“Really?” My eyebrows narrow. “It was that bad?”
She sighs. “I don’t know what happened in that audition room, but whatever Zayne did to Carlton was pretty messed up. In fact, he’s been a jerk to him since they were really young. I’ve watched them fight, like, our entire lives.”
My frown deepens. I feel a surge of protectiveness shoot through me for Carlton. Who does Zayne think he is, anyway? What gives him the right to think he can treat Carlton so badly?
“We should probably get back,” says Mabel. “I want to ask Rue about the chem test before the bell rings.”
I nod. “Okay.”
We exit the bathroom and walk back down the hall. I clutch my backpack as someone passes me too closely, knocking it off my shoulder, and then someone else bumps into me, sending the papers they’re carrying flying across the floor. I squat down to help retrieve them. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” a deep voice says, and I look up into large brown eyes on a handsome face I recognize from yesterday.
Zayne Silverman.
His short dreads are in a bun today, revealing his undercut. He sighs deeply as he picks up his scattered papers.
The anger I experienced in the bathroom returns full force. “You.” I snatch one of his papers off the ground and stand, crossing my arms. “You should watch where you’re going.”
“Dot,” Mabel says, sounding torn between shocked and amused.
“I know,” Zayne admits, standing up as well. He brushes off his jeans and glances up at me with a faint smile. “My bad.”
I purse my lips. I didn’t expect him to agree, so now I have no reason to keep being rude. Other than because he messed with Carlton’s script. But there isn’t enough time for the things I want to say to him, so I shoulder past him and keep walking.
“Uh, Dot?” he calls from behind me. “Can I have my math homework, please?”
Without turning around, I toss the paper I’m still holding over my shoulder. Mabel catches up with me. “Ouch, Dot. I didn’t realize you could be so harsh.” But she’s smiling as she says it, like it’s a compliment.
Good job, Dot. This may be your first time at school, but you’re doing okay so far.Her approval lifts my spirits so much, I add, “If he doesn’t leave Carlton alone, what you just saw will seem like nothing by comparison.” I have no idea what I’m going to do to him, but she doesn’t need to know that.
All I can hope for is that Zayne minds his own business so I can continue to win over Carlton and his friends.
“How was school, honey?” Dad says across the dinner table.
I spear a piece of overcooked, instant lasagna with my fork before answering. “Fine.” I don’t mention Carlton’s recent badmood or the reason behind it. Orperson, rather. Dad is of the firm belief that a mature individual should never take their frustrations out on those they care about. If I tell him Carlton got mad at me today, he’ll probably overreact.
“Find out if you got a decent part in that play yet?”
“No. I only auditioned in the first place to fit in, remember?”
“There’s nothing wrong with liking different things as your friends, Bardot,” he tells me, “A real friend wouldn’t care if you fit in or not.”
Beau wipes his mouth. “Can I be excused?”
“Only if you promise to run a comb through that hair before bed,” he says. Dad is good at many things, but our hair isn’t one of them. It’s why he keeps his own short and low-maintenance. Lucky for all of us, Mom taught me well enough to handle the thick curls Beau and I were gifted.
Beau pushes his chair in and goes to his room. Dad lowers his voice and asks me, “How do you think he’s doing?”
“Probably fine.” I shrug one shoulder. “His grades are up, and he hasn’t been having anymore nightmares lately. But you already know that.”
Dad looks lost in thought. “And what about your mom? How was the phone call?” His eyes are far away, and I realize, with a start, that the stubble on his face is starting to look more gray than black. It’s only been four months since we’ve begun operating without Mom, but it feels like it’s been much longer. Especially when I look at my dad.
“She says she’s doing well.” I try not to wince. “Sorry you missed the call again.”
“Nothing to be done about it. I had work.”
Beau walks back into the kitchen, silencing us. He holds my cell phone out to me. “Carlton called.”
