Chapter 2

I didn’t have assignments or homework to do, I left before it was assigned. No I was excused before it was assigned. So I watched TV until mom called for dinner. Just as I was leaving out my room Dena was making her way past.
“You enjoyed your first day of school huh? Stealing my friends? Putting your little voodoo on them. Or your witches spell…?”
She looks over with a look of annoyance, “Get a life Paige. They were probably never even your friends in the first place. You should be happy I took them off your hands.”
“What are you saying?”
“They’ll never win honorary friends of the year..”
“What did they tell you?” I nearly growl.
She looks at me but doesn’t say anything, “Does your mom know yet about you getting kicked out of school?”
“She’s about to.”
“You’re going to tell her?”
“How stupid are you? Of course not. The school’s going to call. Try your best to not say anything before then.”

We all sat awkwardly at the table. I already knew what my dad was so nervous to tell my mom about. She knew, if she was honestly listening this morning. My brother and Dena sat, completely oblivious to the tension. Maybe my mom was so tense about our argument this morning..
“Kids, Dena, Honey….”I love how my dad segregated Dena out of being a kid. “I’ve got something important to say.” Everyone’s utensils clinked as they waited. My mom even crossed her hands and waited, giving him her utmost attention. Something I haven’t seen done in the longest time. “I was--”
The phone begins ringing. My dad lets out a giant sigh. My mom gets up out of her seat,
“Wait no!” I grab onto my mom’s hand to stop her, “What were you saying Dad?”
“The phone’s ringing.” My dad motions to my mom.
“Thank you Captain Obvious.” My mom says annoyed as she snatched her hand away from mine.
“Crap!”
“Paige?” My dad questions.
“Hello!” My mom’s cheery welcome sing-song voice. “What?! Is that so….?” She gives me a stern look that reaches me all the way from across the room, “I did not sign her out today.”
Dena lets out something of a laugh until she begins choking on her rice.
“Are you okay Dena?” My dad hits her back,
“That never works dad.” Liam says in his Come-on-now-! Voice.
“Yes it can Liam!” I snap not wanting to watch the slap fest end.
“Paige!” My mom yells.
“Mmm, that’s my name don’t wear it out!”
She storms over, “Two more weeks. Grounded.”
“Two more?” My dad asks.
I smile, justice hath found it’s way. “Yes Dad, why don’t you ask Mom why I have two weeks already?”
My mom was busted. It gave me joy to believe that, “We’ll talk about it tonight Mychael.”
“Well alright.”
Really?! She got away with it that easily?! Gosh you’d think she was a pretty blonde.
She sits back down in her seat then says, “Well, what was it you were about to tell us, before I got the phone call about our daughter being excused and magically signed out of school by her mother that was at work today?”
“Why were you excused?” My dad asks sidetracked again.
“Long story. Mom will explain it later. News?” I say quickly,
“I was excused from work today. For a long period of time. There’s a lot of doctors and they’re planning on doing what they did with teachers. Cut us down, until there’s only the necessary amount of us.”
“Can they do that?!” Liam asks in shock.
“Of course they can. They did it.”
“So what? Are we even poorer now?” I ask.
“No we’re not even poorer. We were never poor. In fact our water was fixed today.”
“Awesome!” Liam says pumping his fist.
“Umm do you know at all what this conversation is about? Or are you just tuning in when you can?” I ask over at him,
“Paige, leave him alone. Your mom still has her job and as long as one of us are working, there will still be food on the table, clothes on your back, and a roof over your head.”
“Sounds poor to me.” I mumble.
My dad lets out a sigh and my mom yells, “You’re excused Paige!”

“You’re excused Paige!” I mimic.
Sierra howls with laughter, “That’s a really good imitation!”
I let out a laugh, “You think so?”
“Yeah but aren’t you grounded? What are you doing on the phone?”
“I just wanted to vent to someone.”
“Well I’m here for you girl but not when it’ll get you in even more trouble.”
“”Jeez thanks Sierra.”
“But before you go tell me about you and the Pedo.”
“His name is Zack!”
“What about Zack?”
I look around to make sure no one’s eavesdropping then say, “We’ve been kissing and he took me out to lunch!”
We both squealed with glee. “Okay, okay, bye Paige. Have fun with your lover boy.”
“Thanks, bye.”
“Bye.”

“Paige,” My dad shook me, “School’s been called today.”
“On a Saturday?” I ask sitting up groggily.
“Afraid so.”
“Okay,” I kick my legs to the side, with a yawn.
“I made breakfast, want some?”
“Wow Dad…sure!”
He smiles patting my knee, “I’ll tell Dena and Liam to save you some pancakes.” He gets up off his knees with an old man groan, then walks out.
“Pancakes?” I pinch myself. I was awake.
I rush to the bathroom and see if the good dream continued. I turn on the faucet and clear, warm water shoots out of the shower spout.

Clean and refreshed I trot down the stairs and slide onto my seat. Two uneven, probably eaten off of, pancakes waited on a crumbly plate. I wasn’t the least bit ungrateful, so grabbed them up then dipped them in the remaining teaspoon of maple syrup left at the bottom of the bottle.
“Need a drink?”
“Sure, do we have some Skim milk?”
“Went and bought it this morning.”
My dad pours me a glass by the counter then places it in front of me. This time I pinch harder, nails digging into my skin, “Ouch!” I was still awake.

He drove us to school, but he held me in the car after Dena and Liam got out.
“Paige you cursed your mom out?”
“No, what?!”
“That’s what your mom told me.”
I sigh, “I can’t believe I was surprised.”
“Are you saying she’s lying?”
“You say it like it’s impossible.”
“So then why were you grounded?” I go quiet, even fidget, feeling uncomfortable. “Paige, what’s the secret?”
“What do you mean Dad?” I slap on my best acting smile.
“What are you and your mom keeping from me?”
“Nothing! Why--?” Why was I lying for her? He looks disappointed, even lets out a sigh. “I’ve got to go now, I’m going to be late.” Quickly I unbuckle my seatbelt, push open the car door, then slide out.

I was kicked out of class, once again. This time it was because I related yesterday’s punishment to racism. I did it as professionally as possible by relating it back to To Kill A Mockingbird.

“Bad morning again?” Mr. Forrison asks arms crossed and eyebrow risen.
“Not really…”
“I can tell you want to talk about it,” Just like all men he slaps a white sheet into my hand. Not that all men do that. It was just his way of an escape from talking.

