Page 165 of The Glass Girl

I need to talk to someone who will understand, but who? It’s midnight now, and Amber’s probably asleep. I know she’ll answer and talk to me, but she won’tunderstand.

I pick up my phone. Pull the covers over my head.

I never got Brandy’s or Billy’s number because I went into the pen with Charlotte. Billy and Brandy got out on time; I didn’t see them again.

Scroll through my texts. Finally delete the bad ones. Delete the one from Lemon.

Then I see the texts from Josh.

Without thinking, I text him back.

Hey

I wait, staring at my lit-up phone in the dark under my covers.

In a few seconds I get,Hey, you…wow, it’s been a long time

Yeah,I text back.I kind of ran into some trouble and had to do another month.

Oh wow. Wow. That sucks. But you’re back in the world now.

Yeah.

How is it for you? It’s a trip, isn’t it?

That’s one way to put it.

I pause.

Can I talk to you? Like really talk to you?

Of course. U okay?

I had to leave my dad’s tonight. He was drinking. Not bad. I mean, he always has. But I didn’t feel cool around it and he got kind of mad.

Shit. I’m sorry that happened to you. Sometimes people make it really hard. My parents have a lot of parties for my mom’s work and I just have to deal. Where are you now? Do you need me to come get you or something? I probably could.

It’s okay. I went back to my mom’s. I switch houses. It’s that kind of thing.

Oh right. It’s good you had a place to go, though.

Thanks for offering to come get me.

Of course. So do you maybe want to hang out sometime?

I stare at the phone, my heart beating very slowly, not quickly, like I thought it would.

I think so. My mom is keeping me close, but I’ll see.

I get it. That’s cool.

Do you miss Sonoran?

…I miss you. Our runs together. Chuck trying to run us to death. Our dance.

That was a good dance.

I kind of have to go now, Bella, but text me tomorrow?

---