Ingenious

Chapter Seventeen

 I wake up about 6 hours later. We agreed not to leave until evening so less people would be out. We have about 6 hours to go and if we drive through the night we'll be there.

"Hey," Kacey whispers to me from her bed with Maia. Everyone else is still asleep. I get out of bed quietly and come to sit next to Kace. "Maia woke up a couple hours ago to call her Dad again, still hasn't picked up." I nod sadly. Our whole plan is based on the fact her Dad will help us, or at least give us somewhere to stay. "The phone is charging, but if you want to use it you can." I have avoided making calls yet because I know once I do I can't go back.

"What did your parents say?" I ask her. Kacey's parents were the only ones who picked the phone up since it was about 5am.

"They said they'll see what they can do in terms of getting out here but it's a 15 hour drive and they have jobs and my siblings to look after," she seems sad about it, but also happy she talked to them.

"Maybe we'll take a trip down to Miami so you can see them," I say giving slightly false hope, "once everything is settled." She nods and motions to the phone,

"Are you going to call Morgan and Bailey?" I told her about the phone call with my parents and Morgan but couldn't bring myself to talk about Bailey. Ryan knows, but never brings it up. I shrug,

"It's noon, they are probably in classes," I respond hoping that's a valid excuse. Soon enough everyone else is waking up and changing into clothes for the day. I put on the sweatpants and pre-gov sweatshirt I brought with me a year and a half ago. It's pretty cold in Washington right now and I don't have much else to wear. Maia calls her Dad again, not getting a response. He's not taking her calls and she says it's because it's a random unknown number. Everyone calls their parents or friends or whatever while we get a few more snacks from the vending machine.

"Here Rae," Everett says, tossing me the phone. I catch it and stare at it hesitantly. I'm the only one who hasn't called anyone. I go into the bathroom and close the door, sitting with my back pressed to it. I'm not ready to call my parents and explain everything and once I call Morgan she's going to want to see me. I don't think I'm ready for that yet either. That really only leaves one person. One person who I don't want to talk to, but at the same time want more than anything to. I dial the number etched into my brain and let it ring.

"Hi, who is this?" she answers after the third ring. I stay silent for a moment not sure what to say. I don't even know if she remembers our last phone call or thinks of it as a dream. "Hello?"

"Hi Bay," I say quietly, fighting the tears as I wait for her response. I can hear she is outside and walking somewhere. Her school is only 3 hours from DC or so and I'm so tempted to go see her even after the time that has happened and that one drunk phone call with her.

"Raegan," she whispers quietly as if she doesn't believe it. "Rae where are you?" she asks me. Her voice is delicate and filled with worry. It makes me wonder what she knows about me. If she talked to Morgan.

"It's a long story Bay," I tell her, "I'm sorry I haven't called for a long time. It's a complicated story and I, I just missed you." This isn't the drunk Bailey I talked to a year ago. This is my best friend Bailey who spent a month straight at my house one summer.

"Morgan told me," she blurts out, "I knew something was up when you never called or texted or anything but I thought you were just busy in your special program. When you weren't home from Christmas and New Years I asked Morgan. She told me what you told her."

"You believe me," I say smiling. I don't need her to respond to know her answer. "I did call you once." I say quietly, "The same night I called Morgan to explain. I called you but you were drunk and with your friends. I doubt you remember." I can hear her sigh apologetically.