I make my 2nd day’s consecutive route to the counseling office and wait for Mrs. Charless’ tirade. But when I checked in, they said she wasn’t here today. Probably had an ulcer or minor cardiac arrest from my constructive criticism. “Mr. Axley will be your substitute counselor for today.” I sat in front of this man, staring at him like any child would. He was funny looking. He had an extremely swollen nose, thin pursed lips, bushy gray eyebrows, and nearly balding brown hair. We both began to talk at the same time, but each of us were being pondered with different thoughts.
I spit out, “How old are you?”
And he blurts, “Why are you here today?” He realizes what I’ve said and yells, “Well I don’t believe that’s any of your business!”
I mentally lock my lips then quickly hand over the white sheet. I forgot to read it this time.
“Inappropriate language in class?” He looks over his paper at me, “Were you cursing?”
“Of course not!”
“Hmm….are you going to confess or am I going to have to call your teacher?”
“Alright, I accused Mr. Forrison of being a racist.”
He laughs. An old man chuckle. I could only tell the difference between that and hacking by the smile on his face. “Mr. Forrison adopted a child--!” He continue laughing.
“That’s irrelevant.”
“Is it?” He slowly calms down the laughing, “She’s from Haiti.”
“He might’ve adopted her to raise her as a head-bowed slave.”
He gives me a scornful scowl, “Are you always so pessimistic?”
“Just send me home!” I whine, in agony, the air conditioning was broken.
“That’s not how it works,”
“Make it work! I beg you!”
“Go back to class,”
“Are you sure he’ll want me there?”
“Haven’t the slightest clue. However I do know I don’t want you here.”
I kick my chair out in attempt to show my anger, snatch my sheet right from his hands, and walk out of the administrative buildings. Did I really want to go back to class? I stop walking. Of course not. We weren’t even doing anything special today, so why would they call us over the weekend?

Last time I tried to be reasonable, and remain a good kid, but Verified Ditch was going to be stamped on my school record.

With no rescue ride from my Prince Charming, I decided to give my mom a visit at work. It wasn’t that I really believed it, but it was a good excuse. “The guilt of lying to my dad this morning (for her) chewed me away and caused that inappropriate outburst in class.” I had to pay her back. Just by a little visit by the office.

I walked for heaven knows how long just to get to the bus that went downtown. I pay up two days worth of lunch money then take a seat.

As I walked through the door to the mostly marble building, I was immediately greeted with 60 degree air conditioning. I had been to my mom’s job maybe three times in my whole life. Last time had to be over seven years ago. I went up to the directory board then found her. “Macy, Gregory, Lines,…” tons of other non-important names and “…floor 3.” I look around to insure I wasn’t paranoid. And I wasn’t. Everyone in the lobby was staring at me. That feeling of being a pink elephant in a room washed over me.

I stormed out of the elevator, which immediately opened up to the work area. There were multiple desks, separated by useless glass walls. My mom’s eyes lift up from her papers, then grew ten times in size. She must’ve already known I came to put on a show. “Hey Missy! Want to hear about my day?”
She stands up immediately, pushing aside her work. “ Paige, what are you doing here?”
At least she didn’t know I ditched school. Yet. “I came to tell you about my day. Quick question, did you really tell my dad that I cursed you out?”
“Why else could I have grounded you for two weeks?”
“You could’ve pulled a better lie then that! Don’t make me look bad because you’re--” She snatches up my hand and marches me into the elevator.
“Why are you here Paige Macy? And you better have a damn good reason.”
“I do, it’s to embarrass you, have I done my job? Do you feel the anger, I feel for having to lie to my dad this morning?!”
“Don’t try pulling that crap with me! I’m sure there are countless times you’ve lied to me and your father.”
“A sin is still a sin, Mom! Isn’t that what you taught me?”
She waves me off, and begins to open up the doors when I yell, “You know Mom, I don’t even know why I expected you to understand! You’re not an understanding person! So tell me, why should I keep your secret any longer?”
“Are you blackmailing me?” I cross my arms and say nothing. She sighs then thinks, “I won’t pester you about Zack anymore.” Her eyes became pleading, and as if that weren’t enough she grabs up my hand.
I snatch my hand away, “You’re going to have to do better then that. Everyone knows lawyers have to take acting classes.”
“I’ll drop your grounding period.”
“Try harder!” I tease in my sing-song voice.
She growls, her pleading look vanishes, “What do you want from me Paige?”
I smile, this time I won, “Get Dena out of my room. Then I do like the idea of no longer being grounded. Not being grounded means I can see Zack. Seeing Zack and you not pestering me would be lovely…..hmmm….and you can’t ground me for the rest of month…in case of future groundation factors….”
“You’re not making any sense Paige,”
“You can’t ground me for another month!”
She looks down at the ground, nodding her head occasionally, biting her lip even, as if replaying my ultimatum in her head. Is that what all lawyers do? “Paige….why future groundation?”
I sigh, I might as well tell her, “I ditched today because I was kicked out of class again.”
“Oh Paige…”
“Deal or no deal Mom?”
She looks down at her watch, pushes her bangs back then says, “Okay. Fine. Whatever! I need to get back to work and hope I can hold onto my job after all that you’ve done.”
“Say your daughter has special bipolar needs.”
She rolls her eyes, “Alright, go home.”
“Wait, we haven’t closed a deal yet. Where’s the shaking of hands?” I hold my hand out, with an ear to ear grin spread across my face.
She shakes it reluctantly, opens the elevator door, turns around and with a finger pointed at me says sternly, “Go home.” The doors close after that.

I took another stop to get home quicker. Right next to a convenient store, and close to the hospital my dad used to work at. I casually walk by the convenient store then with so much anger with the hospital I speed walk by it, even frowning. To calm my anger, I run across the street then take a turn into the neighborhood. Instead of heading straight home I stop at Zack’s house.

