Part 20 (1/2)

The princ.i.p.al was finally going to be rid of Farah. It would make his day.

”They can't touch her, and they know it. They'd be sued.”

”Oh, they won't touch her, but they'll make it so bad she'll want to leave. Just like Doreen.”

Mom frowned. ”It's disgraceful. But she isn't showing yet. She could probably go for a while. I figure she has about four months, maybe five. First pregnancies don't show until much later. Although, with Farah being so slim... Emili, who's the father?”

”Ask Farah.”

”I did ask her on the way to her house yesterday. She's not talking. I want to make sure she hasn't picked up some disease. She needs to see a doctor. I dearly hope the father - whoever he is - isn't having s.e.x with every girl who's willing.”

”Oh, gross.”

Mom put her hand on my arm. ”Emili, have you, um, do you...”

”Mother, we went over this last night. The answer is no.” I didn't want to keep talking about it with her. It was embarra.s.sing.

Mom breathed out a huge sigh. ”And you're telling the truth, right?”

”Yes, I'm telling you the truth. Is Farah going to stay here while I go to school?”

”Yes, I can't have you missing school, too. And I've got to get ahold of her dad. Where is the man?” She put her finger to her lips. ”I don't like Farah staying here alone any more than you do, but I have meetings at work today. Your father certainly can't miss - we need all the hours he can get at McDafe's. I guess I'm going to have to call her mother again. Oh, this is ridiculous.”

I grabbed Mom's arm. ”Please don't call Mrs. Menins. She kicked Farah out, and Farah won't go back. I'll get her dad's number for you. And by the way, Mom, the Menins are split up.”

Mom grimaced and frowned. I rushed toward my bedroom to find Mr. Menins's number. Before I opened the door, I remembered Lance. The library. Studying. I was supposed to meet him last night. In the whole mess, I'd totally forgotten. I hadn't even texted to tell him why I wouldn't be there. c.r.a.p. What must he be thinking? And since I hadn't heard a word from him either, he was probably mad.

I couldn't worry about it now. I had to get Mr. Menins's number before Mom called Mrs. Menins. I pushed my bedroom door open and poked my head in. Farah was still asleep all twisted up in the blankets. Her hair fanned out like red fire across the sheets. Standing there staring at her relaxed face, I'd have never guessed the drama of last night.

I tiptoed in and found her phone lying next to my perfume bottles. I opened her contacts and saw a number for ”Dad.” I wrote it on a post-it and took it out to my mom. ”Here. Mom, if you can't get him, can I stay home with her?”

”Honey, I told you, you're not missing school. You only have a few days left at Bates and I want you there. Let me worry about Farah. Now, finish getting ready and get on your way.”

Reluctantly, I went back to my room to quietly gather up my books and backpack.

It felt funny going to school like usual, because nothing was usual anymore. I watched all the kids go on their merry way despite the disaster that had played out in my house the night before. I wanted to shout, ”How can you all be so normal? How can you go on as if everything is all right?” It was surreal.

As I neared my locker, I saw Lance there to meet me.

”You never showed,” he said.

”I know. I'm sorry.”

”You should've texted. I waited.”

”I'm sorry, Lance. Honest, I am.” I opened my locker and started stacking my books into it. I suddenly felt tired. Go-to-bed-for-a-day tired.

”Well, what gives?”

”Something came up. Something major.”

Lance put his hand on my arm. ”You should have texted. Aren't you the girl who had a fit when Farah never texted you? I guess you forgot quickly enough. Anyway, I actually studied while I waited.”

I shut my locker with a bang and looked at him. ”No way. Lance Jankins studied?” I grinned. ”Alert the newspaper.”

He raised an eyebrow and inclined his head. ”Very funny.”

I s.h.i.+fted the books in my arm. ”Thanks for not being mad.”

”It's okay. Hey, is Farah here today?”

At her name, my energy drained even further. ”No.”

”Why not? What's going on? She's missing all the time now. I talked to Pete last night and he was all worried. He asked me what I knew.”

”She's at my house sleeping. She doesn't feel good.”

”At your house? Why?”

”To sleep, like I said.”

”Cecily, you're making no sense. Most people sleep at their own houses. Does Pete know she's there? He's, like, frantic.”

The bell rang. I started to walk off. ”Don't worry. She'll call him,” I said over my shoulder.

He dashed to catch up, pulling on my arm to slow me down. ”Cis, it doesn't make sense.”

”She slept over last night. Like I said, she doesn't feel good.”

”Is it the flu?” he asked.

”Lance, the bell rang. We're going to be late. We have to go.”

”I know, I know. I'm going. Is your mom home?”

”Till she goes in to work. I don't know.”

”Okay. See you.” He hurried off to homeroom, and I did the same.

At the first chance I got, I ran to the bathroom and tried calling Farah. I figured she had to be awake. She didn't pick up, and I wondered what she was doing. It was totally cruel of my mother to force me to go to school. When I thought of Farah all alone, I got a weird sensation in my stomach. She had to be scared, even for Farah.

But part of me wasn't so sympathetic. I hated to admit it because it made me sound heartless, but part of me was just plain mad. I was sick of the drama, and I was sick to death of everything being about her. Always, always, always about her.

With only three minutes between cla.s.ses, I didn't have much time to wonder what she was doing. I had to get going.

Lunch was quiet. Lance didn't come over to eat with me, but then he never did. I wasn't sure why. He always sat at the table closest to the gym wall with his buddies, like I always sat with Farah. Farah and I usually had the table pretty much to ourselves, and I felt like a fool sitting there alone. Again. I glanced over at Jeannie and her group. There were huddled together, chatting it up. I nearly walked over to join them, but realized I wouldn't be welcomed. I scanned the cafeteria. I couldn't see one place where I'd be welcomed. I never thought about it before, but I'd cut everyone off once I started hanging with Farah. Stupid.