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It seemed like I blinked and Jake nudged me awake. He offered me water, and then it was time to head to my TA period. He walked me all the way there and told me to hang out, he’d get me after.
The teacher I assisted just told me to grab a seat in the back of the room and work on homework if I wanted. She wanted me to take it easy. I checked in with the guys. They’d been texting on and off. It was kind of weird, in a way.
I hadn’t texted them most of the week. Even when some had been at school and I’d been at home. I just hadn’t been on my phone.
There were a handful of messages from Cheryl—not hundreds. I hadn’t read the latest ones. Rachel sent a couple asking if I wanted to get together on Tuesday, or if she could just swing by and see me. One from Archie with the promise that Jeremy would have delivered the groceries before school was over and he was also dropping off dinner for us.
Yeah, by lunch, there was no way I could go do the shopping, no matter how much I wanted to. Archie wouldn’t let me pay for the groceries either. I’d find a way to pay him back.
Somehow.
Ian mentioned he’d be over after he ran by his house. He just had to pick up a couple of things.
Mondays were planning days.
That was another bit of normal.
The office runner arriving with a message to get me out of class wasn’t. The kid’s name was Robert, or maybe Robbie? I didn’t know him well. He was a senior, but we just never hung out. He carried my bag for me, and when I asked why I was going to the office, he shrugged.
“They just said I needed to come give you a hand with your bag.”
I fired off a message to the guys chat.
Me:Got called to the office.
I neededJake to know I wouldn’t be in my TA class.
Jake:Everything ok?
Coop:What’s up?
Archie:Why?
Ian:I can cut out of here and meet you if you need me.
Hopefully,it was just the principal or something wanting to talk to me. Though I’d really rather have skipped that.
The last thing I expected when Robbie pushed open the door to the office was Mr. Standish standing there speaking to the principal in serious, hushed tones and my mother, eyes blazing as she whirled toward the door.
Oh.
Shit.
I still had my phone in my hand and the message open. I just typed in one word with my thumb and hit send before I clicked it off.
Bad News
Frankie:Mom
Jake:What?
Coop:Where?
Archie:…
Ian:She’s not answering.
One minute later…
