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"I'm off to school," I lied. "Do you need anything?" A wrinkled fist shot out from under the covers, lifting the blanket enough for her to glare atme.
"I said, goaway!"
I exhaled slowly before creaking the door open just a bit more. She slammed her blankets back down over herhead.
"I might be gone later than usual today. There's some crackers and snacks in the cabinets if you gethungry."
"Getout!"
I waited a second, then two before finally nodding, though she couldn't see, and backed out, closing the door behindme.
Back in my bedroom, I pulled out my phone and checked the messages. What was I supposed to bring? What did Marv mean that the timeline had moved up? There were no less than two text messages from Marv already telling me he was in the car and parked in front of the house across the street from my duplex. A single text from Knix sent an hour or so ago and another from Texas, less than ten minutesbefore.
Knix:Tell Marv to check hisphone.
Texas:Bring alternateclothing.
What? Why did I need extra clothes? What kind? I typed a reply to Texas and asked, but Marv texted me once more a minute or so later asking where I was. I decided to just grab something extra and if they didn't like it, we could always come back. At least I had something to bring. It would have felt odd leaving the house without a book bag on a school day. I ran back to my room and dumped the contents of my school bag onto my now pristine bed. I tucked in another shirt and pair of shorts as well as a light jacket just to be on the safe side. As the summer heated, everyone's AC would be running at fullblast.
I reached under the bed, scrambling for the laptop that Marv had lent me – no time like the present to return it – as well as my Chbosky novel. They went into the bag and I zipped it up, sliding both straps over my shoulders. Keys in hand, I paused at the front door, mentally ticking off a checklist. A low meow had me cursing and rushing for the kitchen as my phone pinged. Another text fromMarv.
I poured fresh water into a bowl and put a can of tuna out in Cleo's usual spot. Big, round cat eyes watched me as I flitted from one counter to another, preparing the items and putting things away. I scrambled faster every time my phone vibrated, but still it didn't feel fast enough. I rinsed my hands, wiped the wetness from my fingers on the back of my shorts, and I rushed for the front door. Cleo followed, completely uninterested in the food and water I had just set out for her and I shooed her away. I opened the front door and nearly jumped a mile when I heard a voice frombehind.
"Where are yougoing?"
Spinning, my hand clutched over my chest, I gasped. "Mom!" She stood in her bedroom doorway, her gray, frizzy hair pulled at the top of her head in a small, barely there, bun – the strands thin enough that I could see through to her scalp. "You scared me." I panted. "I told you, I'm going toschool."
"What is that thing doing here?" She pointed one thin finger at the kitten at my feet that looked up at the both of us like a young child between two arguingparents.
"It's a kitten, she's staying here until I can find her a better home. Her name'sCleo."
"I don't want it here. It could have rabies." She grimaced, letting her hands fall to her sides before rising to clasp the front of her robe closed. "I'm already sick enough as it is. If you're going to live under my roof, you respect my rules, or I'll have to toss you out, just like your brother." I didn't bother mentioning that after so many threats and even a few actual tosses, he had decided to leave on hisown.
"I'll find her a home as soon as possible, Mom, but right now, I have to get toschool."
"No!" she yelled. "You will get rid of that thing right now, young lady!" She stomped past me, through the living room, and into the kitchen. Cleo meowed up at me from my feet. I listened to the sounds of my mom rifling through the kitchen before the shattering of glass had me hurrying in behind her. She was standing above Cleo's food with the tuna can dumped over and the glass water bowl smashed at her feet. "I want that thing outnow!"
"Okay Mom, I'll find her a new home," I said hurriedly, hoping that if I appeased her she wouldn't get any worse. "Let me clean that up." I rushed forward and bent down to start gathering the broken bits of the glass bowl before she could step on any. My cell phone pinged again in my back pocket and my backstiffened.
"What was that?" I closed my eyes at the question, but there was no doubt that she knew exactly what itwas.
"It was my cell phone," I replied, standing. I glanced at her over my shoulder and shook at the way her eyes narrowed onme.
"I haven't given you a cell phone. Where did you getit?"
"The landline was turned off and I decided to get one in case Michael ever–" Istarted.
"I said, where did you get it?!" sheshrieked.
I trembled, the broken bits of glass clenched in my grasp, cutting into my skin. I loosened myhold.
"Erika gave me an old phone of hers and I–" It sounded like a lie even to my own ears, but maybe that's just because itwas.
"Give it to me." She held out one hand, while the other remained on the lapels of her robe. The phone buzzed again. I mentally cursed the guys for their continued texts and myself for not having put the phone onsilent.
I dropped the glass in the trash and reached into my back pocket, retrieving the brand new looking device. I placed the phone in her palm and she began to click through it, reading thescreen.
"Who are these boys?" shedemanded.
