Part 11 (1/2)
She pushed me back down on the bed. ”Come on, Emili. We're friends. Can you come down to earth for a minute?”
”Friends tell each other things.”
Farah rolled her eyes and shook her head. ”Emili, please. We do tell each other things. Did it ever occur to you maybe I couldn't tell you where I was?”
”Why not? You didn't want to tell me.”
”Emili, are you even listening? I couldn't tell you.”
”What do you mean?” Now she had my attention.
She sat down. ”I was with my dad. I loved it, Emili. I miss him.”
I grimaced. ”What do you mean you miss him. You're not making sense.”
”Because he isn't supposed to see me.”
”Not following...”
”My parents had this ma.s.sively huge argument about ten days ago. My dad left. Mom was furious. I've never seen her so angry.”
”Wait,” I interrupted her. ”You never told me.”
”I know. I suppose you'll get mad all over again.”
I sighed. ”Go on.”
”Well, she raced right out the next day to a lawyer. She dug up some real c.r.a.p on my dad and got the lawyer to get an injunction. Right now I can't go see my dad. And I wanted to. n.o.body consulted me about anything, so I guess I don't count. By the way, this isn't public information, so you can't tell a soul. I mean it. My mother is Miss Everything's Perfect, and she hasn't spilled to anyone. Honestly, she is so stupid sometimes.” She took a deep breath and continued.
”I called him and he told me he was staying at The Windsor. I went over there and he got super mad. I started crying because basically if I cry, he'll give in to anything.”
”Didn't your mother know where you'd be? Wouldn't she look there first? Didn't the police find you?”
”She never called the police. She wouldn't. And have her lovely reputation smeared? Never! Not even for her dear missing child.”
”Doesn't she know where your dad is? Why didn't she go there first?”
”She doesn't know where he's at. He's been moving around. I don't think she thought he'd have the nerve to see me. I had to swear to my dad I wouldn't tell anyone.”
I sat there with my mouth open.
Farah went on. ”I'm surprised she didn't hire a private detective. I guess after paying the lawyer she didn't have any more money.”
”You guys are loaded.”
”Yeah, about that. Mother is careful to give the appearance.”
”You're not loaded?” This was news.
”Emili, everything is relative.”
”Then, you were with your dad the whole time?”
”Not all the time, but most of it.”
I nodded. ”So you couldn't tell me because you didn't want your dad in trouble.”
”Right.” Farah studied her hands. ”I think this is it, Emili. My mom and dad are over.”
”Why didn't you text me after you got home?”
”I should have. But after listening to my mother scream at me for two hours straight, I didn't have the energy for anything.”
”Why are you telling me now?”
”Emili, don't be dumb. No matter what you were ranting about, we are friends. You're my best friend. You're one of my only friends - well, who's a girl. If I had to tell you to keep our friends.h.i.+p, then I'm telling you. You forced me.”
I was the biggest creep who ever lived. I should've trusted her. I should've let her have her reason and respected it. And she did have a reason. A good one.
”I'm sorry, Farah. I'm so sorry.”
She shrugged her shoulders. ”Whatever.”
”No, I'm truly sorry. I should've trusted you.”
”Yeah, well.” She gazed out my window. ”My life pretty much sucks right now. I had to practically sign in blood to come over here today. How come you aren't answering your phone?”
”I'm grounded.”
She raised her eyebrows. ”Well, well, well. I'm impressed. What did the angel do to deserve grounding?”
”Lied to my mom.”
”About...” She leaned closer.
”I said I was studying alone at the library and I wasn't. I met Lance. Mom caught us outside the library.”
”Nice. I love it. What'd you guys do?”
”We went to Pete's apartment.”
Farah jumped off the bed. ”You what?”
”Keep your voice down. We went to Pete's apartment.”
”And did what?” Farah was practically drooling.