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“And, what?”

“Well…”

“Mom”

“Well…we got to talking, and she said she was hoping to have a few people help her plan the big reunion, and I guess I kind of…sort of…maybe told her you’d be able to help a little”

I can’t even speak, ht

“It’s a good thing, honey! Think of all the friends you’ll get to see I really wish I’d gone to my reunions They’re a milestone—”

“You’re joking, right?” I toss back I know it’s rude not to let her finish, but the beating of et out of this soon, it’ll give up the fight, I know it

“Mo”

“Ava—”

“High school for you was very different froh school for me, Mom You know that”

I wait for her to plead her case or apologize or soives me is the raspy exhale of air

“Rose Lucie, I know you’re still there I can hear your heavy breathing on the phone”

“I don’t breathe that loud,” she retorts through a sniffle, and I groan God Why does she always have to cry when I get up the nerve to tell even an ounce of the truth?

I try to gentle s she should already reh school experience wasn’t all sunshine and freaking pom-poms, Mom Callie Camden was an absolute wench to me I already keep in contact with the people I want to keep in contact with I don’t need to see anyone else”

She sniffles again, and I close ainst my forehead

“It’s just such a shah school You girls used to be so close when you were young”

“We stopped being close because Callie stopped treating a bitch to everyone”

“Ava, language”

“Oh no, don’t try to avoid this conversation by pulling the language card on me, Mommy Dearest You just volunteered h school reunion”

“Ava!” My hter atit a little far, don’t you think?”