Chapter SEVEN

The next three days felt like weeks. I felt so isolated and alone. I'd only talked to Kennedy twice, and I'd texted with Rayna a little bit, but neither made me feel any better. They had to continue on there, in Chicago, with their own lives. And I was too far away.

   My Mom worked weird hours, sometimes from home and often in the downtown office. On Sunday, she was off and asked to take me shopping to get new clothes or anything I wanted. I didn't know if she was trying to bribe me, but I knew we were still in a weird place.  I'd brought all my favourite outfits, but it wasn't a full wardrobe. When I'd packed, I was packing like it was a vacation, not a permanent move.

   "The big mall is just across town," she told me, after breakfast. "We could do some shopping, have lunch. What do you think?"

   "Sure," I agreed. "Thanks."

   What else was I supposed to say?

   We shopped, in stores I'd never been to; I tried on clothes I'd never usually wear. But here, I could really do anything or be anyone. No one knew me, not even my mom. She was funny and actually kind of cool to be around, which surprised me. We had lunch in the food court and she told me about how she felt so horrible for missing all those years of my life. I bit my tongue, telling her we were fine. Dad took care of us. It was true, but for some reason I wanted to forgive her now. I was going to try, anyway.

   "Are you nervous for school?" she asked, as we drove back towards her house.

   "Uh, yeah, I guess. I've kind of been with the same group of people for the past four years," I told her.

   She nodded. "So, you have a lot of friends? A boyfriend?"

   "No," I said quickly. "I mean, I have friends. But..."

   "You're a gorgeous girl, Kels," she went on. I didn't like her calling me Kels, as if we were best friends. "I'm really surprised you don't have a boyfriend."

   "Oh, well... even if I did... I'm here now," I said, looking out the window again.

   The truth was, I'd had one boyfriend in Junior year. He - Darren Goodall - broke up with me after a few months, for another girl. We had only kissed, held hands. I was now a seventeen year old who really didn't know much about anything. Since the break up, I'd been crushing so hard on Connor. The only reason I had wanted to go to the that stupid party was to maybe get to talk to him. And look where that got me.

   "You won't have trouble making friends here," my Mom told me, now pulling into the driveway again. "All the kids here are so sweet. My neighbours, there, their grandchildren go to Albert Samuel High, your new school. I think ninth and eleventh grade."

   I nodded, as I unbuckled the seat belt.

   There was a few months of school left. I could try to make friends or I could just power through and graduate, then go back to Chicago, back to my life, after I turned eighteen. But, as would  find out, the future wasn't up to me.

The first day at a new school, in a different state, was terrifying. I didn't know a single person, and practically everyone ignored me. The teachers were nice, but I was the new kid. I powered through the classes, and walked home after the final bell, feeling okay. At least I'd made it through the first day. Only about one hundred  to go.

   Rayna had texted, asking how my first day at the new school had gone. I sent her back an emoji of a shrug,  then spent the evening on the back deck, enjoying the sun until it went down.

   My mom got home late, with a pizza in hand, and asked about a million questions about school. I answered vaguely, telling her it was fine. I fell asleep, finally, after tossing and turning for hours. I couldn't stop wondering why this had happened to me.

   The second day at Albert Samuel High, I met Tab and Franky. They were both in my second period AP English, which I had been dreading. I got to class first, and they plopped down into the empty seats around me.

   "You're new," the guy observed. He had wild blond hair and green eyes.

   "I love your hair," the girl me, pulling at my arm.

   I touched my hair, which was way too wavy and impossibly thin.

   "Do you talk?" the guy asked, then laughed. He was sort of scrawny, but cute.

   "Yeah, sorry," I answered.

   "Where are you from?" the girl asked, then smacked her hand onto her forehead. "Oh, I'm Tab. That is Franky."

   Tab was small, too, but had big pink and black hair, thick glasses and bright pink finger nails.

   "I'm Kelsey. I'm from Chicago," I said quietly.

   "What brings you to this fine city?" Frankly laughed. "And in April, no less."

   "My mom... I mean, I just moved here to live with her."

   They both nodded, looking at each other and then back to me. That was that, they didn't ask any more questions.

   "I hope you were taking AP English before this," Franky said, then added, "this class is brutal."

   I nodded, as the teacher strolled in.

   At lunch, Tab and Franky found me. And just like that, I fit in with them.

   I had to get used to the new school, new classes, new teachers. But even though they weren't in my other classes, it was nice to have them at lunch. It made everything feel just a bit better.

   "You're like our new little puppy," Franky laughed, at the end of the week.

   "She's not a puppy." Tab smacked his arm. "Girl, you don't know how bad I needed a girl around. Franky is my best friend, but... he's a guy."

   I smiled, deciding that was a compliment of sorts.

   "Did you tell her about the game?" Franky asked, leading the way as we walked together out to the parking lot.

   "Oh, shit. I forgot. Football game tonight. We just go to watch the boys get all sweaty -" Tab laughed, while Franky rolled his eyes.

  "I actually love football," he told me.

  "You want to come?" Tab asked me, looking hopeful.

   It was Friday night. I had nothing else to do. "Sure," I nodded.

  "Yay! We can pick you up in seven?" Tab went on.

   "Okay," I agreed, then gave them my mom's address.

   They got into an old truck - Franky's - and drove off before I spun around to start walking home. Without knowing what was happening, I crashed right into someone.

   "Shit, watch it," she yelled, not looking up from her phone.

   "Sorry," I said quickly.

   This girl was tall and thin, with white blonde hair and narrowed eyes. She was wearing a tight sweater and jeans, and looked unimpressed with me.

   "Are you the new kid?" she asked, glaring at me. "I saw you with Tabitha Green, which is your first mistake. She's, like, so weird."

   "I'm fine, thanks," I managed to say.

   "Sure you are," the girl said, already walking away.