He opens the door to me, sweating through his clothes. “Hey Paige, where were you all day? I waited around for you then had to go on my jog alone.”
Sarcastically I say, “Sorry to have missed that.”
He smiles offering me a way into his arms, “So where were you?”
“School was called today.”
“What? What would they need with kids on a Saturday?”
“It doesn’t matter either way,” I flash a smile as I flop onto his couch.
“Why? Were you kicked out of class again?” He asks taking a seat next to me.
“Actually I prefer the word excused.”
He laughs then gets a whiff ( I luckily didn’t get) of himself and says, “Woah I need to slip in the shower.” He pushes off the couch then heads over to the stairs.
“Is that an invite?” I tease seductively as I look over the couch at him.
He laughs, “Watch some toons or something, Kid.”
“How about I help myself to your food?”
“Go ahead.” I push up off the couch and wonder into his kitchen. There was actually a half eaten burger and a cheese stick in the fridge. I snatch up the cheese stick then listen as the water runs upstairs. I return to the family room, flop onto the couch and turn on the TV. The shows they had now for kids were nothing like the cartoons I watched when I was younger. It was a let down. Disappointed I turned off the TV with a sigh. “Nothing good?” I look over the couch to see him walking down with a towel tied around his waist.
“Umm….” Distracted I could barely respond, “No…not really.”
“Mhm.” He bends over to look into the fridge then says, “Thanks for eating tomorrow night’s dinner.”
“I’ll go down to my house and bring you something better to replace it.”
He leans back up, “I’m joking.”
“I’m not.” I push up off the couch then head towards the door,
“How long are you going to take?” He calls,
“Long enough for you to put some clothes on Love,” I shoot him a peace sign then walk out.

It took me a while to process it, I was busted. Just as I skipped down the steps to Zack’s house, my dad’s car drove by. It came to a quick stop, I heard the complaints of Dena and Liam as they were pushed forward and yanked back.
“Paige! Why weren’t you at school?” My dad calls out the window.
“What? Dena didn’t tell you?”
“No, I didn’t tell him stupid. Otherwise he wouldn’t be asking.” Dena says while rolling down her window.
“Hey, no name calling.” My dad snaps.
I sigh then say, “You can just talk to Mom about it tonight. I went to visit her at work.”
He sighs. I guess he felt he could no longer get answers from either one of us. “Would you like a ride home?”
“Sure,” I look back at Zack’s house, stupidly, then walk forward and slide into the car.
As my dad pulls from the curb he asks, “Well who’s house is that anyways?”
“My friend’s.” I spit the lie out. I wait back in my seat, even counting down the seconds until he accuses me of seeing a boy like Mom always does, but when he says nothing I look over at him in disbelief.
“What? What’s wrong Paige?”
“Nothing…”
“Then what’s the problem?”
I lean back in my seat and mumble, “That is the problem.”

“So…” I say as I step into my room, following after Dena, “Anything interesting happen today?”
“Umm…” She hands me a slip of paper, “They have this new club that the president is rewarding kids for if they join.”
I skim over it then look back up at her, “You automatically get rewarded, just for signing up?”
“Yeah ‘cause the state representative said something like…teen’s lives are being wasted…and we shouldn’t waste our lives…it can like guarantee umm scholarships and all that good stuff--recommendations!”
“Wow…” I stare down at the sheet, “Are you going to join?”
“I’d be stupid not to!” She snatches the sheet from my hand.
“I don’t know…why would he give out scholarships to all the kids of the U.S.A. that decided to devote themselves to some club they barely know about…? It’s really sketchy.”
She rolls her eyes, “Nothing’s sketchy about following the footsteps of the president to get into an I.V. League school.”
“Would you make it there?”
“Since I can stay in class long enough.” She sends me a smirk then goes through her class work.
“Tried to give you the benefit of the doubt, to see how long-- or if it was even possible-- for you to be nice… and you blew it.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Once my mom gets home. You’re out of my room. Permanently.”
“Is that supposed to scare me or something? You’re room is like a 2 by 4 cardboard box, I’d sleep in the doghouse rather then sleep in here with a snoring grizzly bear.”
I smile, “Are your insults intended to be hurtful? ‘cause I can just…” I motion at brushing off each shoulder, “brush them off Cuz.” With that and a smile I turn on my heels then walk out.


So when dinner time came around everyone except for my mom was setting up for dinner. Dena set the table. I got out the drinks and ice. And Liam was in charge of the aftermath clean up. “Oh crap.” I say throwing my hands down.
“What?” My dad asks looking over from the stove.
“I told my friend I was going to go back to…their house.”
“It’s okay, you can go back after dinner.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
I continue on happily. As we all begin to sit down, and start dinner without my mom she burst through the garage door panting. “What are the cops doing at our front lawn?”
“There’s cops?!” At least two of us screamed together.
As if everyone was guilty of something, we all jump out of our seats and begin to panic. Only Dena began to started whimpering. I roll my eyes at her then say, “Well I better go hide my stash!”
This time both my mom and dad yelled with a pointed finger, “That’s not funny Paige!”
“Whoa. I would calm down that anger before the cops hear it.” I tease,
The doorbell rings. Everyone breaks into an even sweatier panic. “Okay I’m going to answer it.” My mom finally says. “We have nothing to hide right everyone?” She looked at each of us, long and hard, as if waiting for a last minute confession but instead all she received back were blank stares. “Okay,” The doorbell rings again. My mom wipes her hands on her pant legs and my dad motions for us to go back to getting ready for dinner, then disappears to the front after her.

I take my glass over to fridge then pour in some lemonade when all of a sudden my mom let’s out a high pitched scream. I drop the glass as an immediate reaction, but instead of worrying about the broken glass, I run to her rescue. She stands there crying as one officer nods then turns to look at me. The other pats my dad’s shoulder, and the third one leaves. My mom’s shoulders shook so wildly I was afraid of the news. My mouth became dry, and when my lips moved, they didn’t exactly know how to word the words running through my head.
Liam, stronger then me, asks, “Mom what’s wrong?”
She lifts her eyes off my dad’s chest then looks at him, and begins bawling even harder.
“Aunty Missy? What’s wrong?” Now Dena had the power to speak. My mom immediately looks away, even cowards to the wall.
My dad speaks at last, “The police believe they found your parents Dena.”
So now Dena breaks into hysterical cries. I think even Liam got it before I did, “Wait, what’s going on?” My dad shakes his head at me, probably thinking I was joking around, then takes my mom into his hold.

