The girl was downright stubborn.
She flattened her painted blue lips together. “Fine.”
“Good,” Mr. Everly said. “Both of you may go.”
They both rushed out as though the building were on fire.
A collective sigh bounced between Mr. Everly and my mom.
Then, as though nothing had happened, Train asked, “Are you two dating?”
Mr. Everly checked his watch. “We were going to have dinner.”
“Can I take a rain check?” Mom asked. “I would like to take Montana home.”
“Sure,” Mr. Everly said. “Train, let’s grab a bite.”
Train gave me a weak smile. “I want to talk to Montana first.”
“You’ll have plenty of time tomorrow,” Mom answered for me.
I wondered if she was reading my mind. I wanted some time to think. I’d been through a lot today. Hell, I’d been through more than my fair share of drama in the last seven weeks of school than I had all of last year. Sure, I’d gotten into trouble, but graffiti wasn’t drama. I’d kept mostly to myself, and no one had ever tried to accuse me of something I didn’t do.
Train pleaded with me, a puppy dog expression on his face.
I almost jumped into his arms, but my mom was nudging me. “Let’s go, honey. Lawrence, call me tomorrow?”
Mr. Everly escorted us to the door. I barely glimpsed at Train as Mom and I walked out and into the balmy October night.
Mom hooked her arm in mine. “You had me worried for a minute. And while I’m proud that you stuck to your promise to me, I am disappointed that you ventured down that alley. You could’ve gotten hurt. And I don’t care if you know them. People in this country die more by the hands of people they know. You need to make better decisions, Montana. Not only that, spraying Nina wasn’t the answer, either. Bullying someone who is bullying you isn’t how to deal with the situation.”
“But she needed to be taken down a notch,” I said.
“Montana”—her voice morphed into mom mode—“if Mr. Everly didn’t hear Nina scream, then what would’ve happened? Things could’ve gotten way out of control. And that is my point. You got lucky that no one was hurt badly and that paint and a few scrapes were the worst of it.”
“Mom, do you think that Mr. Everly will press charges against Nina and Ferris?”
“If I were in his shoes, I would.”
The tables had turned. Seeing Nina and Ferris going through a similar situation like I had at my last school when I’d gotten caught tagging made me realize how bad I’d really been.
