Page 64 of Eighteen (18)

“You were insinuating,” I say, standing my ground. Jesus Christ. I cannot cut a break.

“Well, you can’t have them at school, Shannon. If anyone sees these, you’ll be suspended. And I don’t need to remind you that you cannot afford a suspension if you want to graduate.”

“Well, I haven’t even been home since I got out of the ER. I stayed at Danny’s house. So I won’t bring them tomorrow, OK? God.”

He stares at me for a few moments and then his expression softens. “How are things going in science then?”

“Great,” I say. “I’m like more than halfway done with that stupid class. All the tests are open-book and you can do them at your own pace. I told you I didn’t need another science credit. It’s a waste of time and resources to make me—”

“Fine, fine. How is… Mr. Alesci?”

“OK, I guess.”

“I was told he had to leave town for work?”

“I have no idea. All I know is that I showed up on Monday and he didn’t.” I’m pissed about that and hell if I’m gonna cover for him when he didn’t even bother to tell me not to waste my time and money on the bus.

“It was work-related. There must’ve been a miscommunication. He called in that morning and said he was in Arizona for his graduate studies.”

“Noted,” I say.

“Are you going tonight?”

“I guess, if he’s going to be there.”

“He will.” And then Mr. Bowman gives me a long sideways glance. “Is everything OK with trig?”

I shrug.

“Has anything… inappropriate occurred?”

“What?” Fuck. Jesus fuck, fuck, fuck. He knows something.

“The janitor reported that he saw you get on his motorcycle on Friday evening. Did you?”

“Look, it was late and I didn’t have any money for the bus so Mateo—”

“Mateo?”

“—Mr. Alesci,” I say, ready to kick myself for that slip-up, “offered to give me a ride since I had to walk. And look, I’m not about to turn down a ride in the dark, OK? Sue me for wanting to get home in time to take care of my niece.”

He pauses at the mention of Olivia. “How is she?”

“Fine. I have to get back to class, Mr. Bowman. I’m not skipping school, I was sick.”

He smiles and I make my getaway. I am really on thin ice with him now, thanks to that ride last week. And that sucks. It sucks all the balls in the world because I don’t have any money for the bus today either.

“Danny?”

He’s sitting next to me on the wall today at lunch. He’s been acting a little big-brother all day. He even bought me a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch so I could wash down my pills and met me at the end of each class so he could walk me to my next one.

“Yeah, Daydreams. I can tell you want something, so just spit it out. You’ve been acting quiet all day.”

“Can you give me a ride to school tonight? I wouldn’t ask, but I don’t have money for the bus.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “Won’t you get in trouble from your boyfriend for that?”

I look around to see if anyone is paying attention, but thankfully, they are all involved in their own conversations. “Shhh,” I say. “Please.”