Remind Me

Chapter Thirty

"I don't know if you should go alone, Brinley," my mom says with a sigh. "You don't know who could be at the hospital."

"What?" I ask, appalled.

"I think it would be wiser if you just stayed here for a while," she says.

"Stay at home?" I ask, eyes widening. "What, why?"

"I would think you would agree, after what you just went through," my mom tells me.

"No. I don't," I stare at her.

"Well I'm sorry you don't," she shrugs. "But I'm your mother and I refuse to let you go."

"You're telling me I can't go to the hospital... Where my friend with a bullet launched into his stomach is waiting for me to spend time with him?" I ask bitterly.

"Yes, I am," she says sternly. "And for the record, the bullet is not launched in his stomach anymore."

"Mom," I say with a frustrated breath. "What, you think some man's going to grab me from the hospital and drive me away in his scary black van?"

"Brinley," she gasps. "That is nothing to joke about."

I roll my eyes, crossing my arms.

"And besides, that is exactly what Jonathan did, isn't it?" My mom yells back at me.

"Don't talk to me about him," I hiss at her.

"You were the one that brought it up," she says, pursing her lips. "I don't like the idea of you running around town with no supervision. It's dangerous."

"No supervision?" I let out an indignant scoff. "Clarin is driving me to the hospital where Owen is meeting me. You think I'll be just frolicking around the town alone? No!"

"Well," she says, folding her arms, "Owen isn't that much of a protection is he? He didn't do good enough last time, did he?"

I stare at her in shock. How could she say that? How could- I can't even believe-

"No wonder I jumped out of that car a month ago," I spit out, "It probably wasn't because of Owen, it was because I wanted to get away from an insufferable old hag like you."

And with that, I storm out the door, slamming it as hard as I possibly can. Anywhere in the world is where I'd rather be than at home. Not only does she think she can blame Owen for what happened, she thinks she can just baby me around? Not everything is going to get me killed.

I kick the grass, annoyed. And with the thing about Owen, if she thinks that he can't protect me, why did she leave me with him for an entire week? What in her mind was a great idea about that? I bet she only put the blame on him because she knows it's really her fault.

I look up and realize I'm already two streets over, by the park. I decide to walk down the trail and head towards the grassy hills by the pond.

What would Owen do if he found out that my mom places every event in the last week on his shoulders? Would he ever want to come over again? I don't even know if I want to go back there again. Maybe I can permanently move in with Joey and Owen. I doubt they would mind.

On my way down a new pathway towards a shaded tree area, I hear someone calling my name.

"Brinley?"

I look up and around, trying to find the source. Owen sits under a large tree by the pond, looking at me in surprise.

"What's going on?" He asks, sitting up straighter.

"Nothing," I say quickly.

"Really?" He raises an eyebrow. "You look pissed."

"Because I am," I furrow my eyebrows with the thought of my mother's words coming back to me.