“Angie, did you hear a word I just said?” Rae is trying to shove a book into her overstuffed locker.
“I did.”
“So you agree that leprechauns are cooler than unicorns?”
“Wait, what?”
“Ha. You were so not listening to me.”
“Okay. Fine. I was distracted. I had this weird dream last night, and it just won’t go away.”
“What about?”
I don’t want to tell her about it, not because she’d judge or make fun, but because I’m afraid that voicing it will make me sound pathetic. Plus Mel and Laney are right next to us. Granted, they’re discussing the Halloween party at Brad’s house, so they’re not really paying attention.
Rae shuts her locker door. “Out with it,” she says as we walk toward home ec, the only class we have together.
Sighing, I give in and recount my dream but leave out the identity of the warlock.
“Classic fear of abandonment,” she says, once I’m done talking. “Not that I’m a shrink or anything.”
She might not be a shrink, but she has a point… I do fear abandonment. More so now that I’m aware of my parents’ history.
After Mel and Laney vanish into their classroom, I tell Rae about Dad turning his back on us. She stares at me, brown eyes wide with shock. At some point, her hand wraps around my arm, as though she might keel over. Or maybe it’s to hold me up?
“Please don’t tell anyone,” I whisper.
“I would never, hon.”
I feel a teeny bit lighter after that. Hopefully, it’ll last.
We’re late for class, but Mrs. Rainlin doesn’t comment on it. Probably because she doesn’t even realize it. Our one-hundred-year-old teacher can’t hear anything.Okay, she’s not a hundred, but she’s half-deaf and seriously old—she taught Rae’s grandmother, a Reedwood alum.
Rae and I whisper back and forth during the entire class. About Dad at first, and then about Mona’s contest.
“I’m gonna have to forge Mom’s signature,” I tell her.
“She’s still saying no?”
I twist my arrow earring. “Yep.”
After the bell rings, Rae asks, “Want me to talk to her?”
I shake my head.
“How about I sign it for you so I get in trouble in case you—I mean,whenyou win?”
I shoot her a grateful smile. For her wording, and for having my back. “I don’t want to involve anyone else. But thanks, Rae.”
She latches on to my hand. “Always, hon.”
I’m not sure what I did to deserve such a good friend, but I must’ve done something right. I think of Nev then. I hope she finds her Rae. Everyone needs a Rae in their life.
“And in case you were wondering, I’ll never abandon you,” she says, squeezing my hand.
43
Leaving My Mark
