You're Not Enough

Chapter 61

"Are you ready to tell me what happened?" Ms.Moore asks me for the third time since I've been here. I continue pacing back and forth in her office. I can't, ugh, I can't focus, I can't even speak. I'm just so irritated, so frustrated.

My palms are sweaty, and I'm hot. Why am I so hot? My heart is rapidly beating. I can't catch my breath, and my hands are so freaking shaky.

I've never felt like this before, well I've never been in a fight before. Maybe it's just adrenaline. Ms.Moore's office door comes flying open.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" My mother says as she enters; my father is right behind her. My mother rushes over and touches my face. I wince. I think there is a cut there.

My father walks over closer to my mother and me. "Who did you fight?" he asks. I don't respond; I just look at him.

"Ashely Forbes." Ms.Moore answers. "She's with the nurse now."

"Sharron Forbes, daughter, why would you be fighting her?" My mother questions.

"Because I hate her," I spit.

"Jayda." My mother gasps, eyes wide open. "Hate is a strong word," she says sternly.

"Well, it's the right word." I narrow my eyes.

My father digs his hands into his pocket. "Go to the car." He hands me the keys. I blow my breath and take the keys out of his hand, and storm out of the room.

...

What is taking them so long? I've been sitting in the car for like 20 minutes. How long does it take to see if I'm suspended or not? Are they even asking if I'm suspended? They're probably writing a check to the school, paying them not to put this on my record.

I wouldn't put it past them. I wouldn't put it past my father.

I want to get right out of the car right now and storm back into the school. I want to know what they're talking about. I hate the thought of people talking about me while I'm not there. I continue to tap the car door handle with my index finger; I can't stop tapping my finger; I keep staring at my tapping finger, hoping it will stop, but it doesn't. My phone rings. I take it out of my pocket.

It's Caleb.

My heart skips a beat. I quickly hit decline and throw my phone on the seat. I can't talk to him. I don't want to speak to him; I'm too embarrassed. I don't know why, but I am.

My phone rings again. I should turn my phone on do not disturb. I don't want to be bothered right now. And if Caleb keeps calling, I may be tempted to pick up. I reach over the seat and grab my ringing phone. To my surprise, it isn't Caleb; it's Travis.

Friday, I forgot it was Friday. I'm supposed to give him my answer today. My head hurts even more at the thought. I slide my finger across the phone.

"Thought you forgot about me." He says. My stomach tightens at his voice. "So, what will it be? Am I anonymously sending this tape to your dad's office, or will you sell for me?"

I've gone over this a thousand times in my head; I weighed every option, I tried to figure a way out of this, but I couldn't. There's no way around it. I have to do it. My parents can never find out. I don't want them ever to find out. "I'll do it," I say.

"Great!" He cheers. "You made the right choice. So you'll start today!" He instructs.

"I can't."

"Why can't you?" He asks.

"I'm going out of town."

"Where to?"

"New York."