Never Say Goodbye

Chapter 23

 Because we don't have any periods together, we break apart, him to AP calculus B/C and me to AP seminar. I wave a final goodbye before entering the terrifying world of high school.

* * *

Bolivia greets me in homeroom with a big smile and a wave. "You're back!" she exclaims. I nod and sit down. She sits beside me. "Are you feeling better?" she asks.

"Yeah," I whisper.

"That's great! I saw you and Caleb walk in together!" she enthuses.

"Yeah," I whisper again.

"So you're still together?" she asks, wonderment in her eyes.

"Of course!" I exclaim, a little too loudly.

"Is there something you want to share with the class, Ms. Starling?" Mr. Osmolinski, our AP Physics teacher, asks, a sharpness in his voice.

"No, Mr. Osmolinski," I answer, my cheeks warm.

"Then pay attention to my class," he reminds me.

"Yes, Mr. Osmolinski," I say.

He continues teaching for about ten more minutes before the bell rings. As we put on our backpacks and head out the door, he says, "Don't forget your test is tomorrow!"

I head to my next class: Honors Spanish IV, Bolivia right beside me. We have Periods One and Two together. We talk along the way. "Sorry about Mr. Osmolinski," she says. "I didn't mean to get you in trouble."

"I know," I respond.

"But you should've seen your face!" she exclaims. My cheeks warm again, making her laugh.

We turn into the room and sit down beside each other. This time, I try to pay attention, failing miserably. All I can think about is Caleb. His face. His smile. His laugh.

His kiss. I smile. "Emma." I jerk to attention. Mrs. Rodriguez, my Spanish teacher is saying my name.

"Yes?" I weakly ask.

"I asked you a question. Five minutes ago."

"Oh, sorry. What was it?"

She sighs. "Do you want to share whatever you were thinking with the class?"

I shake my head vigorously.

"Go on," she says. "Tell us." I shake my head again.

"Please don't make me," I whisper loud enough for her to hear. "Please."

She shakes her head. "Tell us."

I shrink down into my seat. I want to disappear. I want to be somewhere else, anywhere else, but here. At that moment, the bell rings. I hurriedly get up and start leaving when Mrs. Growe says, "Stay here for a second, Emma."

Walking over to her seems like a million miles, yet none at all. "Yes?" I squeak.

"What were you thinking about, Emma? You've never zoned out before."

"I know, but-"

"And you seem... sadder than usual."

"Do I?"

"Yes," she answers. "What happened at home?"

"Nothing," I lie. Unfortunately, I am a really bad lier. I avoid her eyes.

"You can't lie to me, Emma," she insists. "Tell me."

I can't hold it in any longer. I start to speak. My words come out in a rush, and tears stream down my cheeks, a steady flow. "When I wasn't here for days, I broke my ankle. I almost got run over by a car, but someone saved me. His name is Caleb. I fell in love with him. But then my mom got in a car accident, and my dad got shot. They both..." I sob. "They both died. And then Caleb got in a plane crash. And he almost died. But here he is, at school. And my whole family is dead. I don't have any family left. I only have Caleb and Bolivia. And-" My words are so thick, I choke on them. Mrs. Rodriguez envelops me in a hug.