Torn Pages

twenty-seven| anne hathaway

*The Next Day*

"I still can't believe she'd even invite him, especially after what he'd done to her." I shook my head, while standing at my locker.

"But he's gone now...right?" Taya asked, closing her locker.

"Yeah," I nodded, furrowing my eyebrows and smiling a little. "He's gone. I made him leave."

"Good." she nodded, as I closed my locker.

"Guys!" a familiar voice called from behind me. "We've got a major issue."

I turned around to Nick, Landis, and Kaven, but Nick was the only pumped one out of the three.

"And what would that be?" Taya asked him, leaning against her locker, as we waited for the bell to ring.

"We go on the NYC trip tomorrow and I don't think any of us have turned in our money, or permission slips, yet." He blurted out.

With wide eyes, I hastily opened my locker, in search of my permission slip, before I spotted it in a corner, a little crushed up, but still in good shape. With a small chuckle, I pulled it from there and looked at it, taking note that everything was there...except for a parent signature.

I hadn't asked mom, yet.

Licking my lips, I dug into my back pocket and whipped out my phone, dialing mom's number at lightning speed and putting the phone to my ear, waiting, as the dial tone rang.

Pick up!

"Hello?"

Thank God.

"Mom!" I chuckled nervously. "Um...so, our school is doing an NYC trip. I can do the money portion, I just need your signature when I get home?"

"Of course, honey!" she exclaimed happily. "Is your brother going?"

"Yeah, I think so." I nodded, glancing at a stock-still Lia, with a confused look on her face.

"Oh, okay. Yeah, sure. And don't worry about the money, baby, I'll lend you some. How much?"

"Um..." I trailed nervously. "Okay, so the trip is $250, I believe. And for souvenirs and crap like that, it's nothing above $300."

"Oh," she said dejectedly. "Um...well, I'll ask...do you want me to ask Weston? I'm sure he'll lend some for his baby girl."

Did I want money from that scumbag? I mean, money's the same reason why he's out of the house now. We couldn't trust him. But then a thought hit me like a moving train:

The duffel bag.

Only Harlan and I new about that bag and we haven't even told mom, yet. That same night, we'd decided to hide the bag in Harlan's room, since he had a lot of hiding spaces in there. And he assured me that no-one would be able to find it.

"You know what, mom?" I called, right as the bell rang. "I've got it. That's fine. I can pay for myself, I've been saving."

"Oh, but are you sure?" she questioned, as a clattering was heard in the background.

"Positive." I told her, simultaneously putting my permission slip in my backpack. "Anyway, I love you and I'll talk to you later. I have to get to class."

"Alright, Pait. Love you, too. Bye!"

New York City, here I come.

***

"No, I haven't worn that skimpy thing, since spring break." I shook my head, scrunching my nose, while tossing a pair of flats into my bag.

"Okay, well then can I have it?" Taya asked, shrugging. "We've gotta look our best, Pait. We're going to New York!"