Page 22 of Searching for Beautiful
“It’ll get cold, Brynn,” Dad reminds me. His eyes dart toward Christian, glaring. Then they find me again and he’s looking at me the same way.
“Yeah…okay. ”
“Catch ya later, Bryntastic. ” Christian jumps down from the chair, heads back to his porch, and picks up his guitar again.
Dad stands there, waiting for me to go inside, which I do. He follows me. “Who is that?” he asks, his voice still tight. I turn to see him lean against the kitchen counter, still not looking like the easygoing dad I know.
“Christian, a guy from school. ”
“Well, I don’t know if I want you out there talking at night. I’ve never even met the kid. ”
“Huh?” I don’t have to finish my thought when it all comes slamming back into me. Jason. What Dad thinks. “Oh my God. Do you think I’m out to have sex with our neighbor now? I screwed up once and now you think I’m trying to get with every boy in sight?” My eyes sting, but it’s nothing compared to the pinch in my chest.
“What?” Dad has the nerve to sound surprised. “No, it’s not… I trust… It’s them. ”
“Yeah, obviously. ” It’s then I know I was right. He doesn’t believe me. He thinks I lied, that I knew about Jason all along. That’s probably why he let the case go so easily, why he’s even quieter with me. Why he struggles to look at me, and…and probably wishes he and Mom hadn’t chosen me. “I’m not hungry. ”
Author: Nyrae Dawn
“Brynn, wait. ” Dad’s voice cracks, but it’s too late.
Without another word, I walk out of the kitchen, up the stairs, and straight for my room.
And to think, ten minutes ago, I’d actually been laughing. I’d actually felt normal. Somehow, I’d forgotten how bad everything is.
But now, I remember.
Chapter Fifteen
Before
“You and your mom are going shopping today, right?” Diana asks when we pull up in front of my house.
“Yep. Sorry I couldn’t go with you guys, but you know how Mom is with dances. She wants to go with just her and me. ” Which honestly, I don’t mind. I mean, it would have been cool to go with Ellie and Diana, but I like spending time with her, too.
“It’s okay. You’re lucky she wants to go with you. My mom couldn’t care less. ” Ellie frowns.
“That’s not true. She’s just busy right now. You’re way too cool for anyone to not want to hang out with you all the time. ” I hug her, knowing how hard dealing with her parents is for her. They don’t spend time with her, or eat dinner with her every night like Mom and Dad do with me, or even Diana’s parents do with her. It’s like they have their own life and Ellie is just baggage.
Ellie squeeze me back. “Thanks, Brynn. You’re the best. I don’t know what I would do without you and D. ”
“Friends for life. ” D holds out her hand. I link a pinkie with her, and then Ellie does the same.
She’s always been super sentimental, though she only shows it with us. She’s also really tough, too. She makes herself hard so she doesn’t feel hung out to dry because of the way her parents pretty much ignore her, but Diana and I both know how important the people in her life are to her. She needs to know we’ll always be there.
“Always,” I say first.
“Always,” Diana adds.
Suddenly, Ellie looks toward the ground. “I have to tell you guys something, but you can’t say anything. Not that I don’t trust you, but I don’t want Kevin or Ian to know and tell Todd. ”
I put a hand on her shoulder. “I’d never tell Ian something you didn’t want me to. You know you can trust us. ”
Diana agrees with me.
After a few deep breaths, Ellie says, “I think I’m going to…you know, go all the way with Todd after the dance. I’m going to surprise him. It is a dance, after all. That’s what you’re supposed to do, right?” Ellie giggles.
“What?” My grip on her loosens and my eyes go wide.
