Chapter 71

Wish You Were Here

"What do you need help with?" I asked.

"Homework," Olivia said. "I couldn't find an answer key for this assignment."

"Go ask Mom and Dad," I said.

"They would be so mad at me," Olivia explained. "They expect me to be this genius, but honestly, I don't know how to do any of this. You're good at math. Please? I really need to do well on this assignment."

"I never thought you actually cared about your schoolwork," I said.

"I don't. I just can't fail this class or Mom and Dad will kill me."

"Okay," I said, but I had a plan. I had to tell Mom and Dad about Olivia cheating on her tests. They probably wouldn't believe me, but I didn't care. I still had to do it. "What's the first problem?" I asked Olivia.

"4+x=7," she said.

I laughed. This was beyond easy. "Think of it this way: what plus 4 is 7?"

"Three," Olivia said.

"There's your answer," I said. "Do it like that for all of the other problems."

"Okay," Olivia said. She glanced at my desk. "Is your math book seriously called Geometry For ENJOYMENT and Challenge?"

"Yes," I said.

"Wow, I can't wait to take your Geometry class," Olivia said sarcastically. "Where's your Magic 8 Ball?"

"It's over there," I said, gesturing to a spot next to the geometry book.

"Don't you usually have it in your pocket?"

"Yeah, but I'm not using it as much anymore."

"Weird," Olivia said.

"Anyways, thanks for all of your help last night," I said.

"No problem," Olivia replied. "It was fun playing with all of the dogs. I still can't believe we sold all of them."

"Me neither," I said. "We still have a few thousand dollars to go though."

"Didn't we make some insane amount of money from the talent show though?"

"Yeah, but it's not quite enough." I shrugged. "We tried our best."

"That seems silly to me to raise all of that money for nothing, but I don't care about your stupid library."

"I know, but there's not much we can do now, is there?"

Olivia shrugged. "I think I get the homework now, so I'll go back to my room and work on it. Thanks."

"See you later, Olivia," I said. I turned on some music. I smiled. It was "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd, one of my favorite songs.

So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell, blue skies from pain.

Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?

A smile from a veil?

Do you think you can tell?

Did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?

Hot ashes for trees?

Hot air for a cool breeze?

Cold comfort for change?

Did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here.

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,

Running over the same old ground.

What have we found?

The same old fears.

Wish you were here.

There were just so many people I wished were here. Papa. Samina. Candace. I wanted guidance, but I wasn't going to get that. I had to stand alone.