"You were in Miami.TheOrder specified where you live, your school, but Robin claims hehad no idea you'd be in Miami, and we can't proveotherwise—"
"But of course he did!Hesaidhe knew!Dad is the one who told him…" And then I understand.My father hasno intention of testifying on my behalf.Of course, he's doneeverything in his power to help Robin from the beginning, so whywould I ever expect anything less from him?
Robin is going to get awaywith violating his restraining order.
My mother finally noticesmy horrified expression."Look, honey, if they believe the assaulthappened, then that's a violation in of itself.We were just hopingthat him being there at all…" she trails off.
I know all this.We werehoping that would be the slam dunk.The point that would prove therest.That I was the one telling the truth.That I didn't come onto Robin and then fly off the handle and start fighting with him.But now we have to prove the assault to prove theviolation.
I push back my chair andstand up.
"Rory—"
"I'm fine, Mom."I'm not.I'm sweating profusely and I can barely control my breathing.But Ineed to get the hell out of here.I don't want to think about thisright now.I can't."I'm just gonna go take a shower," I tell her,and then flee upstairs.
I take a pill.I haven'ttaken one in a while and it feels like defeat.But it's happening.I know it is.This is the beginning of the Forbes' strategy—ofRobin getting away with it.
I sit down on my bed andpull the shirt from my bag.I hold the cotton to my nose and inhaledeeply.I won't think about Robin now.I'll think about tomorrow.Because tomorrow is Senior Monday, and it's the day I'm getting Samback.For good this time.
****
Iget to school early, nervous as all hell.I'm one of thefirst people waiting outside room 313, lightly sweating in myzip-up hoodie.Carl arrives before Sam, decked out in Tucker'svarsity football tee shirt, which she's tied stylishly at herwaist.She smirks at me when she asks what made me run off so earlySaturday night, openly suspicious of my leaving with Sam.She hasno idea what really went down and I'm in no mood to tellher.
It isn't long before sheasks if I'm alright, obviously catching on to my jittery state, butI blow her off.Because it's that moment that Sam rounds thecorner, and he pauses when his eyes meet mine.We didn't say we'dtalk about us first thing in the morning, but it's obviously on theforefront of both of our minds.
"Hello?" Carl elbows me to get myattention before she follows my gaze, and her smirkreturns.
"I need to talk to him," Itell her.There are only a few minutes left before class, and mostof our classmates have already filed into theirhomerooms.
Carl smirks again."Don'tblow it," she sings teasingly.
Yeah.
Okay, nervous has shiftedto terrified.I don't know what made me so ballsy yesterday.Why Ifelt so confident that I could put myself out on a limb like this.I should have just waited to talk to him.To see how he feels.Istill could, of course.I could chicken out.
But I don't want to bethat girl.Not anymore.
Sam approaches me with asoft smile.He doesn't have any books with him.Finals are over andtomorrow will be our last day.Today the seniors have a longassembly where they'll give out all sorts of awards and makespeeches, and all I have to do is hand in a term paper forGovernment.Well, that and get my life back.
"Hey, you," Sam's deepvoice rumbles when he reaches me.
I can't help my own smile."Hey."
"Any trouble with your momon Sunday?"he asks, though he must know he snuck out just fine.Iwonder if he has experience sneaking out of girls' bedrooms, butshake off the thought.
"No, but… I did end uptelling her," I admit.
Sam's eyebrowsraise.
"I don't like keepingsecrets from her after… you know, everything," I shrug."She wasn'tmad," I assure him."She understood."
I half expect him to beannoyed with me, but he seems rather pleased."So your mom was justfine with me sleeping with you in your bed?"
I shrug again.
"That is good toknow."
I laugh.Itisgood to know."So—"
