Page 17 of Between Never and Forever
“Get to class, Levi,” I hear Officer Denton say. He puts one of his big, meaty hands on my shoulder and gives me a pat. “Don’t you concern yourself with her.”
I nod absently, but I don’t speak. I can’t take my eyes off Savannah’s rapidly retreating back. I didn’t notice it at first because I was so excited to see her, but Sav’s hair has been cut. It used to be really long, touching just above her waist, and now it’s at her shoulders. It’s brushed and pulled back in some sort of shiny clip thing. Sav’s hair is never brushed. It’s always wild and tangled and falling into her face.
When my attention moves to her outfit, my jaw literally drops.
She’s wearing a dress.
Sav never wears dresses. She always wears ratty t-shirts and the same pair of ratty jeans. I turn to Officer Denton.
“Where did you put her? Where is she staying? Why is she dressed like that?”
My voice is thick with confusion, and when he looks down at me, his smile makes me want to grimace.
“She’s staying with Mr. and Mrs. Oglesby.”
My head jerks back. I know them from church. They’re older than my mom and dad but they don’t have kids. They’re not very friendly toward me, but they always make sure to talk to my parents after Sunday service.
I can’t see Savannah living with them. No way she likes it there. I mean, they put her in a dress and brushed her hair. She’s got to be miserable.
“Why them?”
“They’re going to be her foster parents,” he tells me absently, then pats my shoulder again. “This is only temporary. Go to class, and don’t concern yourself with Savannah Shaw.”
I nod and tell him thank you, then go back to my lunch table and gather my things. My brain is in a fog, and all I want to do is talk to Sav. All I want are some answers.
Why is it only temporary? Why did she have to cut her hair and wear a dress? Since when are the Oglesbys foster parents? They’ve never had a foster kid. And what about Sav’s mom? What about her mom’s boyfriend? What about how Sav bashed him over the head with the liquor bottle? Does this mean they aren’t pressing charges? Does this mean her mom doesn’t want her anymore?
I’m not sure what I thought would happen, but it sure wasn’t a haircut and a dress and the Oglesbys.
I throw my trash away and then walk quickly to my next class.
I have to talk to her. I need to make sure she’s okay.
* * *
Sav ignores me.
She won’t speak to me except to tell me to leave her alone or to threaten my life. I stopped trying to approach her after the first week because I didn’t want to get my nose broken, but I’ve been watching her.
She looks sadder than usual. She keeps wearing dresses, and putting her hair in shiny clips, and she doesn’t talk to anyone. She doesn’t ride the bus anymore, either. I saw Mr. Oglesby dropping her off one morning, even though their house is on our bus route. I wait another whole week for her to cool down, but when she still refuses to glance in my direction, I’ve had enough.
I’m in band practice when she’s in gym, and through the window, I can see her outside running the track with her class. That’s what does me in, the sight of Savannah actually dressed and participating in gym. Hair clips and dresses and now gym?
It’s all just too weird.
I shoot my hand up.
“Mr. Parker, can I go to the bathroom, please?”
He gives me a nod from his place behind the piano. “Take the pass.”
I stand, drop my trumpet on my chair, and book it out of the room, down the hall, and out the double doors that lead to the track.
The moment I see her, I run to meet her and keep pace at her side.
“Go away, Levi,” she pants without looking at me.
“No,” I say back, my voice less wobbly than hers because I haven’t been running for most of the class period. “I want to know why you’re ignoring me, Savannah. This is stupid.”
