Page 7 of Echoes of Us

“You are the smartest student at your school. Your Principle has written to me multiple times saying the curriculum is not difficult enough to challenge you. This is an amazing opportunity for you to get into a good college, Teagan. A kid from our area doesn’t get this opportunity every day and I think it is an opportunity your mom would want for you. She would be heartbroken if you let that pass.”

Of course she uses the dead mom guilt trip card. I stay silent for a while staring at the wall clock. I can’t go to school with people like the ones I met tonight. I even bet that princess attends this school, which would be an absolute nightmare.” Your mother always wanted more for you. Every time she got clean; it was for you. I know she never stayed clean, but if it wasn’t for you, she would have had nothing to live for. Get out of this town and make something of yourself, Teagan. You deserve a better life than me or your mom ever gave you.”

I look at my aunt and simply nod. She pats my hand and gets up to head to her room without another word.

The next seven months are about to be hell on earth.

Chapter 8

Emmaline

I am completely silent on the way home. Even with my mom and dad giving me every reason why they are doing this, there is no way I can open my mouth without being grounded for screaming every cuss word in the book. EJ is annoyingly excited about ‘getting another sister’.

“Em, I know you’re upset but can’t you just let us explain?” Mom pleads.

“Honey Bun, Teagan needs a place to call home. This is the right thing to do. Mom and I have prayed about it for days,” Dad adds.

My whips toward the front of the car. Did he just say days? “You two have been considering this for days and haven’t said anything or cared to ask me?” I say, my voice firm and slow.

My parents look at each other, then go silent. They move on to telling EJ all about their plans to fix up the spare room over the next few days and want his help.

Once we get home, I am so angry that I walk right past Eli, heading straight for the stairs. Both of my parents call after me, but I continue to ignore them and slam my door behind me. I call Mills to tell her the news.

“This better be good, Em. I only have fifteen more minutes before Gabe has to leave,” Mills says breathlessly, clearly in the middle of a make-out session.

“That… that… Ugh. That bitch is moving into MY HOUSE!” I scream into the phone.

“Uhh what…?” I hear muffled voices on the other end before she continues, “Em… I don’t even know what to say. We were joking earlier when we thought it would be you. With your dad’s job and all, why would he take a kid from the shitty part of Trenton into his home and jeopardize his judgeship? It literally makes no sense!”

“That is what you are thinking about? My dad’s job. What about ME Mills? I have to LIVE with that girl,” I continue, my voice elevating.

There is a knock at my door. I ignore it, but my parents step into my room anyway. “I have to go.” I hang up.

“Honey Bun, we need to talk to you about this. I know you’re upset but there is something else we have to tell you before next week, so you aren’t blindsided,” Dad remarks.

“Blindsided!? How can I be more blindsided than I already am by you both taking in a teenage orphan during the most important year of my life!?”

Mom sighs. “I know this is a lot to take in, Em, but it was the right thing to do. She needs a place she can heal from the horrible things she has endured during her life. We just…”

“So, she is your charity case and I have to just deal with it?” I interrupt.

“Look, you don’t have to like our decisions but you do have to accept them. In addition to living with us, we have decided to enroll her at Leland with you and EJ. She is apparently very bright young…”

“This is bullshit!” I snap

“Emmaline Briggs! Language!” Mom screams.

Dad stands up with his ‘I’m a serious judge face’. “Emmaline, I am sorry you’re mad but you need to get over it. We will be picking Teagan up on Saturday and taking her to the school to meet Headmaster McNeely. You can join us, or you can sit at home and pout. If you give her any grief while she is under our roof, there will be consequences. This conversation is over,” he declares firmly. With that, Mom and Dad leave the room.

I grab my phone to send a text to Mills.

EM 9:12 PM

She is coming to our school… my parents enrolled her in OUR school…

MILLS 9:13 PM

WHAT?!?! You are JOKING! What are you going to do? You are literally going to be around her 24/7 at this rate, Ems.

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