“I’m okay, Jillie. Thank you for asking. She doesn’t hit me anymore. She hasn’t since the first few times I hit her back and hurt her. My dad divorced her and left me with her. He pays for everything, giving gifts instead of love. Such a wonderful father. Such wonderful parents,” she says.
“You know you’re welcome to stay at Aunt Ruthie’s anytime. She’s got that open-door policy, remember?”
When I got to Shell Beach and met the girls, Aunt Ruthie told them they were welcome to come over or stay anytime they wanted or needed. I never really appreciated it until now, and I think now I know why that option was given. Aunt Ruthie must know what Audrey’s life is like, and she gave Audrey a safe place to go.
“I remember,” Audrey replies. “I’ll take you up on it if I need to. I promise.”
I nod. “I’m sorry for how she hurt you—Ellen, I mean.”
Her lips press into a thin line, so un-Audrey-like unless it’s directed at Ellen. “It’s just how she is. Since then, she has stabbed more people in the back than I can count. Don’t let her fool you if she tries to be nice. She’ll set you up and then kick your legs out from beneath you, taking you down hard and publicly.”
“I think I like Wisconsin better. There are no ‘Ellens’ in my life there.”
“That you know of. It could be different now,” Isla adds.
“That’s true.” In truth, it hasn’t been that long since I’ve been there, but it feels like a lifetime.
The bell rings and we all groan.
“Why does lunch always seem to go so fast?” I ask.
“The good times always do,” Isla replies.
Ellen walks by and I get that burning rage, the one I had on the first day of school when Leo got me so angry. I want to punch her in the face. Ugly it up a bit.
It’s then I notice Gianna. She’s ridiculously beautiful in a natural way. Very little makeup, just enough to enhance. She doesn’t look stuck-up like Ellen. She walks with her books pressed against her chest, her arms wrapped around them, as if she’s insecure or needs protecting.
I think I need to talk to Gianna. I need to tell her about Elan. I doubt she knows. He says she doesn’t. I wonder what reaction she’ll have when she finds out? Will money really matter? Will it matter that Elan is of Middle Eastern descent? If it does, she’s a fool, and she doesn’t look like one.
As much as it might pain me to do so, it’s time I talk to Gianna.
