Page 61 of On the Bright Side
“Just after four,” she says, looking at her fitness-tracking watch.
“Can you send a text for me?”
“Sure.” She reaches for my phone, wincing at the cracked screen again. “I need to get this fixed for you so it’s not broken whenyou—when…” She’s stuck because we still don’t know how long I’ll be here.
“Um, to Ellie. She’s probably one of the last people I texted,” I say, knowing full well she is likelythelatest one. “Can you say something like, ‘Hey, I’m not going to be in school for a little while’?”
My mom types for a minute. “Okay, sent.” She stares at me, eyes welling up. “Maybe I can meet this Ellie soon.”
Chapter Thirty-one
Ellie
When I gethome from school, I get a text from Jackson saying he won’t be at school for a while. But he hasn’t acknowledged my response asking how he’s doing, so I’m left to spiral about where he might be. I hate that the last time I saw him was after that terrible football game.
As soon as I walk inside the house, I go straight to my room. Too many problems to worry about. Time to figure out how I’m going to find a roommate or money for rent.
At Brandview, Kayla and I were assigned to the same dorm since her original roommate left the year I started. We were pretty good together. We had none of the arguments that most roommates have. I’m not sure I’d call us close friends, especially since we haven’t been in touch since leaving. Well, I haven’t really been in touch with anyone because they were all better friends with Cody, apparently.
I should check in to see how Kayla’s doing.
ELLIE:
Heeeeeeey, long time no see! So weird we’re not in our dorm right now.
Kayla replies instantly with a link to video chat.
KAYLA:
I miss it so much!!! Are you around? Can we sign please?
This is going much better than I would’ve thought, which makes me sad I hadn’t thought to reach out to her sooner. I join the video from my laptop.
“Hi, hello!” Kayla signs, cheery despite our questionable internet connection threatening to lag the video and disrupt our signing. “Can you see me okay?”
“Yes, how are you?” I try to match her enthusiasm, but that’s always been difficult.
“Fine, you know.”
There’s clearly more to it than she’s willing to say, so I break the ice first. “Being back home sucks, seriously.”
Her hands explode again, ready to pile on. “It’s really not good! I’m still so sad about it.”
“I’m so sorry. But glad to know it’s not just me having a rough time.”
Kayla’s phone lights up on the table beside her, but she ignores it after a quick glance. “Have you seen anyone from Brandview since?”
“Funny you say that.” Cheese walks in front of me, waving his fluffy black tail and blocking the camera. I nudge him away but appreciate when he turns back around and curls up at my side. “Actually, I just saw Cody.”
Kayla makes a disappointed face. “I thought you broke up?”
“Yeah, we’re definitely broken up.” I hold my hands out. Totally done.
“Good; he was always a dick.”
“Wait, really?” I didn’t realize Kayla had such a strong opinion about Cody. She never made that known before.
She nods and takes a sip from her water glass. “He was always picking on me before you got to Brandview. Like the kind of cruelty people excuse because they say that teasing just means a boy likes you.”
