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“And then, I’ll be in Chicago.” Layne sighed. “I’m just worried about her. She’s all alone there. I feel like I’m letting my dad down because I’m not doing everything I can to help take care of her.”
“Layne…” Shay paused. “I’m guessing that your mom told you to finish school and worry about that.”
“Yes, she did. But–”
“Then, that’s what she wants you to do. And after that, you’re moving to Chicago because that’s the next step for you. Your mom understands that. It’s probably why she’s working so hard and always has. She doesn’t want you to take care of her because she thinks that’s her job; taking care of you, I mean. That’s what my parents tell us all the time, at least.”
“I’m thinking about going home.”
“Oh,” Shay said.
“Yeah. I don’t know. They said we could now, and it’s probably going to be mandatory soon, right?”
“Probably, yeah,” Shay said, sounding disappointed.
“Are you going?”
“Not right now,” Shay replied.
“I guess it’s different for you. Your parents have each other, and only your dad works, and he can work from home right now. Plus, your sisters all have someone, right?”
“They all have boyfriends they live with, yeah. And I think they’re all being safe, too.”
“My mom is by herself, Shay.”
“I get it,” Shay replied on a sigh. “Am I wrong for telling you that… I don’t want you to go?”
Layne smiled a little and said, “No, that’s nice to hear, actually. I’m not sure anyone’s ever said that to me before.”
“It’s true. I know we don’t actually get to see each other, even though we live, like, ten feet apart, but I kind of like that you’re just right down the hall if I need you. Selfish, I know. You should take care of your mom.”
“It’s not that I want to go, Shay.”
“I know. I get it.”
“I want a normal senior year. God, I want to play basketball. Now that it’s been taken away from me, I miss it like crazy. I want to be at that arena right now, playing on that court with you, bringing the ball up, and I want to graduate and have the ceremony and throw my stupid hat in the air with everyone else. I want to be able to walk to class again and have dinner in the cafeteria, even though I never really cared about that before. I even want to watch Martin take us through game film.”
Shay laughed and said, “I don’t miss that part.”
“I guess I just kind of miss everything,” Layne replied.
“Are you going home?”
“I think I have to. I’m not going to get the things I want, so I can at least make sure she’s okay.”
“Will you write me a note before you leave?”
Layne smiled and said, “I’m not leaving tonight, Shay.”
“I know. But still.”
“I’ll write you one right now, if you want.”
“No, later; we’re talking right now. Want to watch something?”
They’d taken to putting the same thing on Netflix and watching it together while they talked the past two nights. Layne wondered before she answered if they’d be able to keep that up, with her at home and Shay still at school, and she worried that they wouldn’t be.
“Sure. You pick,” she replied and went to get her computer.
