The Thing About Goodbye, page 3
I whispered, hoping against hope that she was serious, “Yeah?”
Brushing her hand through my loose hair, she whispered back, “Yeah.”
After putting the card back together, making the call, and setting an appointment for the next day, I sat on the floor through the night, too afraid to leave her alone for longer than it took to run to the restroom. I didn’t sleep a wink, and I was okay with that because for the first time in years, I had hope in my heart that this was the change we needed.
The alarm sounded through our apartment, signaling that it was time to get up and get ready for school, and she woke up, stretching and more clear-eyed than I’d seen her in ages. Still, even as the alarm sounded the annoying beeping, I found that I couldn’t move. She read my face and smiled softly. “Sweet girl, go ahead and get ready for school. I have my appointment today, and you have school.” Getting up, she smiled at me and gently pecked the top of my head as she made her way to the bathroom.
I was terrified and excited all at once.
Too afraid to believe that this moment was finally here and too excited at the prospect of having my mother back. She hummed softly from the bathroom, and I heard the shower start. That was my cue to do the same. I stood from the spot where I had sat through the night and stretched my tired and aching muscles. I might not have had any sleep, but this felt like the new beginning I’d been searching for so it was already a good day.
Once I was ready for school and she was ready to go see the doctor, we stepped out the front door together, ending up in the hallway at the same time as my strange, enigmatic neighbor.
He saw me, and his face lit up, but as she stepped out behind me, confusion took its place. He rolled with it though, to his credit, and smiled saying, “Morning, Cutie! Morning, Cutie’s mom!”
I swallowed a laugh in surprise but couldn’t hide the smile that stretched my cheeks, and my mother froze before regaining composure and saying, “Umm, good morning…”
He didn’t bat a lash when he responded, “It’s Luka, ma’am. We met the other day, but I think you were sick.”
He gave her a way out, a way to bypass the awkwardness of her not remembering it. And I was shocked at how much I wanted to hug him for that. I warmed from head to toe at his kindness and took a step toward him without meaning to.
Mom was uncomfortable, and it was obvious, but she took it in stride and smiled saying, “Of course! Luka, how good to see you! Are you walking with Camille to school today?”
Before I could tell her that he didn’t go to my school, he cut me off and said, “But of course. My favorite part of the day. Although,”—he swung a set of car keys around his finger and continued—“I’m borrowing my dad’s ride. Would you like a lift too?”
And suddenly I knew I’d been right when he’d opened the door and I’d instantly been enamored with him, back before he spoke and ruined the moment. There was a good guy under a façade of attitude and anger, and I was going along with him on this. Before she could interject, I spoke up, “Perfect! Come on, Mom. We can drop you on the way!”
To show my appreciation, I hooked an arm through his and gently bumped his side. He looked down at me with a grin and said, “Alright then! I get to start my morning with two beautiful ladies instead of just one.”
Once we reached the bottom of the stairs, he guided us to a car and said, “Your chariot awaits, madams!” I couldn’t help but laugh again at him. It was turning out to be a pretty magnificent start to my day.
Five
After dropping Mom at the doctor’s office, Luka dropped me at school, and I couldn’t help but notice the looks he got from the principal, who was out front of the school.
If looks could kill.
Getting out of his car, I said, “Thanks for the ride, neighbor. It was appreciated. And thanks,”—I leaned back into the door not wanting the moment to end—“you were really good with my mom.”
Smiling, he brushed me off. “Nothin’ to worry about, Cutie.”
I shook my head and moved away from the car, shutting the door and waving at him as he pulled away. Turning, I made my way to the door and was pulling it open to head to class when someone called out, “Cammy! Hey! Wait up!”
The girl who had walked me to the office came running up, out of breath. “Jeez, long legs. Anyone ever tell you that you suck at waiting?”
I lifted an eyebrow, still holding the door open for her, and asked, “I’m sorry?”
