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I pull out my phone to text Sev.
Harley: can you get me red-eye flight to Carbona? let’s do this tonight.
His response dings in as I reach my dorm to see a maintenance man replacing the door.
Seven: 12:30 p.m., confirmation in your email. See you soon, angel
I don’t respond, but I text Kenna to let her know she can come back to our room finally. I snap a picture of the new door as the workers start to pack up their tools.
Harley: guess what?! (image)
I go in and empty my books onto the bed, so I can pack in my school bag. My duffle is still in Adam’s room. I only need one or two changes of clothes. I left some essentials at Victoria’s that I can swing by and get.
I don’t let myself think about it. I just do what has to be done to get to the airport. My leafy green babies each get a drink of water with a sprinkle of plant food.
“I’ll miss you,” I tell them as I crack open the shades to give them more light.
They look so vibrant. My neon ivy has grown since I was here a few days ago. So much has changed in the last seventy-two hours, and hopefully, in the next, it will be back on track.
I have a future. I’ll finish my degree, and I’ll find a job, working with living things every day.
As I walk back out the door, I nearly collide with someone.
“Shit, sorry,” I say, looking up.
“Hey! We have a home again!” Kenna says at the same time. She’s smiling and admiring our new, generic brown door.
“Uh, yeah, good as new. No more sharing a toilet with four guys,” I say absently, typing on my phone. I’m letting Sal know I have caught a nasty bug I would hate to give to her and Marley if I saw her at the bar for my shift.
“Well, not for me. Are you and Adam going to stay there or here tonight?” she asks, pulling out her phone.
Sal responds with condolences, offering to bring crackers and Sprite over. I tell her not to bother because I have an awesome roommate taking care of me.
“Uh, what? No, I’m going home for the night. I’m flying out in a few hours, so I gotta catch the bus.”
I pocket my phone, my gaze meeting wide green eyes. Kenna is looking at me like I grew another limb.
“What?” I ask.
She hesitates, brushing her hair behind her ear. “Umm, why are you going home all of a sudden?”
I put on my thick black sunglasses, my foster sister’s hoodie in my arms for the flight.
“You went home last week. What’s it matter? I’m going to see my foster mom and sister,” I say, a fake smile spread on my lips. “If Adam asks, just tell him I’m sick.”
She reaches out to grab my elbow as I start to turn away. “Harley! You’re not going to tell him where you are? Why not?” Her mouth is open, face a little pale.
“Look, he’s…I think he’d be worried. I told him some stuff from my past that was…questionable. He wouldn’t understand that I just want to put it all behind me. I left some things open-ended with my foster family that I need to sort out. I just need to do this on my own, then I’ll come back and explain it all to him. He wouldn’t get it.” I smile again, glad she can’t see my eyes through the dark lenses. “Please just cover for me? Tell him I’m…vomiting and I can’t lift my head out of the toilet.”
I give her a quick hug.
“I…I really think you should just talk to him. He’s so sweet, and I bet he’d be more understanding than you think.” Her voice has risen an octave, her Southern twang more pronounced next to my ear.
I pull back, laughing. “I would, but I don’t have time before my flight. I’ll text him and say I just want to stay here tonight because I’m feeling a little icky. Save the vomit story for if he comes by with a medical kit and some nursing student to the rescue.”
I smile, patting her shoulder, even as my stomach muscles contract. I’m such a liar, and I hate myself for it.
She slowly nods, her face still pinched. I turn to walk away quickly, this time toward the danger and farther from safety.
