AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m not losing her. I already lost her once. I’m not losing her again.”
“Do your parents know what’s going on?”
“I don’t want to talk about my parents. I think I might have to move out when I’m 18. I’m not going to spend the rest of the year fighting with them about Nova.”
“Assuming she takes you back.”
I’m starting to think she won’t. It’s been four days and she’s still blocking my number. I know I screwed up, but I need to at least have a chance to make it right.
* * *
After my last class,I head to the diner. Mara’s behind the counter, her back to me as she fills a glass at the soda dispenser.
“Mara,” I say, getting her attention.
She looks back and smiles. “Hey. You look nice.”
“It’s my uniform. I came here from school.”
She brings the soda to a guy sitting at the counter, then walks back to me, smiling as she looks me up and down. “Pretty fancy uniform.”
It’s just dress pants with a shirt and tie. I wouldn’t call it fancy, but maybe that’s because I’ve been wearing it for so long. Even back in first grade I had to dress this way. I hated the tie and was always trying to take it off.
“If you’re looking for Nova,” Mara says, “she quit.”
“Shequit? When?”
“This morning. She left a message for Lenny, the guy that owns the place.”
“Did she say why?”
“I don’t think so. I called her, but she didn’t answer. I’ll try her again later. She hated this job so I’m not surprised she quit.”
“She quit her other job too. The one at the skating rink,” I say, more to myself than Mara as I try to figure this out. Why would Nova quit both of her jobs? To avoid seeing me? I can’t imagine her doing something that extreme just to avoid me. And if I really wanted to see her, I could still go to her apartment.
“If I talk to her,” Mara says, “I’ll tell her you’re trying to reach her.”
“Okay, thanks.”
I leave and go to Nova’s apartment building. When I get up to her floor, I see the door of her apartment is open. I race down there before she closes it and run into a guy coming out.
“Can I help you?” he asks.
“Yeah, I’m here to see Nova.”
“She moved. She don’t live here no more.” He looks me up and down. “What’s with the shirt and tie? You selling something?”
“What do you mean she moved? Where did she go?”
“Hell if I know. I don’t get personal with the tenants. Makes it easier when I have to evict them.”
“You evicted Nova?”
“No, she moved. Why aren’t you getting this, kid? You slow?” He looks behind me. “Down here. Everything goes.”
I turn back and see guys in moving uniforms heading toward us.
“What’s happening?” I say to the guy at the door. “Where are you taking her stuff?”