She huffed out a breath. “Right. So, what’s going on with your mom, and seriously, were you just in the car with Luka-freaking-Prescott?”
Falling in step with her, I answered, “Mom’s gonna be fine. She has some…”—I hesitated—“issues that she’s dealing with. And Luka? Yeah. He’s my neighbor. Why?”
“Only that he just got out of the slammer. Jail, ya know? The clink, if you will. He, like, murdered someone or something.”
I stopped in my tracks. “Wait. If he murdered someone, doesn’t that mean he should still be in jail? Plus, he’s been really nice to me. I mean, he’s a little different, but a murderer?”
Nudging me with her body and continuing down the hall, she said, “I don’t know… All I’m saying is, you should check him out before you start spending time with him.”
I walked up to my locker and turned the dial. “Duly noted. I probably won’t see him again. Like I said, he just gave me a ride. No biggie.”
She made big eyes and sang back to me, “If you saaaay so…”
I smiled. “I do. Thanks for the concern though.”
I expected her to walk away, to her own locker and first period, but she hung out as I snatched my English book and shut the door, and then she said, “Come on, I need to get mine too. We have the same class.”
I was surprised. I didn’t remember her in my class, but also, I hadn’t even known she existed before yesterday, so there was that too. I followed her to her locker and dutifully waited as she grabbed her book, and then we walked to the class.
I started to head to the seat I’d been in previously, at the back of the class, out of the way, but she grabbed my hand and led me to the far corner of the room and pointed to a seat next to the one she was unloading her book bag onto. “Sit here.”
I was assuming there was no assigned seating because when the teacher came in and the rest of the students stumbled their way to seats, no one said anything to me. Before the teacher could begin her morning lecture, I heard the other girl say, “I’m Leah, by the way.”
I smiled at her distractedly, trying to keep my attention on the front of the room even though there was nothing going on yet. She wasn’t getting the hint, though, as she continued, “I didn’t really get a chance to introduce myself before, so just FYI, ya know…” She finished a little lamely.
I felt bad because I was making it hard on her to be nice to me even though it was really all because I was such a social freak, so I turned my attention to her and responded awkwardly, “Hey, Leah.”
We both giggled a little stupidly, and then, smiling in earnest, I said, “No, really, it’s nice to meet you. Sorry, I’m such a freak. I suck at this kind of thing.”
She looked confused saying, “What kind of thing?”
“You know, the talking-to-people kind of thing. I suck at it.”
“You mean, the being-a-friend kind of thing?”
I waved my hand in the air helplessly. “Well, kinda. I mean, I haven’t had a friend in a long time.”
“Girlfriend, from where I’m standing, you’re already up to two of them. Your murderer-slash-neighbor friend and now me!”
I smiled thinking about it. “Leah, I really don’t think he’s a murderer. He’s like, what, a year older than us or something?”
“Hey, I’ll have you know that the crime statistics are rising for the younger generation. He could totally be a killer.”
“Oh my gosh. I’m just going to ask him the next time I see him.” I rolled my eyes but made sure to smile at her so she didn’t think I was being mean about it. I was also secretly very excited that I had a reason to seek him out again.
Very secretly.
“You should totally do that. Then you need to report back to me. Matter of fact, give me your phone. I’ll give you my number, and you can ask him and then report back to me as soon as possible!”
My face flamed with embarrassment. “I don’t have one.” I’d never needed one before and had no one to call, regardless.
Her face screwed up in shock. “Don’t have one, what? A phone?”
“Nope, no phone.”
Loudly, in her shock, she declared, “That’s just barbaric! Who doesn’t have a phone these days?”
Luckily, the teacher saved me from making a response when she said, “If you ladies don’t mind, I do have a lesson to teach today.”
I muttered, “Sorry” and stared at my desk, hiding my beet-red cheeks from the class, who suddenly had focused all of their attention on us.
