Page 107 of A Forgotten Mistake

“Absolutely not. I was just told that you cheated. In what world do you think I’d let you go out?”

“I proved that I hadn’t,” I say. “Do you want me to redo the test in front of you?”

“Don’t talk back to me. Room. Now.”

I clench my jaw as I head up to my room. Lisa will be leaving here shortly and once she’s gone, Dale won’t even notice if I’ve left. So I simply wait for her to leave before I slip out the window and head out to the street.

“Where are you going?” Abby asks from where she’s leaning against a tree. “Are you going to do it tonight?”

“I’m going to watch him,” I say, which seems to ignite her anger.

“You’ve watched him enough. How much fucking longer do you need to watch him for? Are you going to make a career of it?”

“Might.”

She punches me in the shoulder, but it just seems to hurt her hand more than it hurts me. “Why did that hurt? Dammit.”

“You’re supposed to punch people where it hurts them, not you,” I say, and when she tries punching me in the face, I grab her arms and pin them down. “Would patience murder you? You have a few days before you go back to him.”

“You’re going to chicken out.”

“I’m not.”

“You are!”

A car pulls up and the window rolls down to reveal one of Abby’s friends, a girl I don’t remember the name of.

“Why are we picking you up out here?” she asks. “Your foster parents being assholes again?”

“Very much. Hey, Anthony,” Abby says as she waves to the guy driving the car.

“Hey,” he says. “Who’s this?”

“This is Liam. Can we give him a ride?”

“Sure. Where to?”

“No, that’s okay, I’m going to take the bus,” I say.

“Liam, come on, this will be quicker,” Abby insists, but I’m also aware that the moment I get in the car, there are people aware of my existence. They’re aware of where I’m going.

“Sure,” I say. “I was going to that comic book store off Marble Avenue.”

“Comic books? What are you, twelve?” her friend asks, which makes both girls laugh. I’m well aware she said it to try to impress Anthony, who I believe is her boyfriend from the way Abby has talked.

“You could come to the bar with us,” the friend suggests.

“Nah, that’s okay.”

“You’re going to die a virgin with that attitude,” Abby says.

“Sounds delightful,” I retort.

Abby laughs and pushes me into the back seat, climbing in after me. “We’re headed to a friend’s house, but when we’re done we’re going to Spades off Front Street. Meet us there.”

“Pretty sure I don’t have an ID to get in.”

“Tell him you’re my friend; the bouncer will let you in.”

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