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I leaned forward, grabbing the arms of her chair, effectively blocking her in. “But it could happen, you know? You just have to ask nicely.”
Whitney scooted back so she was flush against the chair, then gave one sharp shake of her head. “I’d rather sleep on that park bench you took me to after my accident.”
“You never used to mind spending time at my house,” I countered.
“That was before.” Her eyes flashed something straddling what looked a lot like pain and hatred.
I inched ever so slightly forward, and Whitney crossed her arms as if to block me.
“I don’t know what you aren’t telling me, Sprinkles, but you are making this much more difficult than it needs to be. The longer you keep me in the dark, the longer it’s going to take to resolve this. Oh, and I’m not going to let you see your mom today. You need a cooling off period.”
Whitney cocked her head and then leaned forward, her face almost meeting mine.
I could smell the sugar on her lips from the dessert at Barb’s combined with a hint of coffee.
Her vibrant eyes opened wide, challenging me. Daring me to push her further.
My heart raced, a feeling I was unaccustomed to. Unsettled, I released her from her cage.
I shook my head, realizing her silence was all the reply I could hope to get.
Needing a change in subject, I rounded my desk, took out a blank file and began to take her statement.
After fifteen minutes of questioning, Whitney left, not another word about our past exchanged between us.
Chapter 9
Jack - Eighth Grade
I bangedon the door again. “Whit, are you okay in there?
I had waited outside the girls’ bathroom for so long that other students were starting to look at me funny. I tried pulling up the collar on my shirt to shield my face, but I doubt it did any good.
I knocked harder this time.
“If you don’t come out of there in sixty seconds, I am coming in to get you.” I hiked my backpack higher and paced outside the door. School ended fifteen minutes ago, so by now most students had already left campus, with just a few waiting in the parent pick-up/drop-off area out front.
I checked my digital watch again. After a minute passed, I stormed into the girls’ bathroom. With its brown tiled floors and chipped sinks, it looked identical to the boys’ bathroom, minus the urinals. Bending over, I looked for the leopard print ballet shoes Whitney wore religiously.
Middle stall, check.
I walked right up to it and put my hand on the door.
“Did you run out of toilet paper?” I whispered.
A half laugh half sob sounded from the other side of the door.
“Please just leave me alone. I’m fine, I promise.” Whitney sounded like she had been crying.
“If you were fine, you’d be on the other side of this stall. Actually, if you were fine, we’d be halfway home by now.”
“You should ride your bike home without me. I’ll meet up with you later.”
I put my hand on the door. “That’s not happening. We ride home together, just like always.”
Whitney groaned in pain. I closed my fist against the door, desperate to help her.
“Seriously, Whitney, are you hurt?”
