“Yes. Now.” She wheeled her wheelchair to the couch and looked at me square in the eye. “Get up and get into the shower. I’m cooking something to eat, and you’re gonna eat it. Now go.”
Slowly, I slid off the couch and forced my feet to move across the floor toward the bathroom. I concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. Just that simple task was enough to exhaust me. I just wanted to sleep. When I slept, I didn’t think. But when I slept, I dreamed, and Chay’s face, cold and hard, haunted me.
I don’t love you.
Flipping on the water, I stepped in the shower and let it run over me. I lathered my hair with my grams’ lavender-scented shampoo, running my fingers through the snarls and knots.
I stood under the pulsing water until it turned cold, and I was shivering. My teeth chattering, I turned off the water and toweled off, pulling on a thick pair of sweats. I walked into the living area, flopped back down on the purple couch, and snuggled under a soft quilt.
“You have school tomorrow—”
I opened my mouth to argue. I wasn’t ready to go back to school. I wasn’t ready to see Chay.
“I promised your dad I’d get you there,” my grams said quickly before I could argue.
***
The next morning I got ready for school. I didn’t try to talk my way out of it. I knew I was lucky my family let me sulk as long as they did.
My grandmother was confined to a wheelchair. Unless she was going to wheel me on her lap the ten miles to school, I had to find other transportation. Luckily, she had a lot of friends. Mrs. Richardson offered to drive me.
She was an old lady with eyes dull from cataracts. She drove like a bat out of Hell. I saw my life flash before my eyes several times during the ride, but somehow, we made it to school. I wasn’t sure if I was happy about that or not, but I was relieved that I made the trip in one piece.
“Thanks for the ride, Mrs. Richardson. My cousin will give me a ride this afternoon.” I waved as her car bounced off the curb she’d jumped when pulling up to the school.
I decided I’d ask Muriel for a ride to and from school while I was staying with Grams. I’d pay her gas, whatever, as long as I didn’t have to ride with Mrs. Richardson again. My stress level was already high enough.
I took a deep breath, turned around, and faced the school building.
I’m not ready. I don’t want to go in there and face him, face everyone. Maybe I can call a taxi and go home.
“Hey.”
I turned and smiled. “Hi.”
“Grams said she was forcing you to come today,” Muriel said. “Wanna walk in together?”
I let out the breath I was holding and nodded. “Yeah. Thanks.”
Muriel and I walked to our locker together and grabbed the books we needed. People said hi as we passed them in the hallway. I noticed a few staring a little longer than normal, but not too many. I should have known Chay wouldn’t have told anyone. He wasn’t the social type.
“No one knows?” I looked at Muriel.
“Just a handful of people. I’m not sure how they found out.”
“Well, everyone is gonna know after today.” We stood outside the door to my first period class. Chemistry. I dreaded chemistry. Chay and I sat together—we were lab partners. How was I supposed to face him?
“I’ll see you next hour.” Muriel gave me a hug. “You’re stronger than this, Milayna. He’s a jackass for letting you go. No one else in school will put up with his moods.” She grinned, and I had to laugh.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
“Of course I am.” She gave me one final squeeze and walked toward her first period class. She was halfway down the hall when she yelled, “Colossal jackass!” over her shoulder.
I could still bolt. It’s not too late to get the heck outta here. Yeah, right. Just get it over with.
“Milayna?” my teacher called when I walked into class.
“Yes?”
“Chay Roberts has transferred out of the class. You and Xavier will be lab partners for the duration of the school year.”
“Oh. Okay.” I turned and saw Xavier sitting in the seat where Chay usually sat. My heart lurched and my breakfast bubbled in my stomach, climbing up my throat.
No, this isn’t right.
“Xavier, do you mind if we sit at your table instead?”
“Sure. It doesn’t make any difference to me.” He gathered his things and tossed them to the table behind him.
I sat next to him and waited for the inevitable questioning to begin.
“He’s a fool,” Xavier whispered.
“Who is?”
He let out a breath and shook his head. “Chay. He’s a fool to leave you.”
“What makes you think he has?” I pulled my chemistry book out of my bag.
“The group knows.” My face heated from the blush I was sure covered it. The group knew. Great. “We need to know these kinds of things, Milayna. Otherwise, we can’t do our jobs.”
I nodded.