Anita

“Would you mind if I came over?”

My head snapped around to stare at him. I was strapping myself into the seat, and I froze with the seat belt pulled across my body.

“What?” I said, stunned.

He smiled. “I’m asking if you would invite me over to your house. If your Mom is there, I’ll just walk you over to the door. I still feel like I should apologize and explain things to her, though, if she was really mad at you.”

Mom was never really mad, though, just worried. While the neighborhood we lived in wasn’t the best looking of places, and certainly not at night with a lot of the streetlights gone, it was pretty safe. Still, Mom didn’t like me being out late, especially after dark, which was why I didn’t spend a lot of time on afterschool activities. The walk back alone was pretty long, if I had to do detention or even an after-school club, I’d walk and arrive home late.

“I guess it’s okay,” I said slowly.

I didn’t know what we could do at my house, but maybe I could just talk him into leav