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Chapter Six
There was a smile permanently etched onto my face as I made my way through the grounds of the Troy high school, heading for the music and drama room.
Music was my life, my passion, my escape. Kit loved it too. I’d even been teaching him in private a little about how to play. He was interested because it was something I loved, and fuck if my heart didn’t soar more than ever when he’d asked me to teach him.
Walking down the hallway to the drama room was quiet, classes hadn’t quite finished for the day and we had an hour after school to practice. I loved working with these kids. They were like sponges, wanting to soak up everything you say, and learn. They loved music and most of them were crazy talented.
I checked the room through the small window, noting no one was in there. So I pushed through and dropped my guitar case onto the teacher’s desk. Keen to use the small amount of time before the kids crowd into practice I began unzipping my case until a small noise startled me.
I froze.
My eyes were the only part of my body that moved, scanning the room.
Recognizing a purple backpack lying at the back of the room against the wall helped to ease the tightness in my muscles. I made my way around the desk, walking silently down one of the rows. When I saw her feet come into view, lying across the floor, I started to walk a little faster, my heart beating manically.
“Maddy?” I whispered as I edged closer, her body coming into full view now. “Maddy,” I tried again, my shoulders slumping and my lungs inhaling a large breath when I saw that she was fine. Her eyes blinked sleepily until they focused in on me. She jumped back, her shoulder hitting the wall and the thick jacket she was using as a pillow was sent flying.
I took I step back, my hands held up. “Maddy, it’s okay. It’s just me.”
Her shoulders heaved as she fought to breathe. No doubt her heart was pummeling against her chest with the fright I’d just given the poor girl.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
She shook her head, rubbing at her shoulder. “It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t be in here.”
Propping myself against one of the desks, I leaned back and folded my arms. “So why are you in here?”
Maddy was a bright kid, I’d been working with her for nearly six weeks now. She played guitar and every time she got it in her hands, her face lit up like Christmas morning. She was quiet but sweet and gracious.
“My mom has a new boyfriend,” she answered quietly, stifling a yawn with the back of her hand. “She’s been drinking more since he’s been around and her friends come over and they talk all night.”
She tries to play it off like it’s no big deal, shrugging her shoulder and moving to pick up her jacket off the floor, but I couldn’t help but feel like she was downplaying things. If she’s skipping class because she’sthattired, there was something seriously wrong.
“Have you tried talking to your mom about it?” I moved in closer as she started stuffing her jacket into her bag.
She pursed her lips and leaned back against the wall. “My stepdad passed away last year. She’s really spiraled downhill since then. Especially with men. She’ll get sick of this one in a week or so and things will quieten down again.”
I opened my mouth to tell her that even if that was the case, that what was going on still wasn’t okay, but my cell began to screech from my pocket. I screwed up my nose and held one finger up to Maddy who simply flashed me a small smile before I turned away.
“Hi Harmony! It’s Lisa here from the surrogacy clinic. How are you?” the bubbly voice greeted me, stunning me a little.
“Um… great, I guess,” I replied, trying to sound enthusiastic while my stomach churned nervously.
Lisa giggled. “Awesome! Just wanted to let you know, your surrogacy application has been accepted. I need you and Kit to come in with some ID and sign some forms so we can get the ball rolling.”
“Oh my gosh, already? Holy shit,” I cursed before quickly covering my mouth. “Sorry! I’m just surprised.” My mind ran at full speed.
Could she retract our application and say I’d be a bad parent just because I dropped the ‘s’ word?
“Could you come in this afternoon?” Lisa asked, clearly unfazed. “We close at five.”
“Yes!” I answered a little too eagerly. “Yes, we could be there around four-thirty?”
“Perfect!” She chimed. “See you then.”
She was gone before my mouth could even form the words to answer her.
Butterflies replaced the sickening churn in my stomach, their excited wings flapping and tickling at my sides. Things were suddenly becoming very real. I hadn’t even registered that the room was now steadily filling with chatting and boisterous teenagers. I wondered if I could even make it through this class.
