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You taught ree with ht me that we need to take risks and make our own choices And even if we screw up, that’s okay, too You taught me to live for myself instead of everyone else around me You showed me what it’s like to put myself out there, even if it’s scary, to openfor And otten to know each other these last couple weeks, but it’s how I feel It’s my truth
Her eyes closed, her last thought a wish before sleep—for another way out of this One in which justice was served, but her farandfather suddenly became the hero instead of the villain One in which Kaden wouldn’t discover the truth, and she could go on living her life as is One where Mr Oliver approved of her
She wished for a perfect world in which her faether But those wishes were merely dreams
MORE STRESS ADDED TO her life was not so Abby needed Of all the days to sleep in and be late, it had to be thisNever had she wanted to be out of the houseinto their house in the ht, she assumed it would be any minute now
She tried to ignore the sinking in the pit of her stoht she’d probably never share another ames of chess were over No ht barbecues Worse than having no new e the old ones were sullied So, she focused on the anger inside of her, preferring it to the pain
She bounded down the stairs, her dark hair hastily thrown back into a ponytail,a pair of jean shorts and a tank But the , she kneouldn’t be a nor
Her mother stood in front of the door, her hip cocked, arer Abby bit her lip and continued to the door in the hopes she’d somehow slip past and save the lecture for another day After all, as herlate for school Bigger issues to deal with
Her uffawed “No explanation for why you’re just now leaving for school?”
No such luck
Abby pivoted Knowing she was on thin ice already for refusing to explain the letter herher rooround for an argument
“I’ the sih
“I got a phone call from the school Apparently, you’ve missed quite a few days lately Days I wasn’t aware of, including yesterday I was also informed several of your teachers have expressed their concern over rades What in the world is going on?”
At Abby’s lack of response, her mother’s eyes hardened, and her spine turned to steel as the vein in her forehead pulsed with her anger “I want an answer A real one”
Why now? Why, of all days, did she have to deal with this now?
“I’m sorry I’ve had a hard tied her arrandfather appear at the end of the hallway He shuffled closer to them, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he caht reveal to her mother all she knew