schools.”
“If you continue to deliver such good work, I’ll definitely write you a recommendation letter.”
A smile graces my lips. “Really?”
“Of course.” Her smile softens, and she leans a little forward. “Is everything okay at home?”
The smile falls from my face, and the word bursts from me, “Yes.”
Miss Snow places her hand over mine and gives it a squeeze, but it only makes me feel uncomfortable. “If you need to talk to someone, you can always come to me.”
I nod, all my muscles tensing. I wet my lips and getting up, I hoist my bag over my shoulder. “I should go. I’m late for history.”
“Let me write you a note, so you don’t get in trouble.” She scribbles onto a piece of paper and holds it out to me. When I take hold of it, Miss Snow says, “I’m looking forward to seeing what you draw next.”
I nod again before I quickly walk out into the hallway. I slip into the classroom and hand Mr. Donati the note from Miss Snow.
He reads it, then asks, “Where’s your essay?”
I dig it out of my bag and cringe with shame when I hand him the wrinkled papers.
“What? Did the dog try to eat it?” he asks, and it makes the class snicker.
I can feel my face turning red as I shake my head. “My mother thought it was trash. I can rewrite it. I just didn’t want you to think I didn’t do it.”
“It’s fine. Sit.”
I rush to my seat and notice another scrap of paper lying on the desk. Only when Mr. Donati continues with the lesson do I open it.
‘Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.’ – Les Brown.
I frown as I reread it.
Did someone leave this for me?
“Isn’t that right, Brie?” Mr. Donati suddenly says as he walks down the aisle.
“Huh?”
My eyes grow wide when he takes the paper from my hand and reads it out loud. Thank God it’s just a quote, but the class still laughs.
My face reddens to the point that it feels like I could go up in flames from everyone’s attention being on me.
Mr. Donati sets the paper down and taps my desk. “Focus on the lesson.”
“Yes, Sir.” I sit frozen with my eyes glued to the desk.
COLTON
Well, that backfired. I didn’t mean to get Brie in trouble.
My eyes are drawn to the bandage around her left hand. I noticed it during English. Again, I wonder what happened.
Brie doesn’t move a muscle, and as the minutes pass by, the tension coming off of her gets to me until I’m clenching my jaw.
Today has been a shitty day with Michael trying to start a fight because I bruised his ego yesterday. Also, the rest of the school is continually gossiping. They don’t even bother whispering anymore.
A couple of guys were friendly during lunch, asking if I played any sports, but the second I said no, they moved onto the other new guys.
When the bell rings, I feel the tension ease as Brie darts up and runs out of the class. I let out a breath and pack my bag.
Walking into the hallway, a girl pushes away from where she was leaning against the wall. “Colton, right?”
“Yeah,” I grumble. I keep walking, and she has to move to keep up.
“A bunch of us are going to Devil’s Bluff. Wanna come?”
“No.” I quicken my pace to get away from her.
“Your loss,” she calls after me.
I feel the curious stares on me as I walk to my truck. Once I climb into the cab, I let out a sigh. I start the engine and steer the vehicle through the bustling after-school madness.
Driving down the main road, I see Brie again, and I wonder where she lives. She’s walking fast with her arms crossed over her chest and her shoulders hunched forward as if she’s bracing for a blizzard or something.
I glance at her one last time through the rearview mirror before I focus my gaze on the road ahead.
When I get home, I kick off my shoes at the front door and drop my bag in my room. Changing into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, I go check on my mother.
I’m quiet as I enter her room, and when I sit down on the bed, she glances up at me. A slight smile graces her lips. “Hey, how was school?”
I lie down and hug her. “It was okay. Nothing spectacular.”
“Do you have a lot of homework?” she asks, and