I sat on Zack’s bed, hugging my knees. “So they’re dead?” I ask.
He hands me a cup of decaffeinated coffee, “Not necessarily. But it’s what everyone else thinks. I mean they could’ve found someone else’s bodies.”
“With my aunt and uncles identification on them?” I look at the cup of coffee.
“Don’t loose hope. That’s like the number one rule Paige.” He sits next to me, I lay my head against his shoulder.
“You should’ve heard my mom--seen her! She looked like….I can’t explain it…and then Dena….Dena’s a maniac normally….when she heard about it….she went insane.”
“So what do you think is going to happen now?”
I lean up off his shoulder then say, “ I just remembered, I was supposed to bring you food.”
“No. I-I--”
“And I failed at that too. I mean now that Dena’s parents are most likely dead, I’m going to have to be nice to her. And you don’t know how hard it’s going to be.”
“She’s most likely going to be moping around making you miss that nasty attitude.”
“I’d be insane to miss that.”
He sighs, “I’m sorry Paige…”
“I thought you told me not to loose hope.”
“I did, and I don’t want you to but if it comes down to them being dead,--”
“Oh stop. I can’t think about it right now. I can’t forget how about two weeks ago…my aunt tried calling and I purposely ignored her call just so I could talk to my friend in Florida.”
“She didn’t even know Paige.”
I look up at the ceiling and around, “She does now.”
“What, you believe in ghosts?”
“No. But I think that when you’re dead the whole truth comes out. And you can spy on your family members that are still alive. And hear what they have to say…”He sips some coffee not so sure what to say to that. I laugh, I can’t believe it left my mouth, “Am I making you feel uncomfortable?”
“No….it’s just eerie the way you talk about it.”
“I’ll go…I doubt my parent’s notice but I shouldn’t leave Liam alone in that kind of environment.”
“You really do care about your brother whether you know it or not.”
“Here,” I give him a kiss as I climb off the bed, “I’ll catch you tomorrow if possible.”
“Wait Paige!” He calls after I make it out the doorway, “Let me walk you home.”

The walk down was mostly quiet. Few street lamps were working, I was actually quite glad he did walk with me. Otherwise I’d be terrified. “Should you be doing this?” I ask. He barely notices I’m talking to him until he regains eye contact with me.
“It doesn’t matter, as long as you’re safe.”
“But will you be safe when you walk back home?”
“Guys don’t think about that kind of crap. A punk messes with me,” He tries imitating an Italian mafia‘s accent, “I’ll mess him up!”
I laugh, “You’re such a dork!”
He stops at the tree before my house, “Make like a bird coo that lets me know you made it in safely.”
“Will do, and how will I be sure you heard it?”
“I’ll return it with a bird coo.”
“Okay ‘night Zack. Thanks for everything,”
“Anytime Paige,” We exchange a quick kiss then I run to my front door. A hedge of bushes blocked Zack’s view of me getting into the house. Once my key turns the lock and the door pushes in I cup my hands around my mouth and coo. Zack let’s out a sad imitation of a coo then I smile and walk in.

The house was still chaotic. Dena and Mom were still crying. Dad and Liam were nowhere to be found. As I jogged up the stairs my dad was on the phone talking, “He wants us to go confirm it’s them tomorrow. Your daughter’s not holding up at all--”
He was talking to grandma. I continue down the hall to Liam’s room. I open up the door and he’s holding a 12 foot fishing pole that he tries hiding behind his back. “What the heck Kid?” I grab it from him. “What’s this?”
“The pole Uncle Ralph gave me. I blew him off multiple times. Never got to use it.”
“We all have our guilts, those things we wish we could’ve said or done after someone’s dead. But we should’ve felt that way when they were alive. But it’s not official yet--”
“You believe that as much as I do Paige.”
“Either way, your guilt is not going to do you any good. Only harm.”
“I didn’t ask for any philosophies Confuscious. Thank you though,”
“Gosh Liam. When did you get so mean?”
“Really Paige?! After all the crap you’ve said to me? And the way you’ve treated me?!”
“I’ve brought you food! I barely would leave you home alone, ‘cause I knew you didn’t like it! I left my friend’s house for you!”
“Finished that quickly?” He asks suggesting we were having sex. I jumped him. Groans, grunts, obvious signs of struggle and my dad comes in to break it up.
“You guys never--!”
“He asked for it!”
“What’d he do Paige?” My dad had to be the reasonable one.
I wiped the sweat and bit of blood from my face then look at Liam with disgust, “Forget you. Don’t come to me Liam after this! Don’t you dare ask anything of me!” I point at him, “I will never forgive you.”
“That’s a little dramatic Paige,” My dad says as I make my way past him.
“Really? ‘cause I think it’s pretty darn unforgivable to call your sister a whore.”
“I never did!” Liam yells.
“You might as well!”
“Your mom will chew you both apart if you don’t lower your voices. Liam, grounded, one week--”
“One week?!” I ask in disbelief. “Mom handed out two weeks of being grounded like she was the freaking Giver! And he gets one week for disrespecting me--?”
“No. You both get one week.”
“Well,” I smirk then say, “I’m glad that I can’t be grounded for a week.” He opens his mouth to talk, “Go talk to Mom.” I hold my hand up to him then slam close the door to my room.

I woke up cheeks wet and eyes pink. My eyelashes looked like they were dipped in mascara because they were so wet. My head even hurt. With a hand against my forehead I made my way across the hall to the bathroom. I opened the medicine cabinet and pulled out not one, not two, but three ibuprofens. I cup my hand under the faucet and swallow down nasty tasting tap water with the pills.
“Paige?” My mom’s voice made me jump. I turn around to face her,
“Yes?”
“Is everything okay?”
I run my hand across my nose then say, “I’m fine.”
“Your friend’s downstairs.”
“Umm tell them I’ll be right down!”

I run down the staircase still pulling up my sweats. My smile faded when I see it wasn’t Zack waiting by the door but Tracy.

As we walked down the street she asks, “Why wouldn’t you call and tell me about this?”
“I called and came to you when my granny died. Where were you then?”
“Don’t play the guilt game with me! I called you looking for comforting when my Nana died.”
“Well right now, if you haven’t noticed yet, it’s not about you.”
She says, “I’m starting to think coming here was a mistake.”
“Maybe it was.”
She stops walking and stares at me in disbelief, “Don’t lash out on me Paige.”
“I’m not! I just can’t take anyone right now. I’m extremely irritable.”
“Exactly, and you’re lashing out.”
“I’d say I’m sorry but I’m tired of having to apologize to people.”
“Why should it matter? You’re apologies are never sincere!”
“Exactly! And I’m done lying to you, lying for my mom, and--and--” I broke down crying. I couldn’t even control it. I stood there in the middle of the street for countless minutes. It took her a while to finally understand this is where she should step in. This is where, she should hug me. But when she did, I clung to her as if to dear life. “I’m sorry,” She whispers.
“I’m sorry too.” My words weren’t exactly audible but I think she got it.