I pretended to make notes, reeling at the embarrassment, when a piece of paper hit my desk. Unfolding it, I read, Hey. It’s cool. No judgment. Maybe you can ask murder boy to borrow his.
I looked at her, and my eyes had bugged out at the urge to laugh out loud. Quickly, I scribbled back, Sure! Hey, my friend wants to know if you actually murdered someone and that’s why you were in jail! Also, can I borrow your phone so I can report back to her?
She snickered when I passed the note back to her and quickly scribbled, As your first friend, I demand the position of best friend. Be sure to clarify that when you tell him! (Unless he really IS a murderer and then just abort the mission! And run away!!) ;)
Before I could scratch out a response, the teacher cleared her throat saying, “I can’t believe I’m having to say this, but if you don’t put the note away and pay attention, I’ll be more than happy to read it out loud for the class.”
When I made eye contact with her, I think she found the look on my face hilarious because she was fighting back a smile when she said with a laugh in her voice, “Put it away, girls, and pay attention. Especially you, Ms. Ackers. Your grade needs some serious attention.”
I snickered at the look on Leah’s face and then turned my attention back to the teacher.
When class was over and we were gathering up our things, Leah said, “Seriously. You have to tell me what he says tomorrow! I’ll meet you at your locker before class!”
“What if I don’t see him? I won’t have anything to report!” I really, really hoped I saw him though.
Before turning away to go to her next class, she winked at me and said, “I have a sneaking suspicion that you’re going to have plenty to report!” Laughing evilly, she walked away as she threw a hand up in the air to wave at me.
Six
It was pouring rain when the last bell rang, and I was not looking forward to walking home in it. I hadn’t even bothered to check the news for the weather when I was getting ready with the craziness that was going on at my house and so hadn’t thought to grab my umbrella. I was hoping that since it hadn’t started until after lunch that Mom had made it home dry because the long walk for me was going to be wet and cold, cold, cold.
I debated bringing my backpack home, but I had no homework to do, so I shoved it into my locker instead and grabbed my jacket. Before stepping out into the rain, I pulled the hood up and over my head. It might not offer much protection, but hopefully it would be enough to keep me semi-dry. Too bad wishes weren’t horses.
I was soaked and frozen to the bone and only halfway home when a strange car pulled up next to me and stopped. I was seriously debating running for my life when Luka spoke up, “Come on, Cutie! Get in the car. Jesus, why are you out walking in this? It’s as cold as a well diggers ass.”
Without really considering it, I hurried the several steps to the car and yanked the door open before hopping in. He took in my appearance and said, “Damn, girl. You’re soaked. Here, let’s get you warmed up. Take that jacket off.”
I flushed from the end of my hair all the way down to my tippy toes but it did nothing to warm me up. My teeth were chattering from the cold when I said, “I ca-ca-ca-can’t. It’s going to be co-co-colder!”
He put the car into park instead of driving away and leaned across the console, taking a sleeve and tugging against my resistance. “Come on, we gotta get you out of this thing. I can give you mine.”
Butterflies flapped to life in my stomach at his gesture and I gave up the battle when his insistent tugging was keeping me away from the heat coming from the vents, so I quickly yanked it off and tossed the jacket to the floor, desperately trying to avoid meeting his eyes. My shirt was glued to me and I didn’t even want to think about what that exposed.
He smiled, saying, “Right. Now the shirt.”
Umm. Excuse me? Those butterflies took flight and surged up my throat in shock.
I took in his face and realized that he was smiling as he pulled his arms out of his own coat and handed it to me.
I was too cold to even object anymore and quickly maneuvered myself so I could shove an arm into the blessedly still warm fabric. Satisfied, he buckled up once more and pulled away from the curb. “I have to make a stop before we head home, but I’ll make it quick. I just need you to stay in the car, okay?”
I nodded, more focused on warming my hands and thawing myself out than what he was saying. There was also the major internal crisis I was suffering because I was sitting alone in the car next to the hottest guy I’d ever laid eyes on. I was in big trouble here.
