at me and Hayles like we’ve been puked on or somethin’. Hayles jumps off my shoulder and drops her books as she fumbles to get them in her bag.
I crouch down and help her. When she stands and shoulders her backpack, I go in for a hug, but she ends up doin’ this handshake thing that’s completely awkward.
“Um, call you later.”
“Sure.” Better make sure my phone isn’t on silent. “See ya.”
Can’t help but watch her walk away. She plops in the front seat, and I hear Crack Cruella’s voice tell her to be more graceful or some crap like that. Hayles hides her face with her hair and doesn’t give me a second glance as they drive off. I can hear her mom lecturing the whole way out of the parking lot.
Sometimes I wish it was okay to punch a grown woman.
I’m like a damn girl takin’ out the phone every five minutes like somehow the action will magically make it ring. I’m also stupid enough to try to send out mind waves in the direction of her house saying, ‘Call Brody. Call Brody.’ Telepathic my ass.
Then it hits me and I whack myself in the forehead. She had that appointment with Yazzie or somethin’. The health specialist. No wonder she was a tiny bit off today. Not lettin’ me take her home, playin’ games but not smilin’ her Hayley smile, and not even a flinch when I swore.
Is there anything I can say? Do? Dude, I’m not even supposed to know about it.
“You all right there?”
Dad leans against the door frame, Mom punchin’ him in the gut. He pretends like it really hurts when it probably didn’t even make a dent. She rolls her eyes, stalks over to the window and flings it open.
Huh. Thought I sprayed enough cologne to cover up the smell.
Mom's mumbling under her breath as she crosses the room. Her hands shove all my clothes I got piled on the bed before she sits next to me. “Don’t know how he can live in this filth.”
“I’m fine,” I finally answer Dad. “You guys need somethin’?” They rarely come to my room. You know, the smell and all. Now they’re both here and it makes it feel like I’m in trouble.
“We just wanted to give you a heads up about our plans this week.”
“And to make sure you’ll be okay without us.”
This week? Crap, is it Spring Break already?
Mom pats the spot next to her on the bed and I plop down, ready for the ‘itinerary’ since they’ll force me to listen to it sooner or later.
“So, our plane leaves tomorrow afternoon. We were going to take a cab, but do you think you could drop us off?”
“Can we take the Dodge?”
Dad chuckles and air fist bumps me. “Yeah. You can borrow it while we’re gone too, but only if you’re picking up some hot ladies.”
“Mark!”
“He knows I’m kidding.”
We both laugh, and Mom mumbles something again, but I don’t catch it.
“Anyway… we trust you, honey. Even with everything that happened with your brother, we know you’ll be okay… not throw any wild parties or anything.”
She makes it sound like I’m a saint. I smile and sling my arm around her shoulders.
“I may have game night here, but that’s it. Just a few friends, a few beers, and some condoms for the orgy.”
Dad busts a gut while Mom threatens to shove a tomato in my face.
“I told you, the boy will be fine.”
“Really, Mom. It’s not like you guys have never left town before.”
The corner of her mouth twitches, and Dad’s there in a second, sitting on the other side of her and grabbin’ her hand. I pull my arm off her shoulders, lettin’ him be the one to do the comfortin’ crap. She’s Mom, and I’d do it, but she has him. And I’m glad she has him. He gives me a head nod ‘cause he knows I get that.
“I just… if Gabe shows up…”
Ah, the douche brother is the problem.
“I’ll control myself.” I put my hand over my heart and the other out like I’m givin’ a bike signal. “No more busted noses or sore knuckles.”
Instead of laughin’, like I expect her to, like she normally would have, her eyes get shiny before she buries her face in her hands. I give Dad a look that says, ‘What the hell?’ He’s rubbin’ her back, shushing her and shruggin’ at me.
“I just wish our family was… why can’t we…?”
Dad smirks. “All just get along?”
Her laugh comes