Page 168 of Nobody's Girl

The time to change is so close. I’ve waited forever for it. This time together was supposed to be about me helping Alyssa get used to the idea of the change and what’s expected from us.

Instead, I have to take the time to get her over another man before I let her in on our condition.

How much does she love him, I wonder? How hard will she hang on to him?

Is it possible for her to find love for me while healing a broken heart?

CHAPTER 7

ALYSSA

The night passed and Kyle never called. I’m not sure why. He’s never done that before. Scotty jumps out of the jeep as I pull into the school’s parking lot.

Laura smiles at me as she waits on the steps. “Hey, Ally.”

“Good morning, Laura. Did you see Kyle before you came to school?”

“Not even one car was at his house this morning, and I was up at six. It looks like they all went somewhere.”

Now I’m starting to worry. “He was supposed to call me last night and never did. I know he was going to hang out at Trixie’s and play pool. Do you know if he came home after that?”

The door opens and Kyle’s best friend, Cody, comes out. His arms come around both of our shoulders. “Hello, ladies. So who can I walk to class this morning?”

We both shrug him off us. “Neither, stud,” Laura says with a laugh. “We’re walking together to our first class.”

“You heard from Kyle?” I ask him.

He walks away from us. Looking back to answer me, he says, “Not since last night.”

Kyle’s whole family is gone. This is not good.

***

The day went by like molasses, but I’m finally out of my last class. I drive straight to Kyle’s house. I’m pushing my luck with my parents, but I need to see if anyone went back to his house. Almost to his house, I can see the empty driveway.

Crap! What could’ve happened? Why is his whole family gone?

It has to be bad or he would’ve called.

Wait, my cell phone is at home, since my freaky parents don’t allow me to take it to school. Maybe he did call or send me a text.

Time to haul ass home.

***

Mom’s messing around in the kitchen when I walk in. “Mom, where’s my cell?”

“Hello to you too, Ally. It’s on the nightstand next to my side of the bed. Why?”

I’m halfway up the stairs as I call back to her, “Kyle might’ve called.” Grabbing the phone, I unplug the charger.

Please let there be a call from him. The blank screen deflates me.

No calls or texts!

Why would he not tell me at least a little about what’s going on? Is it him who has the family all gone? Maybe he was in an accident. What if he can’t talk?

His mother would never call me if he was. Why does she dislike me so much?