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My stomach knots.
Seriously, could this day get any worse?
“Sí, por supuesto.” Señora Lopez glances at me and nods toward the door.
Some kid whispers, “You’re in trouble!”
I ignore him and grab my bag. As I head for the door, other kids whisper and giggle. I can’t help but wonder if kids are any better at the underwater academy.
Stop! I shove that thought from my mind. Who cares if they are better? I’m not going.
I hurry out of the classroom and make my way to the office. Am I in trouble? I can’t think of anything I did wrong. Haven’t missed any assignments or done anything to interfere with participating in track. Maybe they just need to tell me something about the meet. Yeah, that’s probably it. I hope.
When I get to the office, the secretary smiles at me. “Hi, Marra. Your dad’s in there, waiting for you.” She gestures toward a conference room.
My dad. Great. If he missed work for this, I’m really in for it.
I can run. Never look back.
“Go on.” The secretary gives me a reassuring glance.
I take a deep breath and march into the conference room, my head held high. I’ll just tell him to tell everyone in Valora ‘hi’ for me.
He’s standing next to the table, hands in his pockets. Not even sitting. Just waiting. His lips purse. “We need to continue the conversation we started earlier.”
“I already said all I had to say. I’m not going.”
Dad just shakes his head.
I don’t budge.
He doesn’t, either. But his stance is more intimidating than usual. I hope it’s just my imagination because we’re in the school office and not some regal-thing that’s changing him in a more permanent way.
“Say what you came here to say.”
“Not here.”
“Then why’d you have them page me?”
He steps closer. “We’re going to discuss this at home.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“But I just got to school. I have my Spanish test and a track meet after school—”
“You won’t be doing any of that, Marra.”
I open my mouth to protest.
He cuts me off. “Come with me.” His hands ball into fists. “Now.”
“I’ll meet you at home.”
He shakes his head. “I’m driving.”
“But my car is here.”
His eyes flash yellow. It’s so brief, I doubt seeing it. “You won’t need it anymore.”
The room spins around me. “What?”
“Come on.” He places his hand firmly on my back and guides me out of the room. “We’re leaving now.”
He doesn’t mean Shorecrest High. We’re leaving everything.
Today.
