Page 3 of Echoes of Us

“Again, if you don’t understand the material you should speak up during class to learn. To my knowledge, you have done nothing to try and understand. That is all I have to say on this, Briggs. Ms. Rachel in the tutor center should be your next stop. Now go on, this is my planning period.”

I turn to leave, my stomach tied knots. School has always been easy for me—I excel in classes, sports, and I’m well-liked by teachers and students.

What an unwelcome reminder that even I can stumble.

Chapter 3

Teagan

Since my mom died, I have been skipping a lot of classes. Sean Mason, however, has been skipping class since elementary school. He has been my best friend since kindergarten. We are at our usual spot under the bleachers, nestled between the landscaping shed and the football tackle dummies.

I spent the last thirty minutes telling Sean about the news my aunt and Colin gave me over the weekend. I had to tell him in person, but I haven’t seen him. He spent the last few days working some odd jobs. His dad has been away on a bender for a while, so he is stuck trying to keep the electricity and water on. We both have, or in my case had, parents who have been addicts as long as we’ve been alive. That isn’t the only thing we have in common, though.

“I can’t believe they are just… leaving you.” Sean hands me the joint he’s been smoking as I lean next to him on the fence.

“I can. Colin is an ass. He’s wanted me out since day one. He never liked me or my mom. Dude, I swear I saw him smiling at her funeral.”

“Well, screw that guy. You’re better off without them anyways.” He takes the joint back from me and takes a big inhale. “You know… *exhale*… I think you should just stay at my place. My dad hasn’t been back from wherever the hell he went for almost two months now. Maybe, if I’m lucky, he isn’t coming back this time. We’d have the place to ourselves. We could be like a cute, old married couple.” He grins.

“I already tried. Aunt Beth is making me stay with some family from her church in Princeton. I can’t believe I have to move away to stay with some uptight, religious whackos. It is going to suck.”

Sean finishes the joint and tosses it onto the football field. He reaches in his pocket for a pack of cigarettes, pulls one out and lights it for me with a zippo lighter.

“You’re gonna have to pick me up and bring me to school, ya know? There is no way the rich church kids go to school here in Trenton. I am sure they live near the church, and I doubt they will drive me here every morning. The only reason Colin and my aunt go to church in Princeton is because Colin’s boss is a member. It is a way for him to kiss ass and look like a good person. Probably why he got this opportunity in the first place. I overheard them talking about how his boss’s family is relocating to Japan, too.”

“You know I will! Unless I find a boyfriend soon and we do cute stuff, like ride to school together. Then, you’re on your own.” He smirks, glancing sideways at me.

I punch his arm. “Yeah right, like you can get any guy to date your ugly mug!” I dodge his attempt at a headlock and laugh as I jump around in circles avoiding his other attempts at catching me. Honestly, Sean is quite attractive—tall, lean, with a great smile and thick black hair. If I were into guys, he’d be my type. Despite knowing he’s gay, girls at school still try to hook up with him at parties. He finds it hilarious since he gets more attention from them than I do.

“Whatever asshole. Neither of us have been on a date in a year, so we both must have ugly mugs,” he says with a smile.

“I can’t come to your house tonight, by the way. I have to meet my aunt at the stupid church to see what family is psycho enough to take me in.”

“Alright, T. Call me later. I want to hear all about your new family. Maybe they will even get you to wear dresses, stop smoking and go to church every Sunday like a good little girl.” He hit the ground next to me, knowing my hand was already headed to the back of his head. He jumps up, running off screaming in an exaggeratedly shrilled voice, “Don’t let them convert you my little queer!”

I give him the finger, smiling as I watch him run toward the school. Sean has been the constant light in my dark life; I wouldn’t have survived without him. As I finish my cigarette, I look up at my school. It is as pathetic as it gets. On our side of town, the city rarely coughs up any money to upgrade or maintain the schools. Half of the AC units in the windows are broken, there is never heat during the winter and the food is practically inedible. The people are all pretty chill, though. Everyone who is zoned to go here comes from the type of neighborhoods I grew up in. We all know what it takes to survive and stay out of each other’s way to do so.

I pull out my phone to check the bus route. Shit. The bus ride to Princeton will take nearly an hour and the church is a mile from the bus stop. I am supposed to be there in forty-five minutes.

My aunt is going to kill me.

Chapter 4

Emmaline

When I get home, I head straight to the backyard, seething. Without a second thought I grab my lacrosse stick, slamming the ball against the concrete wall my dad installed for practice. Each thud reverberates with my frustration as thoughts of Mr. Roberts blowing me off, my plummeting calculus grade, and the possibility of missing my last season replay in my mind. There's no way I'm going to the tutor center. The kids that go there are mocked mercilessly. I hurl the ball harder and harder, my anger fueling every shot. After a while, I hear Mom calling me from the back porch. I grip my stick, breathing heavily, and after one final, furious shot, I grab my gear and walk back toward the house.

“Em, you need to wrap it up and come inside. It is 4:50 and I told you this morning I need you downstairs at 5:30 dressed and ready for Wednesday night service. We have to be there early so Dad and I can meet with Pastor James before service. It is very important we are on time, so chop chop.”

“No worries, Mom. I’ll be down before 5:30!” She gives me ‘the look’ and goes back to doing the dishes.

I lay in my bed staring at the ceiling, twirling Eli’s long tail hair around my finger. What am I going to do if I can’t get my grade up? Maybe I can get the tutor to come to my house to help me. I know my parents would pay her well, if she is willing to do it. What if someone sees her walking into my house? Too many kids from school live in this neighborhood. God, this is so frustrating. I grab my pillow, slamming it into my face and scream. Eli jumps off the bed and begins scratching at the door. I sit up. “Sorry, bud. It has been a shitty day.” I turn my head to the clock on my nightstand, shooting up. Shit! It is 5:32 and I’m not even close to ready. I let Eli out then run into my bathroom. A shower is out of the question, so I spray myself with perfume and throw on a dress. About five minutes later, I rush down the stairs. EJ is sitting at the bottom waiting for me, rubbing Eli’s head.

“Mom and Dad are already in the car. We took bets on if you’d be late or not. Mom and I totally won,” he says with a big smile.

“C’mon dork.” I rustle his hair, and we walk out of the house.

“Nice of you to join us, Emmaline.” Mom says sarcastically from the front seat.

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