This is turning out to be the best day ever.
“Can I ask you a question?” Poe jumps in but before I can answer either way, she continues, “Why would Principal Carlisle send her own ward to St. Mary’s? I mean, she could very easily discipline you back at home, right?”
Well, I guess I spoke too quickly.
All my earlier lightness evaporates as Poe and Callie and Wyn look at me with curious gazes.
It’s a genuine question.
Very, very genuine.
So I don’t blame them for asking me that. In fact, I’m surprised it hasn’t come up before. But then, these girls are the only ones who have talked to me at St. Mary’s.
It’s just that I’m a little conscious about my crime.
A lot conscious, okay?
It’s not as if I do what I did everyday. But I had to do it.
Ihadto.
“Because I stole some money from Leah – Uh, Principal Carlisle – and sort of ran away,” I say. “Or at least, I tried to. Before they caught me.”
The cops.
I was at the bus station, ready to board and get out of this town once and for all when they caught up to me and brought me back.
I mean, I still don’t understand how it all happened.
I was so careful while getting out of the house. It wasn’t the first time I was sneaking out in the middle of the night anyway. I’m an expert, for God’s sake. But somehow, Leah woke up and when she found me missing, along with my sunshine-yellow bike and one hundred and sixty-seven dollars from her wallet, she called the cops.
And since she’d had enough of my bad girl ways and she didn’t want me to ruin my life any further, she sent me here.
To become good.
“I’ve been doing you and your mother a disservice. I should’ve been more strict with you and sent you here sooner. If I had, then none of this would be happening. So you’re going to St. Mary’s.”
That’s what Leah told me.
I could’ve refused. I’m eighteen now; turned eighteen a few weeks ago.
I could’ve just walked out but I didn’t have any money. Whatever money I had, I used that to buy the bus ticket and the rest, Leah confiscated.
So here I am.
“But I was going to return the money,” I continue. “I was going to get out of town and get a job and once I had enough savings, I was going to give the money back to her.”
Which is all true.
I actually have a part-time job, or had one. At a restaurant in town where I worked as a waitress. But I’d just blown my savings and I really needed the cash. And I really,reallyneeded to run away.
“Why were you running away?” Poe asks, her eyes wide.
Damn it.
I never should’ve let out that information. That I was running away.
My heart swells and pounds inside my rib cage.
