B007Q4JDEM EBOK (26 page)

“Okay, I'll
start getting’ ready as soon as we hang up
!” h
e laughed
again
.

“Sounds like a
plan
. I'll see you there.”

I quickly told Salem what had happened and where I was going. He offered to join me, obviously uncomfortable with me being alone with Jason
again
, but I insisted it wouldn't be safe – Jason could tell Paul. First, I made a quick stop at the high school and did exactly as I told Salem I would – I went to pull myself out of school completely, hoping I wouldn't regret it at some later date. For now, there was no point in me being enrolled in school. There were far greater things that I could devote my time to – like saving my hometown from the undead.

It felt like a long time had passed as I sat in the school parking lot contemplating what I was about to do. Was I making the right decision? Would I later regret it? I almost backed out before finally mustering up the courage and headed for the school doors.

It was odd being amongst the familiar surroundings of my school. I could plainly see my locker as I walked down the hall toward the principal's office. Memories ran through my
mind of
Jason, Karen and
I
laughing together while we walked down the halls
,
something
that I hoped I would
never
forget or miss too much. My pace slowed as I neared the office, my heart beginning to pound as I pushed the door open.

The office aid eyed me curiously,
and then
smiled warmly at my presence. I wasn't very familiar with the woman, but she appeared gentle and friendly. She wore her dirty blonde hair up in a messy bun, and a thin layer of makeup concealed her true self. I approached the desk and requested to speak with the principal.

“May I ask your name, please?” s
he said in a sweet, polite tone.

“Alexis Hobbs,
” I replied, tempted to say Waldron as I was growing used to the name.

“Are you over your flu, Ms. Hobbs?”

“What? Oh, yeah,
” I felt my cheeks grow warm. “Thanks for asking.”

The office aid smiled and dialed the number to the principal to check to see if he was preoccupied. “You
are welcome to go in, Ms. Hobbs,” s
he said after hanging up the phone.

I nodded and slowly crossed over to the beige door in the corner of the small lobby. My nerves were overwhelming and I nearly backed out again, but I knew this was something I
wanted
to do. I pushed open the door and found myself face-to-face with Principal Norbert.

“Excuse me, Ms. Hobbs,” h
e said bashfully and stepped back, “Caroline hadn't warned me that she
told
you
to come in
, I was about to come get you.”

“That's okay,
” I laughed uncomfortably and followed him into the room. He sat behind the desk and I sat on the opposite side in an uncomfortable
blue
chair.

“What might I help you with?”

“I came to drop out of school,
” I said a little too quietly, but he appeared to hear me clearly.

He leaned forward on his desk, clasping his fingers together and staring at me quizzically. “Are you positive that is something you want to do, Ms. Hobbs? You are already through 90 percent of public school, why stop so close to the end? You need your diploma. How will you afford a home without a diploma?”

“I already have a house.”

“You cannot expect to be given everything in life. This is more important than you might realize, Ms. Hobbs. Isn't there something you desire to do with your life after high school?”

I couldn't very well tell him the true reason why I was dropping out of school, but my mind was at a loss for excuses. “I can get an ordinary job at minimum wage if
I have to
.”

The principal scowled and shook his head. “You show so much promise in music class, from what Mr. Collins has mentioned in the teacher's lounge. You don't want to continue on to a music career?
There are
college courses on the science of music, you know?
”

I shrugged, “It's not that important to me,” I lied, “
It’s just
a hobby.”

He attempted to persuade me even more for the next fifteen minutes but I didn't have time to listen
anymore
.
By now
Jason was
probably
at my house waiting for me, and
was no doubt freezing, stuck outside in the cold
. I gave Principal Norbert my final decision and despite his ill attempts to convince me otherwise, my drop out was finalized.

As I drove to my house I was careful to avoid any ice on the roads, and watched my fellow drivers who were just as careful as I was. I had to come up with a reasonable excuse to offer the house to Jason, one that didn't include Salem. Would he believe me if I said I was living with Paul? I contemplated that possibility as I pulled into my driveway, finding Jason was already there waiting. There was a layer of slush covering the ground and sidewalk that led to the door.

“Hey Jason!” I yelled as I opened my car door. I was about to step out onto the slush when he hurried over, took my hand and helped me steadily through it. “Thanks,” I chuckled, “Can't afford to be slipping and breaking my skull.”

“Yeah, wouldn't want you
to end up in a cast like me
,” h
e laughed and my eyes fell upon the white bandage wrapped around his arm.

“Not bad enough to need a sling?” I inquired as I unlocked the front door.

“
Nope, thankfully
. Tho
se things look so uncomfortable,” h
e grumbled, “Not to say this is comfortable, and man does it itch.”

“
I
’m really sorry that happened, Jace
,
” I frowned and let him lead me into the house.

