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“Okay.”
That is what we did until eleven-thirty when I had to head home. Dana told us what happened before we left. Eric Todd was arrested. Carla and Aiden stayed at the Cooper house until he was taken away.
Then they went home. Aiden told Dana to let Cal know he’d come over tomorrow but tonight he just wanted to be with his mom.
That is the night that things changed between me and Cal. I didn’t know why. I didn’t understand either. Saturday he was still distant but, I chalked it up to him still being upset over Aiden and his dad. I was wrong.
Chapter 16
Tyson had his license now that we were sixteen. He had a car too courtesy of Dad which mom didn’t appreciate. My brother got a Camaro. Mom didn’t feel a sixteen-year-old should have a sports car. She was overruled.
Monday morning, I received the text that rocked me a little asking if Tyson could take me to school this morning. Cal was giving Aiden and Luke a ride.
Sure. I texted back.
I saw him in first period. He kissed me like always, but something was off. I felt something was different about Cal. Me being me, I kept quiet. I kept my insecurities to myself.
Lunch was the defining moment. We had different periods right before lunch. Since we had started seeing each other, I walked out of that class and Cal would be waiting on me. Today, no Cal. I knew then that things were going to be different. I wasn’t his focus anymore.
So, I looked for Tyson to see if he wanted to eat lunch with me. When I couldn’t find my brother, I hid out in the library and read feeling a dark cloud of anxiety settling over me.
When lunch was over, I headed to next period. Tyson found me heading to class. I don’t know why he couldn’t be found where I needed him earlier. “Where were you at lunch?”
“I had some studying to do,” I replied.
“You okay?”
I nodded. “I’m fine,” I replied.
“I saw Cal with Luke and Aiden. I didn’t ask where you were. He didn’t take you to school today. Everything okay with you two?” He asked.
“Everything is fine,” I lied, not that my brother would care.
I didn’t know if everything was okay because Cal hadn’t said a word to me other than could I ride to school with my brother. Other than the two classes I had with him, I hadn’t seen him and wouldn’t until gym class. I was hoping to get out of that class.
During the last class before gym, I faked a stomachache. I was good at that. The teacher sent me to the nurse. I moaned and groaned. She felt my head. The bell was about to ring for last class. The nurse was sixty years old. Tired of dealing with us teenagers. “If your mother will come and get you, you can go home,” she informed me. Otherwise back to class with you.”
She turned her back to call Mom. I knew from the number of rings that Mom wasn’t going to answer the call. Panic struck. I couldn’t take gym class too with Aiden, Luke and Cal all paling it up and ignoring me.
In a moment of pure idiocy, I stuck my finger down my throat and heaved into the trash can. It wasn’t easy. There wasn’t much in my stomach. Nurse Hatchett glanced over her shoulder at me and frowned.
“I’ll call your dad,” she offered.
I hated it that I was faking, and Dad would have to leave work. Where was mom? It was November after all. She couldn’t be at the tennis courts having a lesson. A charity event today? I couldn’t keep up with her schedule.
“No, Mr. Gardener Abby can’t stay at school when she’s throwing up. Yes, Mr. Gardener your assistant can drive her home.”
I shook my head I wasn’t important enough to get picked up my either parent. The one thing I hadn’t counted on or had forgotten was Dad’s assistant was a guy. A young guy too.
Crew Cut Chris, I had met before. That nickname stuck immediately. I saw him through the glass. His short hair was cut in a military style. His dark features made him appear intimidating. I don’t think he was Dad’s assistant like he took dictation. I think he was Dad’s assistant in that he helped him run the plant.
Chris signed me out then he raised an eyebrow at me when I walked out of the nurse’s office. When we were outside, he glanced back at me. “You don’t look sick.”
I rolled my eyes at him.
He held the car door for me, and I slipped into the passenger seat of a fancy Ford Mustang decked out with all the bells and whistles. He jogged around the front of the car and climbed behind the wheel.
“So, you’re faking,” he said.
