Part 14 (1/2)
I shook my head. ”Won't do any good. It'll be all right. You'll see.”
The monster lie of the year. Hadn't I promised myself I wasn't going to lie anymore? I guessed extenuating circ.u.mstances didn't count. Sarah oozed sadness. My desperation didn't seem as raw as hers - maybe it was because I'd talked with Marc.
Sarah wiped her nose and left.
My phone rang. I looked at the screen. Farah.
”What's the emergency?” she asked. Her voice sounded funny, but right then I was too into my own problems to care.
”My dad lost one of his jobs.”
”So?”
”So, I'll be changing schools.”
There was a lengthy silence. Finally, she said, ”Are you sure?”
”Yeah. Dad told me.” I heard a m.u.f.fled sob. ”Farah, are you there? Is everything all right?”
Another pause. Then came her regular gush. ”Of course! Why wouldn't it be? But Emili, I need you here.”
This was new. Farah needing me? It felt kind of good.
”Sorry. I don't want to leave and maybe I won't have to. It's not one hundred percent certain.”
”No, no. You'll have to. It's my luck lately.”
My phone beeped. It was Lance. ”Lance is calling.”
”You better take it. We can talk later.”
I punched my screen. ”Lance?”
”Got your message. What gives?”
”I have to change schools.”
”What? Why?”
”Dad lost one of his jobs. There won't be money.”
”Whoa, tough break.”
Tough break? That was his reaction?
”Yeah.” My voice was stiff, a bit too polite. Was I mad at him? Why was my voice so tight?
”It'll change things,” he continued.
”I know. I won't be at Bates every day. We could still see each other though, right?”
”Uh... yeah... sure. I guess.”
”You guess?” I tensed. Was he breaking up with me? ”Well, we don't have to keep seeing each other. I mean, if it's too much of a bother.”
The words flew from my mouth before I could stop them.
”Hang on, Cis. Give me a minute to process.”
”Fine, take your minute. We can talk later.” I closed my phone. I had stupidly hoped for a different reaction. I wanted him to say, Oh, Cecily, I'll miss you so much. Or Cecily, we can surmount any obstacles to remain together. Our love will conquer all.
Fat dream. I flopped on my bed. I didn't recognize myself anymore. My reactions to everything were a big tangle of confusion. At this rate, I wouldn't have a boyfriend or any friends at all to miss me when I left.
Mom came home later and I heard my parents head off to their bedroom, like they always did to have discussions. Sarah and I learned a long time ago if we sat in the hallway and were super quiet, we could hear most of what they said. As soon as their door closed, Sarah crept out of her room and I out of mine. We smiled ruefully at each other and sank to the floor outside their room.
”Have you known this was coming?” Mom asked.
”I don't think so. There may have been signs, I don't know. Guess I didn't want to see them.”
I heard what sounded like shoes clunk to the floor. ”Would've been nice to have some warning.”
”A lot of things would've been nice.” Dad's tone hardened into sarcasm. Whoa.
”Don't get snippy with me, David Evan Jones, it's not my fault you're fired.”
”I'm not fired. I'm laid off.”
”Same result.”
Silence. Then Dad said, ”Be nice to have some support here.”
”You're right. I'm sorry. You caught me off guard. Doesn't your loyalty for the last six years mean anything? Were you the only one laid off?”
”No, Jim got it too.”
”Great. Wasn't Convenient Paper his only job? What's he going to do?”
”I don't know. We're both in a bit of shock. And this isn't the end. More people are getting cut. Next month or the one after. Everyone's in a panic.”
One of them was scuffling about. Then my mom said, and her voice sounded tired and sad, ”It seems mighty cold-blooded if you ask me.”
”I'll find something else. Don't worry, I'll start looking tomorrow.”
”It could take months, years. Everyone's looking for work right now. My friend Janice's husband has been looking for two years. Two years! This couldn't have happened at a worse time. What with prices going up and no raise for me next year, and not to mention Sarah's dance lessons. We were going to start her in January.”
Sarah sucked in her breath and her eyes grew huge. I clamped my hand over her mouth and gave her a warning look. She floundered under my clasp and fresh tears began anew.
”I know. I know. Let's remain calm,” Dad said.