We continued down to the park and swung on the swing sets. “So how’s life?” I ask to break the silence.
“Good. Me and my boyfriend worked out our problems.”
I roll my eyes, “You’re always talking about your boyfriend. I’m not even sure if I’ve heard his name before. And how long have you two been seeing each other? A few months? When do I actually get to meet him?”
“I’m working on it!”
“Mhm….”
“What do you think I’m making him up?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“But you meant it!” She stands up from the swing and points at me, “You’re just jealous of me having a boyfriend and you still being single.”
“Sure, you could say that. I’m jealous of your utopia high school life and this dreamy football player boyfriend you have.” I went through half of those words doing quote marks with my fingers.
“You are unbelievable Paige.”
I kick the sand under my feet then say, “Well prove me wrong.”
“Well how about you? You’re always so secretive about your high school life--life in general! So what? Does it suck, Paige?”
“No I’m fine. I’ve been excused from school a couple of times, grounded….etcetera.”
“And you plan on going to college with that as your routine?”
“Yeah, why not? Zack did it.”
“Who’s Zack?”
I smirk, “My boyfriend.”
“Paige you have a boyfriend?! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because it was kind of a secret.”
She shakes her head, “He’s not real, is he?”
“He’s as real as day.”
“You honestly expect me to believe that you have a college student as your boyfriend?”
“If you don’t believe me, that’s fine. I don’t have to prove myself to anyone.”
“Oh please Paige? I’d love to meet him.”

I stood at his door hopeless. I had rung the doorbell over five times in the last ten minutes. Where was he?
“Why don’t you just give up now Paige?” Tracy asks waiting on the sidewalk with her arms crossed and tilting on one hip. Just when I was about to bow down, Zack’s truck pulled into his driveway then into the garage. I smirk back at her but she still wasn’t buying it. I follow him into the garage then say, “Hey Zack.”
“What’s up Paige?” I think of an answer when he asks, “Wait how long did you wait out there?”
“Few minutes…”
“Try half an hour in this intolerable heat!” Tracy made her way into the garage.
“Paige…is this your friend?”
“You can call her that.”
She cuts her eyes at me, “I’ve known this kid for the longest time.”
I could tell Zack didn’t want to be bothered, he barely makes conversation, smiles, even releases nervous laughs every now and then.
“Okay Tracy, your mom should be picking you up soon. I’ll catch you later Zack.”
“That’s it?” She asks as I push her out, “That’s your proof? Introducing me to a guy who acts like he barely knows or likes you?”
“It’s you he doesn’t like, Wise One.”
“He doesn’t even know me.”
“He’s lucky.” I say slyly. We start to head down the street when Zack calls me back. I ask Tracy to stay where she is and run back to him, “Yeah?”
“What are you up to Paige?”
“Tracy didn’t believe me--”
“You don’t have to prove yourself to girls like her.”
“I know…I just crush under peer pressure.”
He smiles into my face then kisses me, “Stay strong Kid.”
“Bye Zack,” I start to walk away when he pulls back on my hand, “Coming over for dinner?”
“Sure.”
“Promise?”
“You’re acting ridiculous, but I promise.” He gives me another kiss then releases my hand. I turn back around to smirk at Tracy.

“It’s a date right?”
“Yeah…isn’t it hitting dinner time out there?”
I look out the window then down at the clock on my nightstand, “Almost…”
“Well what are you doing on the phone with me?! You should be picking out an outfit for Christ’s sake!”
“Fine…I don’t know what to wear.”
“Nothing that’ll arouse your parents’ attention.”
“They won’t be here tonight…” I didn’t feel like going into details.
“What about the bat and Liam?”
“Liam’s sleeping over at a friend’s house,” Just saying his name reminded me of how he turned from the sweet kid I knew to a jerk. “And Dena went with my parents.”
“Why didn’t you go with them?”
I play it off, “Please! Me, Dena, and my mom in the same room? One of us may have killed the other.”
“Your dad--”
“Could only do so much,” I fake yawn, “Gosh getting tired Sierra, talk to you later?”
“You do know you have a date you have to go to right? Drink some coffee or something Tiger. I’ll talk to you then.”
“Okay.”
“And Paige? Please stay safe.”
“Goodnight Sierra!” I sounded just like my mom. It scared me. I looked back down at the clock then covered my eyes and plucked an outfit at random from the closet.

I really liked Zack. Before him there weren’t any guys brave enough to say how they felt about me. I had two boyfriends before him, none of the relationships were anything serious. If I felt nice they’d last a little over a month. My first boyfriend, something in him, had me try it again and again with him. By the third time, the breakup wasn’t even official. It was just I’m going to this school and you’re going there. I never saw or heard from him after that. So here I was. Setting my self up for failure or success. I wasn’t even sure yet. My stomach was doing flips, my hands were hurting, I was squeezing them too tight. My bottom lip began to itch because I was biting into it for so long. I had to calm myself down as I stood at his door. Two slow exhales and then I knocked.
Immediately the door opened, “Paige!”
“Expecting someone else?” I joke as I make my way in.
“No, I’m surprised you came this early. I hadn’t even finished setting up.”
“You don’t need to set up. It’s just dinner silly.”
“It’s our date. Our first official date.”
“Lunch didn’t count at the sandwich joint?” I ask with a half laugh.
“Ah! Paige don’t doubt me.” He jokes as he disappears into the kitchen.
“Zack! You’re sweating through your shirt and the date hasn’t even begun yet.”
“I haven’t even gotten the food ready yet,” He says with a sad smile.
“How about this?” I grab onto his arm, “You go upstairs and wait for me up there. I’ll handle the dinner.”
“Paige--”
“Don’t worry about it.”
He sighs, “I don’t see how this makes me look good.”
“Trust me,” I push him towards the stairs, “Just wait for me.”
“Are you going to make a run for it?”
“If I’m not up in ten minutes you’ll know I made a run for it.” I send him a reassuring smile, he returns it, then hesitantly heads up the stairs. I wait until he’s out of sight then put up all the weird combinations of food he had laying out on the counter. I find the bowls, take out two spoons, and pray as I open his fridge doors with my eyes slammed shut that he’d have milk. Luckily he had a half carton. I even the amount left into the two bowls. Then open his pantry and pour out his crunchy oats and almond cereal then search around. I pop some bread into the toaster, get out some cups, and take out one orange and make some quick homemade orange juice with it.
“Paige--it’s been ten minutes should I be worried?”
“Five more minutes! Go back!” I yell trying to hide the surprise.
“Alright! I didn’t see anything!”
I happily turn off the stove top and scrape out the bacon and eggs onto a plate.


