Dad said, “Ryan’s father has been arrested for dealing prescription drugs in the past, so we wondered if Ryan might have—”
“He didn’t steal them—I can’t believe you’re saying this!” My face was hot, and I was near tears. “He’s never done anything wrong.”
“I doubt you snuck into the Andersons’ house all by yourself that night,” Mom said. “You’ve lied to us before.”
I sat in frustrated silence, angry at myself for breaking into the neighbors’ house, for giving them something they could use against me. I was even angrier when I thought about who probably took the pills.
“Nicole’s been partying with Shauna every weekend this summer. I even saw her drinking at the beach. Why don’t you ask her about your pills?”
My parents shot looks at each other, and my dad said, “Maybe we should ask Nicole to join us.”
He went to get her while I stared at the table, refusing to meet my mother’s eyes. Nicole came downstairs. Her eyes flicked to me, then to Mom. She was wearing pajamas—frilled cotton shorts and a pale pink tank top with a kitten on it. She looked even younger than sixteen. I was suddenly aware of my tight black tank top, my dark makeup, seeing myself through my parents’ eyes, their troublemaker daughter. But I wondered if they’d taken a good look at Nicole lately. She’d lost more weight, her collarbone showing, and her hair was limp, like she hadn’t washed it for a couple of days. She sat down at the table, arms wrapped tight around her body.
“What’s wrong?” she said.
“We just want to talk to you for a moment,” Mom said. She told her about the pills being missing, then gently said, “Are you okay? Is there anything you want to tell us? I know sometimes you have bad cramps—”
“Oh, sure,” I said, “you accuse me of stealing your pills, but—”
“Give it a rest, Toni. We’re talking to Nicole.”
I sat there, shaking my head at the bullshit and glaring at Nicole. She’d better tell the damn truth or I was going to kick her ass.
“I didn’t take them,” she said, “but I saw Toni in your room yesterday.”
“You little bitch!” The words exploded out of me. “I’m going to kill you.”
My dad said, “Toni, that’s enough!”
“I didn’t take them. She’s lying.” I turned to Nicole. “Tell them the truth—you know I didn’t touch them.”
She just stared at the table as she mumbled, “I didn’t take them either.”
I said, “I’m going to get you for this.”
“Don’t you threaten your sister!” Mom said.
“She’s lying her ass off—and you don’t even care.” My voice turned mean and mocking. “You think she’s soooo perfect. Why don’t you ask Rachel’s parents if Nicole really went camping with them last month? She’s got an older boyfriend—he works for Dad. She snuck off with him.”
Nicole gasped, tears coming to her eyes. “That’s not true. I was with Rachel and the girls all weekend—we went to Big Bear Ridge. You can call her mom. She’ll tell you.” She shook her head, crying now. “I don’t have a boyfriend. I don’t know why she’s telling these lies about me.”
Mom was also shaking her head as she looked back at me. “I’m sick of your hateful attitude, Toni. We’ve done everything we can to get through to you, but nothing works. We didn’t want it to come to this, but you’re turning into a liar and a thief—and you’ve left us no choice. It’s time you moved out.”
I stared at her in surprise and hurt, the words ringing in my head.
“Fine,” I said, choking back tears. “We were going to move out in a couple of weeks anyway. We found a place, but we can’t get in until the end of the month.” I wished I could leave now, but Ryan’s dad had been on a bender all week—Ryan had been staying at a friend’s. And Amy was on a family vacation.
“You can stay until then.” Mom looked sad but resigned, like the fight had gone out of her. “I’m very disappointed in you, Toni. I sincerely hope you start getting your life together soon, before you waste it all away.”
My dad also gave me a sad smile. “If you need any help moving, you kids let me know.”
I looked at him through my blurred tears. “I didn’t do it, Dad.”
“I’d like to believe you, Toni, but you make it hard to trust you.”
“Dad—” I wanted to defend myself, wanted to make that disappointed look leave his face, but I couldn’t get any words past the tight lump in my throat.
He turned to Nicole. “Is there anything you want to tell us? Your sister said she saw you drinking at the beach.”
She hesitated. I thought she might confess, her body stretching forward for a moment, like she was reaching out, but then she slumped back in her chair.
“She’s just making that up because she was mad that I was hanging out with Shauna. I don’t drink.”