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I knew Grandma was home, I could smell her cigarette smoke from her usual spot on the back porch. She was probably watching the chihuahuas run around. I slipped into my room, hoping she was sleeping or too drunk to know I was out most of the day. The house didn’t have internet, well; it did sometimes, but mostly the bill wasn’t ever paid so I went to coffee shops or stayed on campus to finish my work. I was rarely here anyway. This was only a place to sleep.
My phone buzzed. A text from Rosalie. She was the closest thing to a sister I’d ever have. I’d known her since grade school and she was my ride or die. I’d die for her; she’d probably kill for me. I probably would too.
I pulled out my phone to look at her text. It was long. She knew I paid by the text and she used a single text well.
ROSALIE: I’m coming to pick you up around seven. We are going to the blasted bonfire because we deserve to have some fun and commemorate your first week as a big college kid. Also, we know you are probably going to be networking, don’t even try to lie to me. Just be at the end of the street at seven and bring a dollar or two, we are stopping by Taco Bell. Can’t wait to hear how you’ve turned into a complete nerd. I expect you to start wearing tweed blazers by the end of the month, please.
I rolled my eyes but didn’t bother responding. She knew I’d be there. I was thankful enough that she didn’t elaborate on the whole “networking” comment but gathered up my flash drives anyway. I had four to give away tonight and two to pick up. It was a little side gig I’d started in high school and never stopped. Essay writing really was a lucrative business opportunity in a grossly underserved market.
A loud banging and clunking from outside told me Grandpa was out dismantling some other car, so I took that as an opportunity to scrounge around the house for some change and food. I ate a packet of ramen raw, crushing it between my teeth as I scanned the junk drawers for some change. Like I said, being cheap was a game. I found two dollars and some quarters in the coat hanging by the door. I said a mental thank you to Grandpa for his unknown generosity before slipping out the front.
“Eliza!”
I spun on my heel, my laced-up ankle boots scraping on the cracked concrete. “Yeah?” I asked.
“Where are you off to?”
“Gotta go do some homework.” I adjusted my backpack on my shoulder for emphasis.
“Got a call from your parole officer.”
“Probation officer,” I corrected. Parole is if you have been to prison. Probation is if youalmostwent to prison.
“Watch your lip.” Grandpa swayed on his feet. His oil-stained coveralls and flannel shirt reeked of tobacco and fuel. “Your officer wanted a check-in, now get into the house before she calls the cops. Your grandma can’t handle the stress right now.”
It wasn’t worth fighting. I walked back into the house, ignoring the grumbling of his voice, marched straight to my room, and hopped out the window. I closed it behind me, leaving a pencil under it, thick enough to get my fingers under to open it if they locked me out.
I took the long way to the street, around the back of the woodpile and his shop, squeezing between the dilapidated fence and metal walls of his shop. When I got to the street and began my walk to where Rosalie would pick me up, I flipped open my phone and called Miss Shayna.
“Eliza? Everything okay?”
“Well, yeah. I think so,” I said. “Grandpa said you called and couldn’t get hold of me or something.”
“Nope,” Shayna said in her singsong voice. It sounded like she was at dinner or something. People were laughing in the background.
“Oh sorry, he must have been confused. Gets his days mixed up.” It was a half-truth.
“No problem, Eliza. But since I have you, how was your first week?”
“Fine, normal, just like some of the summer classes I took. My advisor thinks I can graduate a year early, so that’s a plus. Think I can get the scholarship prorated or something since I don’t need it all for tuition? My laptop is dying, screaming in pain actually, and I want to put it out of its misery.”
“I don’t know. Seems like it could be a possibility. I’ll check into that.’’ There was a pause and before I could end the conversation she added, “You know, if your grandparents are giving you a hard time, you can talk to someone. You have rights.”
“They’re okay. Will we meet at the same time and place next week?”
She sighed. “Alright. And yeah, that’s correct. See you then.”
I slammed the phone closed. I smiled to myself. What a satisfying feeling to be able to close a phone to end a call. Those iPhone users could never touch that feeling. But what I wouldn’t give to have a GPS at my fingertips. Or my emails. A computer in my pocket. Maybe if I could get that scholarship money in some form of cash and not just sent to the school for tuition, I’d treat myself to a fancy smartphone.
I heard Rosalie’s truck before I saw it and waited at my designated corner. Rosalie and I used to go to tons of parties until almost two years ago we went to the party that changed my life.No. It didn’t change my life, it just derailed it for a little while. I’m still doing what I want.At least that’s how I rationalized it.
Rosalie dropped out of high school and turned herself into a cute little businesswoman. She designed stickers and other prints and sold them on print-on-demand companies. It was slow going at first, but she and that little iPad created quite the backlist of designs and now she finally got to do more local work, like wedding invitations and stuff. I used to bail her out of the shit storms she’d create and now she thought it was her turn to do the same for me. She was trying to keep me out of trouble.
But trouble found me, and I didn’t get away fast enough.
“Get in loser, let’s light something on fire,” Rosalie said, unlocking the door.
A genuine smile crossed my face. I stowed my backpack under the passenger seat. It was a habit. Take all the things I needed with me, just in case I didn’t go back home for a few days. It was safe in Rosalie’s truck.