I balance out the plates on my arms, and carry the drinks in my hands. By the time I got to the last step he was rushing out of his bedroom. “Want to help?”
“Oh my God, yeah. Here,” I hand over the drinks then follow him into his room. “This is amazing Paige.”
“Are you serious?” He nods smiling at me and the food, “It’s breakfast for dinner…”
“I know. When’s the last time I had some homemade dinner?”
I shrug then say, “The orange juice is handmade too.”
“I knew it. I haven’t bought orange juice in over a month.” I smile then sit down onto the bed with him. “So you covered the dinner and I cover the movie.”
“Ooo what are we watching?”
“Some chick flick with Leonardo Dicaprio.”
I laugh, “Why would you sign yourself up for that?”
“All I used to hear you talk about was Leonardo Dicaprio. And girls love guys that watch chick flicks so I’m filling two standards.”
I saw the cover, “This movie makes me cry.”
He pats his shoulder, “Waterproof cotton.”
“I’m not even wearing waterproof make-up.”
“Deal Paige. We’re watching it.” I smile as he puts it in then jumps on the bed. “I love bacon.”
“I know,” I pick up a piece and stick it in his mouth. He holds up my orange juice cup, has me drink some, then drinks some his self. From the corner of my eye I saw Rose and Jack kiss, right as we did.

I woke up under his arm. I smiled at first then sat up quickly. Oh my God. The sun was forcing it’s way through his blinds. I look quickly over at the digital clock on his floor and jump. It jolts him up. “What’s wrong?”
“I slept over!”
“Yeah?”
“My parents probably called the cops by now! What do I say? I have no realistic lie!”
“They couldn’t have called the cops. It hasn’t been twenty-four hours yet.”
“You’re just not getting it! My mom and dad are probably freaking out of their minds!”
“Okay,” He holds my face in both his hands, “You have to breathe.” I inhale then exhale, he kisses me then says, “You’re going to be fine.”
“How?”
“You go in there, not acting suspicious they won’t suspect a thing. They ask you where you’ve been, you tell them out and about. Act like your normal bad ass self.” I think I slip a smile. Still too scared to laugh, though. “Alright?”
“Okay?”
He kisses me again, “Thanks for coming over, and making dinner.”
“Thanks for the movie and a place to crash.”
“You know? You didn’t even cry,”
“I fell asleep before I could.” I give him one last kiss then push up off the bed and rush out the door.

I push the front door open. “Mom?” I walk into the kitchen, “Dad?” I jog up the stairs, “Liam?” “Dena?” I push open all the doors in the house, “No one?” I groan thinking of how much longer I could’ve laid right next to Zack. I heard the door downstairs open, I rush down to see someone. Dena walks through, that fire behind her eyes was gone. I’d say she was innocent. But I don’t even think she looks normal anymore. Her eyes reach up to mine she walks over to me, her words take me back.
“I’ve done a lot of crap in my lifetime. The worst things I’ve done were to my parents. What I said to them, about them, what I even did to them. You still have yours. Please don’t take them for granted. Don’t make my same mistakes.” She stares at me, and I think her mind and soul drift out of her then she looks away and walks up the stairs. Liam comes through the door next, his eyes look apologetic as he comes up to me, I look away. He stops in front of me to say something but I say, “I don‘t want to hear an apology. What you said about me was unforgivable.” He sighs then goes up the stairs too. “Mom, Dad!” I run over to them.
They question me with their eyes without saying a thing, “I know you came back from a really sad thing but I missed you…I felt lonely.”
“We’re sorry. We didn’t know how far out it was…we got lost in time…we had to rent a hotel room. Are you okay?”
“Fine,”
“Well it looks like right now, Dena was left in our hands.” My heart stopped I do believe, or I just held my breath. “The conflict you have with her is going to have to be resolved. We really have no other choice but to adopt her.”
I know I was being completely selfish but I felt like my whole life was being taken from me. And there would be no end to it. Not for another two years. What could I say to my parents? To trick them out of actually doing this. There wasn’t anything I could say that I wouldn’t get in trouble for. “Oh….okay…”


I went on a walk, a long walk to nowhere. No one even asked as I made my way out the door where I was going and when I planned on returning. Already my parents’ cares and concerns had changed. One foot in front of the other for miles and more miles. I sat in some neighborhood’s park with my feet in the pond, surrounded by ducks. “Want some bread child?” I look up to an elderly woman, “They say you’re not supposed to feed the ducks anymore. But I think that’s just cruel,” She hands me some breadcrumbs, “It’s none of their business anyways.” I smile but can’t open my mouth to thank her. I toss some into the water and leave my hand hanging. “I always come out here. The ducks show me how lucky I am to be me.”
“Really?” I ask looking back to her, “Why?”
“Well look at them. The things have to fight for survival. Of course they’re adorable and have multiple spectators and visitors. But who’s there for them through the night, when it’s cold, when it’s unbearably hot…? I guess their fellow ducklings.” She doesn’t say anything else. She silently walks away and to the other side of the pond. That made me wonder, would I rather be a duck or me? It was a race against time as the pond’s cod and the duck raced towards my breadcrumbs. The giant thing of a coy swooped up and ate all of them.

Zack was coming my way, this is how far he’d jog. He takes out his earphones and out of breath, tries catching his breath, so he can say something to me. “How’d it go with your parents?”
“Fine,”
“You say that as a quick I don’t want to talk about it answer. Did you get in trouble?”
“No my parents weren’t even home by the time I got there. Even when I was heading out the door they could care less where I was going.”
“That’s a good thing right? You and I can see more of each other.”
“It’s a bad thing Zack! Back then when my parents asked all those questions it meant that they cared. Now that they have another child they won’t care about me anymore.”
“New child? Wait your mom’s pregnant again?”
“No. My cousin’s parents were announced dead, and now since it was in their will, we have to take Dena into our family.”
“I understand you’re pretty upset about this but--where else could she go Paige?”
“My grandma or someone!” I sigh as I try to fight back my angry tears, “It’s not that Dena and I don’t get a long anymore. It’s just….we’re going back to the days when Liam was just brought home. New responsibilities, new priorities. My family is barely surviving now that my dad got laid off. My mom’s working extra hours or at least that’s what she tells us. Can lawyers even work extra hours? I don’t know what she’s even doing out there in downtown Phoenix!” My voice began trembling and I let the tears flow down anyways.
“Gosh Paige….I’d hug you but I smell like a pig’s ass.”
I turn away, feeling that I don’t even need him there right now. And as my shoulders shook just like my mom’s, he came and wrapped his arms around me. Yes he smelled, but it was way better then feeling like I was all alone.

