Friends, Lovers, or Nothing

Chapter Twenty-Two - In the Blood

"What do you mean you're being suspended?" I ask Eliza frantically, turning up the volume on the phone to make sure I'm hearing her correctly. This had to be a joke.

I notice Hudson's eyes as they widen across from me. He clearly has no idea what's going on or who I'm even talking to so I don't blame the adverse reaction.

"Look, I'll explain when you get here. Ellen works till five and she can't come to get me, so please?" she says, her voice rising in despair.

I know firsthand what it's like when you need to get somewhere but your foster mom or dad is busy. You already feel bad enough that you're invading their home, so asking for a ride was next level annoying. I understood completely, but I wasn't any less pissed off.

"Text me the school address, I'll come now," I tell her, hanging up the phone before she can even get a response in. I roll my eyes, pulling up the Uber app on my cell phone, preparing to order a car.

"What's going on?" Hudson asks, reminding me of his presence. I look up at him and sigh.

"Layman's terms? I have to go pick up this girl I know because she's being suspended but I have no car and I'm gonna miss class. Just great, huh?"

"I'll take you," Hudson says without missing a beat but I immediately start shaking my head no.

"You don't have to do that," I'm about to order the Uber when places his hands on both of my shoulders, forcing me to look up at him. I stop in my tracks.

"Blake, let me help you. I'm parked out front, let me give you a ride," I decide to stop arguing with him and just take the help after a moment of pondering over my choices. Couldn't hurt for once, huh?

Fifteen minutes later, we pull up to Eliza's middle school. Hudson stays parked out front while I go inside to find her. I find the front office with little trouble, noticing Eliza sitting in a plastic red chair next to two other girls right inside the waiting area. The girls shot glaring eyes at one another from across the chairs, all of them looking displeased with whatever trouble they were getting in.

She immediately stands up when she notices me walking in, but I just walk straight up to the desk, stalking right past her.

"Hi," I say. The blonde headed woman sitting at the desk looks up at me, "I'm here to pick up Eliza Jacobs," I tell her.

The woman looks from me to Eliza a few times before sighing aloud, "Sign here."

We walk out of the school together a few moments later, neither of us saying a word to each other. I would save that for later.

I give Hudson the address to Eliza's house, having it saved in my phone from Mr. Milton. I hadn't visited her at the foster house yet but when we pull up the front driveway a flash of nostalgia ignites inside me.

One of the girls I lived with at my second foster home had once told me, "You see one foster home, you've basically seen them all." She wasn't lying.

I unbuckle my seatbelt and open my door, causing Eliza to pause, "What are you doing?" she asks.

"What does it look like? I'm coming in with you," I turn to Hudson, "Thanks Hudson, I'll find a way home," I tell him.

"You sure?" He looks up towards the old house in concern but I just nod my head.

"I'm sure. Thanks again!" I call out, following Eliza up the stairs to the house, basically speed walking to catch up with her.

"Why are you following me in?" she asks, not slowing down.

"Why do you think? You expect me to just pick you up from school because you're being suspended with no explanation whatsoever?" I ask her, finally catching up to her once we make it to the front door. She whips around to face me before opening the door.