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“Then, give me one better about yourself,” I bite back.
“I’ll give you one. I help grow the food that you like to cook.”
“Oh, please. You don’t grow my shit. I go to the market to get the food I cook with.”
“And where do you think they get the food to sell? Huh? From my family’s ranch. But you’re too busy in your tech world to even realize that.”
“That’s what it is, isn’t it? You’re just bitter because my family brought something bigger to Leighton River than your family’s ranch. I’ve always been told of the bitterness your father has toward my dad. Looks like the apple didn’t fall far from the tree … literally.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “You’re such an ass.”
I hold my arms out to my sides. “Who knows? Maybe I am, but unless you actually give me something to work with here, we won’t be able to finish this assignment, so suck it up, buttercup. You’re stuck with me.”
She places her pen down and folds her arms over her notebook. “Why did your parents and everyone from TimeLand move back?”
I let out a frustrated breath. It’s the ultimate question I get from anyone new I meet. Why would my dad and his business partners move their booming business from the center of the tech world in Silicon Valley, California, to the middle of nowhere, in Leighton River, Montana?
I tell the same story I’ve told a million times. “They didn’t want us kids growing up in California. They wanted us to have a stable childhood, like they had, where we played with dirt and were able to ride our bikes wherever we wanted. I guess that’s not really possible over there. At least, that’s what they say.”
“Didn’t they take into consideration what moving a company like that to this area would do?”
I throw my hands in the air. “You’re kidding, right? You do know that the only reason we are sitting right here, right now is because my parents built this portion of the school so we could sit outside and eat if we wanted to or, you know, do projects like this and not be stuck indoors all day long? I think that’s what they had in mind.” I place my finger down on the table in front of us, making a point. “They’ve done a lot for this community.”
She looks down and shakes her head. “Not all of it is good though.”
“Like what? Name one thing they’ve done that’s hurt this town and not helped it?”
To my surprise, she gets up from the table. “You’ll never understand.”
I watch as she walks away, heading toward the restroom, probably because she thinks I won’t follow her there. Well, news flash to her: I wouldn’t follow her even if she wanted me to.
CHAPTER NINE
Natalie
Susie, my best friend since I can remember, knocks on my front door.
“Hey, girl,” I say as I swing the door open.
She’s dressed in Leighton River High gear, head to toe. Her face is even painted withLRon each side. The sight makes my shoulders drop instantly.
“I thought we were going to a movie.”
“Nope.” She pushes the door open and walks past me with aget your shit togetherattitude. “We’re going to the game, whether you like it or not. Have some school spirit. You’ll look back on these days and wish you had.”
I know I should go support my brother, but even he understands why I don’t like to go sit in the stands that feel nothing like football in our small town should.
I shut the door. “Doubtful. And why do you sound like my father all of a sudden?”
“Because he told me I had to get you to the game so you wouldn’t regret it later.” She grins my way, and I can’t help but laugh.
Of course my dad got involved. He talks about his days at Leighton River High as the best of his life. He doesn’t understand that it’s totally different now than when he was there. Kids are different.
Everyone in my class is addicted to their phone and couldn’t care less about actually doing things outside. That is, unless there’s a football game. This town literally shuts down every Friday night during football season. The only thing open is the gas station on Davis Street, the market, and the movie theater, which I’m sure is only due to some contract they have with the film companies. Even the bowling alley closes.
“Come on. You’ve had fun at these games. Don’t try to act like you haven’t,” she taunts.
“Yes, when we were twelve, going to the game to see older boys hanging around was fun. Now, we’re the older people, and there ain’t any boys worth seeing,” I tease.
