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Ava ran a jerky hand through her hair and sighed. “I don’t know if I even want her going back to RFA after this,” she muttered. “It’s obviously not safe, considering how someone was able to get onto the campus and stick a bomb under hercar.”
“I spoke to the head and the deputy head earlier,” I said. “They’re going to triple security on campus to make sure nothing like this happens again. And if you’re still really uncomfortable with her going there, they can just send the classwork to our house every day, and she can do itthere.”
“I do need to keep up with my schoolwork, Mom,” Laney interjected, voice barely above a whisper. “Otherwise I won’t graduate. And Adam’s right about the distance—Silvercreek is just too far away from the campus. The commute there and back would take an hour and a half out of my day, every day, and that’s time I could be using tostudy.”
Ava still looked unconvinced. “It’s very generous of you two to offer,” she said, looking at me and my brother. “But are you sure it would beokay?”
“Of course,” I replied. “It works out well for you too, because you’re at our house three days a week, so you’ll be able to see Laney more often than you usually would while she’s atschool.”
“That’s true,” she said, nodding slowly. She looked back at Laney and patted her hand. “All right. If you want, you can stay with Hunter andAdam.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Laney said, giving her a weaksmile.
Ava’s phone suddenly went off in her pocket. She leaned back, pulled it out, and glanced at the screen. “Shit,” she muttered, foreheadcreasing.
“What’s wrong?” Laneyasked.
“It’s a text from my boss at my other job. I was meant to have the night off, but apparently someone else just called in sick, so they want me to cover him,” she said. She let out a short, frustrated sigh and shook her head. “I’ll tell them I can’t makeit.”
Laney leaned closer to her. “Mom… you should go. You need the extra money because you were short on rent last month, remember?” she said, softly enough so that only Ava and I could hearit.
Ava twisted her lips. “I know, but I can’t leave you like this right now,” shesaid.
“I’m fine. Iswear.”
I pulled out my wallet. “How much is your rent?” I askedAva.
Her eyes widened. “Oh, Hunter, that’s so sweet of you to offer, but you’re already being so generous by letting Laney stay with you. I couldn’t possibly take your moneytoo.”
“It’snothing.”
She shook her head. “I wouldn’t feel right aboutit.”
“Mom, I really do feel fine,” Laney insisted. “I just need to eat some food and have a rest. You should go into work and get the extracash.”
Ava sighed. “Only if you promise me you actually feel okay, and you’re not just saying it to make me feelbetter.”
“I promise,” Laney said, flashing her another weak smile. “Besides, I have Hunter, Adam, and Trina to take care of me while you’re not around. I’ll be totallyfine.”
“All right. I’ll go. But I’m going to call you as soon as I’ve finished the shift, okay?” Ava finally said, wrapping her arms around her daughter in another tighthug.
When she was gone, Laney let out a deep sigh and reached for the egg salad sandwich Trina had just brought over. Adam leaned in, brows furrowing. “How are you really feeling?” heasked.
She shrugged listlessly. “I’m okay,” shemumbled.
“No, really,” Trina said. “C’mon, Laney. Talk tous.”
Laney took a bite of the sandwich and chewed it for a long moment. Tears began to glisten in her eyes, and when she swallowed, her entire body seemed to deflate. “It was meant to be over,” she finally said, putting the food down. “All of this. Andnow…”
“Now someone’s trying to hurt you again,” Adam finished for her in a hollowtone.
She nodded. “I was so happy these last couple of weeks. Everyone’s been so nice to me. No more bullies and no more Network-Medusa shit. I honestly thought I was out of the woods, and I could just be a normal girlagain.”
“I know.” I slung an arm around her and pulled her closer to me, letting my warmth seep into her. “We all thoughtthat.”
“I just don’t understand why someone would do something like this,” Trina said, slowly shaking her head. “It’s fuckingpsychotic.”
“Maybe it was someone from the Network,” Adam said, focusing his gaze on Laney. “They must be mad that you took them down,right?”