It took countless months to get Dena under my parents’ wing. Our attorney told us before hand that it was going to be a long and hard battle. It’s extremely hard to be able to adopt one of your own family. He even warned them that there was a slight possibility that they could sign all the papers and the court could still deny them. It was on my birthday, February 14th that Dena Miller became Dena Macy. We cleared the floor to one of the extra garages, separated by the others with tall cabinets and made it into her own room. So that way my mom kept her promise, and I kept her secret.

My sudden outbursts became less and less, finally I was able to stay in the classroom a full month without saying anything that’d get me kicked out. As soon as the morning bell rang, we all headed towards our class but our principal’s voice came over the announcements. “Students, we would gladly appreciate for you to join us in the auditorium for a speech from a special speaker.” A speech most likely meant a lecture. We barely had these things, I wonder who did what now. In a large crowd we made our way through the two auditorium doors.
“Hey Paige!”
It was Erin, I cut my eyes at her, “What do you want?”
“Just someone to walk with,”
“Go walk with Dena.” Without saying another thing I cut my way through four kids to get as far from Erin as possible. As the auditorium filled no one stood behind the podium. It was just an empty stage.
“Can I sit here?” Dena asks, without waiting for a response she sits down next to me.
“Go ahead,”
We sat in silence, still the fire behind her eyes were gone and it scared me. “Is the garage comfortable? If not you can move back into my room.”
“It’s fine, thanks though.”
“Mhm,”
She turns and looks at me, “Do you really feel like I’m stealing your life away from you?”
“No, where’d you hear that?”
“I overheard one of your conversations…I’m sorry if it feels that way. I’ll be out of your hair in two years.”
“Before that, I’ll be off to college next year.”
“Oh right…”
A man in an unknown uniform steps onto stage, he smiles at all of our faces. “Good morning students.”
“’morning.” A few of us mumbled back.
“I said ‘Good morning students!’” He was screaming into the microphone.
A lot of groans in complaint and a few annoyed voices snap back, “Good morning!”
“That’s better. I’m General Cappeeton. I’ve been appointed here by the President himself. I’m sure you’ve been handed pamphlets for Becker’s Youth. And I’m sure you’re all wondering what is Becker’s Youth? Becker’s Youth is a recruiting offer from the president to show your patriotism and loyalty. Those that prove to President Becker, that they truly are there to serve their country will be awarded scholarships, paychecks, and liberty.” He opens the pamphlet and like a flight attendant motions all of us to do so also. There was a pamphlet sticking out of the pocket behind every seat. I pick one up then open it to his page,

“So what do you mean serve our country? Are we signing up to fight some war? No. Becker’s Youth is a paramilitary program. You won’t be fighting any wars.” He quickly changed the subject. So what would we be doing? Those reassuring sighs that were echoing throughout the stadium, would not be coming from me. “Now even though the president would like each and everyone of you to be in his program, there still are guidelines. For males you must be between the ages of sixteen to twenty. And females must be between the ages twelve to sixteen.” Oh wow. There went my chances at a scholarship. “President Becker would like to qualify at least six hundred children from each district, so please, turn back in your paper work.” I look around to see the teachers passing out fifty something page thick packets, “The sooner the better. President Becker would like if this program could start practice and meetings before March.” That was only a few weeks away. What math was he using when he decided to set the deadline in a few weeks? “Thank you all and remember, you are the children of America. Lives like yours should not be wasted.” Was that the groups logo? Lame!

After the meeting, through my lunch break, I stormed over to the counseling office. “Oh no, excused from lunch?” The secretary teased as I signed in.
“Ha ha, funny! Did lunch excuse itself from you?” I hint down at her empty fast food carton, there weren’t even crumbs left she was so hungry. I send her a smirk then take a seat in front of my counselor’s office.

Mrs. Charless was in today. She pretended not to see me, and continuously typed up things into her computer. I push up out of the seat and knock on her door, “Yeah I kinda only have five minutes of lunch left so can you just see me really quickly?”
“Oh Ms. Macy I didn’t even see you out there.”
I roll my eyes then take a seat in front of her. I pull the folded pamphlet out of my pocket and hand it to her. Her eyes grew large, when she didn’t say anything, I did. “I wanted to join but I’m too old. Is there anything I can do to get in?”
“Why would you want to get into this program?” She slid the thing over so carefully as if afraid she’d get a paper cut.
“Umm why wouldn’t I? They’re handing out scholarships, money, liberty--from what? I don’t know! But why should I care? Freedom is a good thing.”
“You’re too old, you can’t qualify. Of course there are other ways to get scholarships such as honor roll, athletics--”
“But I want to be in this.”
“Well you can’t!” She snaps, “There’s nothing you can do about it so you may as well stop talking about it!”
I slide my pamphlet back from her, “I’ll see about that.” I cut my eyes at her as I make my way out of my seat and out of her office. Just as I round the corner I hear her sigh. Hormones.

All during class I fumbled with the pamphlet. Over and over I read the rules and guidelines. Where was my loophole? Why couldn’t I get in? Was it just not meant to be?
“Put your phone away please.”
I look up from the pamphlet to Mr. Forrison, I laugh, “I’m not playing with my phone.”
He holds his hand out to me, “Let me see it, Ms. Macy.”
“Fine,” I pout then hand over the pamphlet.
“Everyone put away anything that can distract you from today’s learning experience. Please and thank you.” He placed it in a drawer in his desk then he says, “You can get it after class.” After class?! He was acting like I was texting on my phone! I throw my hands up, let out a groan, I nearly have an ulcer just stopping myself from telling Mr. Forrison off.