I switched on the dining room light and was still unimpressed by the place in comparison to Salem's amazing house. I tossed my keys onto the table and went to offer Jason a drink when I realized in horror how long ago I had bought food.
I also spotted the glass with the
dying
daffodils in it that Jason had given me; I hoped he wouldn’t notice them, but it was somewhat inevitable.

“Smells kind of funny in here,” h
e commented as I ran frantically to the fridge.

As soon as I opened it I gagged. All of the food I had purchased had spoiled.

“Wow...” I sighed. “Sorry you had to see, and smell, this.”

“It's okay,” h
e laughed. “How long has it been since you stayed here?”

“A while. I've been,” I paused, thinking it over, “I've been staying with Paul.”

“Really?
That’s nice of him to take you in like that and help you out while you’ve been sick and all. Wish I had an uncle that nice. My mom’s brothers are crazy!
Want me to help you clear that out?”

“
Are you sure you’
re okay to
help
, with your..
.” I pointed to his injured arm.

“Yeah, no problem, I st
ill have one good one, you know,” h
e smirked.

The next hour was spent disposing of the rotten food, cleaning the fridge, and leaving it open to air out. I ordered a pizza and pocketed the remaining money that Janet had left me. Jason was shocked when I told him what had caused her untimely death – although, it wasn't entirely true. My story involved her being bitten by the bear at the zoo, and
getting
a terrible infection from
it
that spread
quickly to her
heart – I hated lying to him, especially about something so serious, but overall I knew it was the best thing to do.

The pizza delivery man showed up just in time to interrupt any responses from Jason on
the story
behind
Janet's death. Jason and I sat in silence for a few minutes when I abruptly sat down my slice of pizza and looked up at him.

“How are things going
over
at Howard's?” I asked as casually as possible.

“Great. I
got a raise last week!” h
e exclaimed after swallowing his food.

“That's good news,
” I smiled. “There's something important I need to talk to you about.”

He looked slightly uncomfortable now, if not a little worried. “It's not about the other day
at the diner
, is it?”

“Not entirely, but
it’s got to do with something you told me while we were there
,
” I replied, tapping my fingers nervously on the table as I recalled that
afternoon
. “
How are your parents doing
?”

Jason stopped eating and sighed,
“The arguments are
getting’ even worse
, to the point that Mitchell and I wind up sleeping outside in my car to avoid the noise
some nights
.”

“That's horrible,
” I said, noticing the sadness in his eyes. “What would you say if I offered
you my house, for a very low rent
?”

His expression perked up slightly, “As a roommate?”

I la
ughed and shook my head,
“No,
though that
is a tempting idea. I think I’
m going to
just
stick with living with Paul for now...he gets lonely.”

“Oh. Then, just me?”

“You could b
ring Mitchell, too, if you like…or whoever else. Just as long as you keep it safe and clean.
”

“Wow,” h
e smiled really big, exposing his straight
, white
teeth. “That would be
awesome
, Alex! Are you sure you'd want to do that?”

“Yeah...there's nothing left for me here now, besid
es bad memories,
” I sighed, “I thought about selling it, but then decided to ask you first if you
’
d be interested
in it at all
.”

“I would b
e more than happy to take it!” h
e grinned again. “Imagine the parties...”

I shook my head, laughing, “I had a feeling you might say that.”

“How much were you thinking...for rent?”

“I really don't w
ant any of your money, actually,
” I said, shrugging. “All I want is to know it's taken care of, and I can come by whenever I need to.”

He blinked, “You are going to let me stay for free?”

“Yeah. You're my best friend,
Jason. I can't take your money,
” I smiled at him, “You'll have to pay the
rest of the
bills
though
of course,
and some land taxes once a year, but aside from that it’ll be free.”

“This is unbelievable, Alex!” h
e leapt from his chair and gave me a one-armed hug and an unexpected peck on the cheek. I was secretly glad it wasn't more than that. “When can I move in?”

“Any
time. If you want, I can take out the furniture and you can replace it with your own, or you can
just
keep it...or sell it. I
really
don't care.”

“Are you serious?” h
e gaped at me, examining the surroundings. “You can't imagine how grateful I am, Alex...and Mitchell will love it, too
!
”

“I'm glad. I just have one other condition...” I said suddenly.

“What is it? I'll do anything!”

“Don't tell Paul...he wouldn't understand.”

“Su
re, I won't say a word about it,” h
e grinned and hugged me again. “I'm going to go home and tell Mitch. Mom should be relieved to have us out of there, too. That way we aren't there to see and hear the
arguing and fighting
anymore.”

I smiled, grateful that he was happy and that I would no longer have the burden of tending to the place – not that I did a good job of that. “Tell Mitchell I said hi. Try not to spend too much time fighting over bedrooms.”

Jason laughed, “I’
ve
got
a feeli
ng it won't be too hard. Thanks
so much Alex!”

“You're welcome,
” I said, gave him a set of house keys and walked out with him. He took my hand and guided me to my car to protect me from the slush again and before long I was pulling out of the driveway and he was walking home, both of us
headed in different directions.