I think.

Frowning, I dive back into my bag. Where the hell is my phone?

I need to call Amber to come pick me up. I look at my watch and grimace. She's probably already at school anyway. If she doesn't hear from me by seven-thirty, she always assumes I'm skipping out for the day. I hadn't done that in a couple of weeks, but whatever.

Man, if she thinks I'm playing hooky without her, she's going to be pissed. I can just imagine the texts I'll encounter when I find my phone. My lips curl into a pout.

Shoving my stuff back into my bag, I hitch it onto my shoulder and walk out the door.

I guess I'll just have to ask Mom for a ride.

Cringe-fest.

I descend the stairs towards the kitchen and stop at the landing. Like I do every morning, I look out the large, glass sliding door in the living room. The tall pine tree in our back yard stands there mocking me. When we first moved here, Dad forbade us to climb it. It was too tall and dangerous, but that never stopped us. I study its gnarled branches with a scowl.

Running my hand through my hair, I approach the kitchen with clipped steps.

"Mom, I need a ride to school."

"I don't know, honey, I just said that."

I stand at the entrance to the kitchen. Mom can't see me, she's too busy talking on the phone.

"Well how should I know? Do you keep track of her every movement?"

She slams her coffee mug down. Black liquid jumps over the edge and lands on the counter. She turns to grab a dishcloth as her voice gets louder.

"She's your daughter too, you know."

I cross my arms. So she's talking to Dad... about me. What is her problem anyway? So I'm going to be a little late for school, it's not like I stayed out partying all night. Had I? The ache in my head would suggest otherwise. I rub my forehead with a frown. Had I been drinking?

I wouldn't put it past me. When it came to my friends there wasn't a huge difference between school nights and weekends. If we were in the mood, we'd make it happen.

What had we made happen last night? I wish I could remember.

"Yeah," my mother sighs. "I'll call the school to make sure she's turned up."

She rinses out the cloth and places it over the tap to dry.

"Yep. Love you too," she clips, sounding anything but loving.

I walk into the kitchen.

"I'm going to school, just so you know. Thanks for thinking so highly of me, by the way." I cross my arms and stare at her back. "If you want me to get there on time, you'll need to give me a ride."

My mother ignores me as she gulps down the last of her coffee and gathers her things.

"The silent treatment? That's what you're going with today?" I take another step into the kitchen. "That's really mature, Mom, great form of punishment. You should start writing for a parenting magazine."

She glances around the kitchen, her gaze brushing over me as she checks to make sure she has everything.

I want to tell her I'm sorry for pissing her off. I want to admit I have no idea what I was doing last night and I'm sorry if I came in really late... again. But I seal my lips. I'm not overly keen on admitting I am clueless about what I was up to... and besides, after this immature silence, she doesn't deserve an apology.

I follow her to the door, wondering if I should even bother pleading for a ride. Images of her stuffy car and the stony silence are pretty hideous, but being late to school has consequences too.

"Look, Mom-"

The phone cuts me off. She opens the front door as she pulls it out and touches the screen.

"Jackie A., my favorite client." She gives a merry laugh that makes my stomach churn.

It's so unfair that her work contacts always get her sunshine, while her family are left with the sludge.

"Of course you're not bothering me. What do you need?"

"A ride to school," I mumble.

"No, that's not a problem. We can make that happen. When would work best for you?"

"Like right now." I raise my voice just a little. Since she's being such a cow, the least I can do is be the irritating teen she thinks I am.

"Well, I have the open home scheduled for two on Saturday, so we still have a little time up our sleeves. Why don't I make some calls and get back to you?" She pauses then laughs again. "Don't worry, you will be my number one priority today."

"Unlike me." I stand in her path. She looks away from me as she nods and hmms at Jackie A. I let out a disgusted huff. "Forget about the ride. I'd rather walk anyway." I turn on my heel and make a quick retreat down the stairs, yelling over my shoulder. "Don't forget to ring the school to make sure I'm not playing hooky."

I cross my arms as I start the long walk to school. It's just over eight miles. There's no way I can walk that far in these heels. Big Bear Village is only a mile or so away. I'll just have to catch a bus from there. Ugh!

I look at my watch and pick up the pace. This day has detention written all over it, unless I can sneak in the back. I glance behind me at the approaching car and notice Dale in the driver's seat. His radio is blasting while his fingers tap out a rhythm on the steering wheel. He is completely lost in his head banging music as he speeds past me.

I sigh. Even if he had noticed me, there was no way he was ever going to stop and offer me a ride. Not after what I'd done. I cringe for the gazillionth time as I remember that afternoon.

It had been a few weeks before school broke up for the summer. I was rummaging through my locker while I waited for my friends. He approached quietly, like he always does.

"Hey, Nicole."

I jumped a mile, having not heard him, but totally held it together. I remember tucking my bangs behind my ear and holding up my chin, hoping he hadn't noticed... not that I cared or anything.

He gave me that classic smirk of his. I don't know why I like it so much. His face is actually really mangled. No one knows what happened to him, the rumors are rife, but he has this really long scar that zig zags from just below his right eye down to his chin. When he smiles it pushes awkwardly out to the side. It's kinda weird how it’s not ugly - not that I'd admit that to my friends.

Anyway - he stood there smirking at me, not a mean smirk, but this cute little half smile, and handed me my iPod.

"You left this in English yesterday. My class goes in straight after yours. I tried to catch you after school, but you'd already left."

"Oh, thanks, Da... Darren?"

He shook his head and that smile reappeared. "Don't worry, no one's watching, you don't have to pretend to forget my name. We're practically neighbours, remember?"

I sighed and snatched the iPod from his hand. "Thank you, Dale. I was wondering where it was."

"Listen, I know it's kind of intrusive, but I checked out your play list. You have really great taste."

"You what?" I was mortified. This was my private stuff and he was scrolling through it and... he thought I had great taste. I had to squash my grin while I strove for indignation.

He totally ignored my power glare and pulled something out of his bag.

"I saw this at a second hand store a couple of weeks ago. I was gonna keep it, but I thought you might like it more."

I took the bag with a confused frown and pulled out a CD. My gasp must have been audible, because he totally laughed.