EvaI’m listening to music when my mother knocks on the door of my room. My tattoo has healed completely and I can’t believe my mother never even noticed. No, I can believe it. She knocks again and I say “Yes, “ Maybe something’s happened because my mother never knocks. She just opens, comes in, and does what she wants to either leave the laundry or ask me why I haven’t put my shoes back on the shoe rag. “Eva? Are you sleeping? ““No,” I say and take my headphones off. She closes the door behind her and sits at the edge of my bed. All right, something’s happened then.I doubt that Miss Chase has called. Or she might have, but my mother wouldn’t react that way if she had. I just know. Which means something’s wrong. I adjust my pillow higher and lean back straighter. “Mom, what is it? Are you all right? ““Yes, I’m all right. “She takes my hand and I just let her to. It’s something about work. I’m sure she got fired again.“Mom?”“They called from the hospital. ““What hospital

Kyle We finish our meal and Dad says he has to check one last thing in the garage. Jeremy tries to help Mom clean the table, but she says that’s my job and Stela steals him into the living room. “He’s nice, “ My mother says once they’re gone, while she is cleaning the plates for the washing machine. “I know. “ “Do you think it's a problem?” “What?” I ask absently as I pass another plate to her. “That he comes from a very different family than ours. “ “I…” I lower my hands and fix my eyes on them. “When did you find out?” “Oh, Kyle, “ I glance back up at her and see her watching me affectionately “I think ever since you started coming home, him being the first thing you mentioned.” “Did I do that?” She nods. “What do his parents think?” “I don’t...I don’t know if he’s told them. “ “Of course, if what I think it’s true, they don’t even have time to have dinner together. “ “Yeah, I think so.” “Everything comes with a price, as they say, “My mom frowns, “And he’s such

His room is not what I expected. But again. Nothing about him is what I expected. Everything is in perfect order, but I don't know if it's because he hates the mess, or it's the maid that takes care of everything. He has so much music, vinyl, and old first edition albums that I can't believe I'm even here and I can see them. "You have a guitar?" I gasp after I've sat on the bed and see the Fender propped by the wall. "No way. Do you play?" "Occasionally." Of course he does. "Can I see it?" "Uhh, sure. Yeah." I get up and my hands go for the guitar directly. It's an awesome original one and I run a hesitant hand over the strings. "I should've figured you play." "Yeah, how?" He snorts and leans back on the bed. Nathan pulls a cigarette out and lights it. He is so hot I look quickly away. It's awkward enough as it is, especiall

“It’s what they tell everyone, but no. Our parents were just trying to get Nate out of the whole shit he was sinking into. He was home tutored for a while after getting out of rehab, but the doctors said it would be better for him if he went back to school, even though he'd be a year older than the others.”“He missed a whole year, right?”“Yeah.”I see he is struggling, at the same time he wants to talk about it. So I wait patiently. I’ll always be here for him. I know that by now. After a while, Jer begins “I sometimes feel the older we get, the less we care about passing years. I was so excited about Christmas, or New Year's. I've always hated birthdays, but I don't care about any of that now. It'll only be worse if I grow older. I know it’s different with you and your family. But that’s how it is with ours…So yeah- only a year lost. Lost. Only. Was this year lost?“Don’t say that. ““But can something be "only lost?" He looks up at me and this is the first time Jeremy lets me in

"You stupid bitch, who do you think you are?"  Maddison pulls my hair and my hand goes automatically for hers, pulling harder. It probably looks nothing like fighting in movies. It's mostly hair-pulling and shouting. I feel hands around my waist, pulling me back. I see someone else's arms wrap around Maddison and there's enough space around us now that I can pause and take a breath.  "You're crazy,"  She keeps shouting at me and I push my classmates to hold me. The damage- I did pull her hair extensions and they're now on the floor. Some of the guys around are laughing, others are frowning at her eye, turning blue very quickly.  Me. Well. I feel the blood of my split lip trickling and my hand shots to wipe it clean and I flinch as I do so, because it stings.  The reason for all of this-Maddison is wearing the scarf I saw in Nathan's room.