and Steve
"You're just jealous" she laughs.
"Of Steve, not likely" I scoff. "Anyway, did you get interrogated this morning by mom and dad?"
"No..why? Did you?" She asks.
"Haddie, they surrounded me and asked me if I had something to tell them? I have nothing to tell them."
"They're so weird" she says " is that all?"
I give her a confused look, "Yeah I guess"
She smiles at me and walks back to her table. I stand there alone and completely paranoid. I sigh and head towards my next class. I can't focus the rest of the day. I just keep replaying the morning over and over. As soon as the last bell rings, I head home. I stand on the front porch and realize I can't go inside. I sit in front of the house and put my headphones in. I zone out still trying to figure out what is going on. I look up and Brayden is standing in front of me. He waves hi. I take out my earbuds.
"Hi" I say trying to breathe
"Hey...I...hope it's ok I'm here"
"I didn't know you knew where I lived" I question.
"I asked Amber." He pauses "I wanted to see if you wanted to help me study for the SATs this weekend?"
"Me?" I gesture back at myself. "Uh..sure..yeah..that sounds good" I smile at him.
"Cool" he sighs and smiles, "Ok I gotta go, Saturday, 1 o'clock Berkeley coffee?"
"Cool" I say back, he smiles again and turns around and walks away. Just then my mom comes out and I jump.
"Was that the boy from the pictures?" She asks smiling.
"Yep" I say standing up, "Uhhh..we are going to study Saturday" I can't stop smiling and won't make eye contact with my mom.
"That's great Hails" she touches my arm. "Hey can we talk a sec?"
"Mom, I swear I have no idea what you and dad are talking about" I snap
"Haley, your dad found a bag of pot in the back yard last night, is it yours, honey you can tell me..." she waits for my response.
"Not mine" I say.
"Haley" she questions again "your dad and I just want to know, we're not mad."
"Mom, it's not my weed. Sorry to disappoint you" I start to choke up, "are we done?"
"Yep" she fakes a smile.