my phone over in my hand. I had no missed calls or messages.
“It’s nice” I smiled and she beamed with pride.
“I got something to make you feel better.” She grinned, pulling a small tin out of the stand next to her bed.
“Oh, no” I recognized it from the school bathroom. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not? My mom is oblivious. Besides, you need this after the day you have had.” She pulled out a joint and began to light it.
“What the hell.” I walked over and took the joint, drawing in hard and holding my breath.
“So, where have you been?” she asked, taking the joint carefully.
“What?” I breathed out, caught off guard by her question.
“Where have you been all day?” her tone hung heavy with concern not just general nosiness.
“I needed to get away. I could not sit still. I just…walked.” She nodded and I knew I did not need to elaborate further. Seeing Becka around school I never would have imagined us hanging out and actually getting along. I realized that it was probably my fault we did not become friends sooner. I kept to myself as much as possible, trying not to let anyone get close enough to me to hurt me. The saddest part is that I was actively hurting myself. I was completely self- destructive. I was not always this way. Before my parent’s had died I was happy.
“Where did you go?” she asked, touching my arm.
“Around town” I answered, taking the joint from her hand.
“No” she laughed, “Just now”
“Oh...I guess I was just thinking about all that has happened lately.” I replied.
“I know what will make you feel better. Cookies” She laughed, grabbing the joint and putting it out inside the tin. “Come on” she looped her arm inside mine and sat my phone down on the stand with her box.
“Wait…I need that” I said, reaching out my hand but she waved it away.
“What could possibly be more important than junk food?” she rolled her eyes and drug me down the steps to the kitchen.
Chapter Eighteen
I was relieved to find the kitchen empty. Becka’s mother had gone outside to work on her garden, leaving us free to rummage through the fridge for snacks. Becka handed me the plate of cookies and a few sodas. She grabbed a few more things and we made our way back upstairs to her bedroom.
“So, what really happened to your hand?” Becka asked as she took a long swig from her soda.
“It was an accident.” I replied dryly.
“Rumor around school was you got fucked up on all kinds of drugs and tried to off yourself.” She explained as if talking about the weather. I rolled my eyes and nibbled on a cookie.
“The truth is much more boring.” I caught the light on my phone blinking out of the corner of my eye.
“It always is.” She laughed and I leaned over to slide my phone of the stand, and peeked at the screen. The I.D. on the message read ‘William the Conqueror’. I smiled, realizing he must have programmed that in while I was in the bathroom.
Do you have any idea what I want to do to you right now?
I could not keep my cheeks from burning red.
“What? Who is it?” Becka asked, grabbing for my phone. I held it back and pushed her hand away.
“No one, just an old friend from back home.” I lied. I typed back a quick reply then slid the phone into my pocket.
Who is this? It is so hard to keep my admirers straight.
My phone vibrated in my pocket but I ignored it, smiling to myself.
“Something is up with you.” Becka grinned, but I waved the way her accusation.
“Let’s watch a movie or something.” I said, eyeing up the flat screen at the foot of her bed. The television was enormous. The one in the living room of my house was much smaller and was not one of the new models that could be hung on the wall.
“What are you in the mood for?” she asked, but I could tell she already had something in mind.
“Nothing sad” I warned. The last thing I wanted was to bring down my mood. As Becka dug through her collection of DVDs, I pulled out my phone and checked the messages William had sent.
Not funny. I can think of a few ways to punish you later.
I smiled and sent a quick reply.
Looking forward to it.
“How about something scary?” Becka asked, eyeing my phone.
“Sounds good.” I replied and