Page 85 of Broken By the Bad Boy

“Are you okay?” He sounds worried.

His question comes as a shock. I expected worse. I sigh softly. Now, I miss him more. I want my dad.

“Yeah, I guess.” I pull the cover over my head. He doesn’t say more, so I add, “Are you mad at me?”

“I don’t endorse that behavior, but I’m glad my baby stood up for yourself.” A grin springs to my lips, but it is gone with his next words. “Listen, Theresa. You and your mom can come over this weekend while we try to sort out everything with the house. I think it will be good for you. For us. Don’t worry about the house or the bills. We will stay in the hotel until everything is ready.”

To an extent, his voice calms me. The play is on Thursday and my suspension ends on Monday, exactly a week from the day I hit Olivia. If we leave this weekend, I’ll never have to step foot in Broadway Heights again. That fact frightens and excites me.

“I’ll think about it and let you know, okay? Thank you, Dad.”

Dad laughs. “I don’t know what the gratitude is for, but thank you too, Tessa.”

I am the one who has more reasons to be grateful. “Thank you for not getting mad at me and for reminding me how much you love me. For always being you. For always being on my side.”

“Of course I’m always on your side.” I smile through my tears. He understands how it works. When you love someone, you automatically take their side. But Ben isn’t on my side. “I have to go now.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Tessa. Don’t think about it. Two weeks will be gone before you know it.”

If only it were that easy. I murmur a reply, and the call ends with a click.

Forty-One

The video is gone.

I refresh the homepage of BGC. Nothing happens. It was there last night. I push the bathroom door open and enter. Splashing water on my face, I do the necessary and return to my room.

It’s odd sitting in my room on a school day. I think I miss school. I move to the window to sit, frowning at the lawn of the neighbor’s house. The streets are empty. As empty as my heart.

I miss Ben.

There’s no use trying to contact him. He won’t pick. One big fight, and he’s done with me.

My head slowly turns at the sound of a knock.

The door opens to reveal Mom. She is dressed. I look like I haven’t had a bath in days. “Hey. I was thinking we could go out. Do something fun.” To cheer me up, but I am not up for anything. She moves closer. I hug my knees to my chest and relax my back against the headrest. “What do you think?”

“I think I’ll just stay inside today. I have homework to catch up on.” There’s nothing to catch up on. I don’t have friends who would care to update me about school. Ben is the only one and well, he picked his side. Noah is another person I don’t want to talk to right now. Her hand drops to my knee as she plops down on the bed. “You can go. Have fun. I’ll be in here having fun, too.”

My voice is too flat. Mom sighs and takes a seat opposite me. “I don’t like your mood.”

Me neither. “It’s fine. The video is gone.”

“Oh, good. I spoke to your principal. Are you sure you will be okay by yourself?” Her concern is laughable. I’m fine. Maybe not exactly fine, but I can be by myself for a few hours. She kicks off her shoes and folds her legs under her. “Cheer up, okay? The week will be gone before you know it.”

And we will be on our way to New York.

“Mom. Can I tell you something?” Her arm brushes my leg. It’s a move that loosens the knots in my belly. “Do you remember the play?”

Her face pinches into a serious mask of concentration. “What play?”

“The Romeo and Juliet play, Mom. It’s this Thursday. The Dean of SAS is coming.” She cocks her head, still confused. I laugh a little and explain that it is an art school. “Benny applied to SAS.”

Mom’s face is blank. She doesn’t get it.

I chew the inside of my lips. “Benny is Romeo, and I’m Juliet.” If he won’t answer my calls or texts, he will have to talk to me on stage. “If there’s no Juliet for Romeo, the play won’t hold.”

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