Deep inside, I could tell he wanted nothing more than to come home. Although He had been in a coma for nearly one month, he had missed no more than one week –and for good reasons too– I was sure he would be having no problem at college. It was only one week but he was so conscientious in his studies, it must have felt like too much to him.
I can barely believe it. I’m sixteen! I was mentally squealing in delight while letting a wide grin show on my face.
“So, Jas,” Karl brought me out of my reverie, “I hope there will be no April’s-Fools’-Day-like activities this year,” he teased, his eyes twinkling at me with unmistakable mischief.
He was referring to what Seth and I had done on my birthday two years ago. We had gone to school, begrudgingly, dragging our feet since our parents wouldn’t allow us to skip classes and attend the festival I was oh-so-desperate to go to. Then, a genius idea had stricken me, making my whole being shiver in excitement.
“We were told to go to school, right?” I could remember myself – only too well – asking Seth just as we stepped inside the prestigious, private high school I was inwardly cursing for the first time ever since I first started at it.
“No shit, Sherlock!” He had given me a what-the-hell-is-your-point look, urging me to tell him whatever I was thinking already.
“But if there was no school, we could go to the festival; right?” I had wiggled my eyebrows at him suggestively.
He had given me a quizzical look and I had hurried to explain my plan to him, in hushed tones so as not to be heard, an evil grin adorning my lips.
We had gone straight to the gym, hoping it would be deserted and, luckily enough, it had been. Then, we did our best igniting an impossibly small flame just under those little devices which sole purpose was to sense fire and start pouring water. Just as we managed doing that, we had rung the alert then fled out of there.
We had not been the only ones benefitting from that little prank. Some had been groaning about a quiz, others complaining about the teacher they would be having first thing in the morning; and others, just like us, had been just looking for mere shimmer of an opportunity to skip.
Fun times, I thought, smiling, feeling a tad bit nostalgic.
“Nothing of the sorts,” I reassured him.
The prank I’ll be doing today will be so much more fun, I’m sure. I had kept that little detail to myself though, not wanting to alert the parents to the upcoming little mess I would be causing.
Chapter 14
Ready?
It was nearly six in the evening, Karl and my brothers had gone out god knows where, my father was in the living-room watching TV whereas my mother was keeping me company in the hall as I waited for Tim. He had texted me about ten minutes ago saying he was leaving his house.
He’ll be here soon enough, I inwardly sighed, my eyes darting to the window.
“I understand what you must be feeling, darling,” my mother went on, oblivious to my total lack of interest “but please honey, don’t anger your mate. Nothing good will come out of that...” And the lecture continued.
When she had told me she’d wait with me, I had been surprised but kept silent, trying to convince myself there was nothing to it. How wrong of me! Since when did she like waiting?
As I gave her yet another bored look – for I had been hearing the same little speech ever since that fateful evening when he had told them the news – and resisted the urge to fake a yawn, knowing she’d be furious with me if I did, I heard a car parking close to the house, a door slamming and soon enough, our door bell ringing.
Finally! I inwardly squealed and let a grin slip on my face.
“Bye mom,” I called out as I opened the door to the smiling face of Tim.
“I was not finished,” she hissed through gritted teeth despite the smile she was putting on display for Tim’s benefit.
“Good evening Mrs. Peterson,” his smile was so bright, it was almost blinding. “Hey Jas.” As his dark brown eyes took in my appearance ever so discreetly, one could clearly see the approval.
We greeted him back, both giving him wide smiles in response.
“I’ve already heard it all mom,” I stated flatly in a whisper when I turned around and hugged her goodbye. “I’m not crazy, okay?” I reassured her with a small smile.
I know what I’m doing, I mentally finished but did not dare to add. She’d probably start asking me what it meant or something like that.
And we wouldn’t want that, now would we? The wicked voice in my mind chuckled evilly.
“Ok,” she sighed, surrendering. “Don’t stay out too late. Tomorrow is a school day.” Did she really have to remind me? I had never missed my curfew for heaven’s sake.
“Yeah, yeah,” was the nonchalant response she got as I allowed myself to be pulled by Tim out of the house.
Like a gentleman, he opened the door for me, and I slid in carefully so as not to flash him any more skin than I was already showing.
The twenty-minute drive to the cinema had been enjoyable. I had a nice chat with him without having to endure the stuffy and overwhelming feelings I got whenever I was