A few minutes later, he stopped at a warehouse-looking building, and getting out of the car, he reminded me, “Sit here, okay? Don’t get out.” He was dead serious.
I looked up at him, a little alarmed at his tone but said, “You got it.” I had zero interest in getting out of this heated shelter from the storm.
He nodded and slammed the car door shut before sprinting in the rain to the door, where he beat against it and waited until it was opened by a burly, tattooed man, who glared at the car. But whatever Luka said distracted him, so he let him in, and the door fell shut once more behind him.
I waited, and as I did, I thought about what Leah had said. I knew that he couldn’t be a murderer because he wouldn’t be out of jail already, logically, but something was there. He had been locked away from society for some reason, and now that I thought about it, I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t bothered to ask. I made up my mind to ask when he got back to the car. I was fairly certain that he wouldn’t off me and hide my body somewhere. After all, he had gone out of his way to help me repeatedly already.
I looked up and saw that he was already running back through the rain to the car, and I hit the unlock button to let him back in. Before he even buckled in, I blurted out, “Why were you in jail?”
I could tell he wasn’t prepared for the question when he jerked back, met my gaze and breathed out, “What?”
“You said you’d been to jail. I want to know why. I mean, I’m in the car with you, and we really don’t even know each other that well, so I feel like maybe I should ask.”
He smirked at me. “Why do you think I was in jail?”
My brow furrowed as I took him in. He seemed to think that this was a joke, but right now, I was truly curious. “Seriously.” Why wouldn’t he answer me?
He was still wearing the damn smirk when he parroted back, “Seriously.”
“Well, I know the rumor is that you killed someone, but logically speaking, I don’t think you’d’ve been released already if that were the case, so I really don’t have a clue.”
Putting the car into gear, he replied, “I went in for assault of a minor. The dickhead was only a couple of months younger than me, but it stuck. Served a little less than a year and stumbled out a free man. Ended up crashing into you shortly thereafter. Nothing as bad as murder.”
I was a little underwhelmed at his response, and I think he noticed because he laughed out loud at my face and asked, “Do you wish it was something a little more gruesome? I can make up a story to tell you if you’d like, but it wouldn’t be the truth.” He wiggled his brow at me ridiculously.
I rolled my eyes and smacked his arm then asked, “So, why do you have a different car now? Did you swap with someone?”
He tensed when I asked this and responded tightly, “Not at all. My old man owns a car lot, so I almost always have a different car. Now,” he said, changing the subject, “what was with dropping your mom at the doctor’s office this morning? Is everything alright?”
I cringed, and as much as I did not want to answer that question, he had been honest with me, and now it was my turn. “So, the other day, someone found my mom wandering drunk and confused at the mall and called the police. They sent her to the hospital and ran some tests, and some came back bad, and they said that if she doesn’t quit drinking, she’s going to die. The doctor gave me some info, and we are trying to get her into rehab. Today was her meeting with the doctor that can make that happen.”
Thoughtfully, he nodded and said no more for the rest of our drive.
When we pulled up, he broke the silence when he asked, “What are we having for dinner tonight?”
I laughed softly and tried to ignore the way it felt when he said ‘we’. “I’m not really sure. Possibly spaghetti.”
He grabbed my jacket from the backseat, and when I was out, clicked the locks and followed me up the stairs to get to our apartments, that damn hand on my back felt like a branding iron. At the top he handed me my soaked jacket and said, “I have to run in and tell my old man something, but I’ll be over in just a minute to help you cook. It’s kind of my ‘secret’ talent.”
“I’m not sure how well you’re going to be able to showcase your little hidden talent. I have sauce, noodles, and beef. That’s as fancy as we get around here these days.”
“Do you have bread and butter?”
“Not unless the grocery fairy swung by on her way through town while I was at school.” I told him matter of factly.