Zack wraps his arms around me then gives me a kiss, “How was school?”
“Disappointing.”
He laughs while reaching for a drink, “How come?”
I show him the pamphlet. “I’m too old for this.”
“Don’t feel bad, I am too.”
“You’re already in college! I’m not. This-this stupid idea of a program the president has is--it gives away a full ride scholarship meaning dorms, food, books, everything until graduation!”
“I know what full ride means Paige.”
“Zack I’m serious! This is killing me! I’ve read over the rules over and over again trying to find a way that I could somehow just…just…”
“Shh,” His lips shush me on the side of my neck, “You’re stressing. You wanna know how I know? You always frown and bite into your lip. Now personally, I think it’s hot but--I don’t think it’s hot for you to stress.” He gets up off the couch once he notices I’m not in a cuddling mood then says, “Besides why do you need a scholarship? Your parents can afford for you to go.”
“It’s not that I need it, it’s that I want it.”
“Why do you want one so bad?”
“So I can become independent…I don’t know….all I know is…” I take the pamphlet in my hands then throw it in his fireplace. I go into his kitchen and take one of his match boxes and throw one in after the pamphlet.
He comes back from upstairs then says, “Whoa! Paige!” He runs back into the kitchen comes back and throws a water on the fire. “You can’t just do that! You know it’s illegal. If the air cops fly over and see smoke coming out of my chimney I get fined. Just as I would for speeding.”
“Sorry…you know if you do…I’ll pay for it. I just got overwhelmed with jealousy.”
“Jealousy for younger girls, that don’t have a sexy boyfriend like you have?”
I roll my eyes, “No, Dena gets to join. Christ, even Liam gets to join!”
“I thought you never wanted to talk about him again…You never did tell me what he said….did….I don’t even know.”
I watch as one flame still flickered even as the water slowly dripped onto it, “He suggested that you and me had done a quicky.”
“What’s that?”
“That we slept together, that we were doing bad things, that--” I sigh, “It doesn’t matter.”
“It shouldn’t get to you Paige. You know the type of girl that you are. You know what you’ve done and what you haven’t done. You don’t have to prove yourself or lie to anyone.”
I flop back onto the couch, “You always say that….but it’s much easier said then done.”
“I know that,” He sits back down next to me. “Which is why you have me here, to talk to you.”
I wiggle under his arm then ask, “You mind if I sleep over tonight?”
“No, why you don’t feel like walking home?”
“Nope. I’m comfortable right here,”
“You want to sleep on the couch?” He asks confused.
“No Smart One, I’m comfortable right under your arm.”
“Oh!” He laughs, “Got it.”

In the morning I slipped from under his arm as carefully as possible then made my way to the restroom. I was getting so used to staying over at Zack’s home I had even begun to bring my hair spray, toothbrush, and deodorant. As I brushed my teeth he walked in to use the toilet, same thing almost every morning I slept over.
“Have I gotten too comfortable?”
He zips up his jeans then asks, “No have I?”
“I mean, I bring my crap over to your house like it’s my house--”
“It is your house. I was even planning on talking about something tonight over dinner…”
“Really? Like me moving in?”
He smiles then says, “I said over dinner.”
“Well now I’m going to have to go throughout the whole day wondering what it is you wanted to talk about.”
I moved aside so he could get to the sink and wash his hands. He changes the subject by saying, “I’m a guy. Guys do some things that girls find gross if it makes you uncomfortable--”
“Please, it’s your house Zack!”
“But does it make you feel uncomfortable?”
His eyes had the same effect even when staring through a mirror at me. “No,” I say contently.
“Sure?”
“Definitely.”

He gives me one of his shirts, I tie a bunny tail at the end then wear the same jeans I wore yesterday. We trot our way down the stairs, he drinks from the carton, we take turns drinking then he passes over the fruit bowl I grab out a banana he takes an orange then we both head into the garage He drops me off of school, I walk around to his side, bend down to his window then we share multiple kisses, neither one of us wanting to stop but knowing that we’ll have to eventually. Finally the minute bell to class rings and I give another ten seconds then wave apologetically and half jog to class.


Once I walk into class no one’s sitting in their seats, Mr. Forrison’s doing roll call, but everyone’s standing near the front of the room and scattered all over the classroom. Confused I slowly migrated towards where the rest of the students were, “Okay so I know you’re all Seniors if you’re sixteen I need you to make the first row.” Students spread to stand in one linear line up and down to the classroom. “If you’re seventeen form the second line, and if your eighteen make up the third line.”
An officer stepped through the door. I looked back at Mr. Forrison for an explanation. His sad face was explanation enough. Something bad was happening, or about to happen. “Sixteens!” He calls,
“First line,” Mr. Forrison says softly.
The officer waves the kids out then another officer comes and takes my group. They lead us down the hallway, out the building, and taken to the second to last farthest building from the rest of the campus. About twenty officers were leading different classes into different classrooms. “Take a seat.” The officer speaks at last.
I was trembling in my seat. The room was cold and dark but the powerpoint on the wall gave the only lighting to the room. “My name is Officer Marcus. You will call me nothing but that. I will be your instructor until graduation. I understand there is a lot of confusion on what’s going on, so the president has sent out a video to make it all a bit clearer.” He presses play on the remote control and a video starts.

They show an army of kids marching just like the band kids but they held up an almost diamond-like flag with white stars, red and white stripes and something blue in the middle. It looked like something out of a Rorsarch test. A typical narrator voice spoke over as generals yelled commands, “By March, America wants the best paramilitary out there. They shall be called Becker’s Youth. For females aged twelve through sixteen we’ll have a special name for them, AGL. American Girl’s League. As for the males aged fourteen through twenty, they will be called BOA. Boys of America. As for why this concerns those not able to participate in Becker’s Youth, we believe that the education and training of those in Becker’s Youth requires certain attention and education that those not able to participate won’t necessarily need. Other then that, learning environments shall be equal. Those participating in Becker’s Youth just know that you are America’s children. Lives like yours should not be wasted.”

“Lives like yours should not be wasted,” I repeat to Zack as I step out of the shower.
“That’s a weird catch phrase…ours should be?”
I walk over to the sink to pluck in my earrings, “That’s what they’re basically saying.” He shakes his head as he pulls on some black slacks. “What have they done at your college?”
“Nothing out of the usual really…except for now a cop stands in the corner of class.”
“And how does your teacher react?” I walk out to the bedroom and slide into my dress.
“A little nervous and disorganized…but I guess he’s always acted that way.”
I sit down and slide on my heels, “Hmm…are you ready?”
“Yeah, let me just grab my keys from the counter.”
“Okay.”