Letterman Jacket

19 / forty days before

My father barely spared me a glance as I entered his study and flopped down on the couch. "Dad, we're out of milk."

His fingers continued to rustle through his papers. "We can't have that now, can we?"

I scooted closer to his desk with my palm up and my lips pulled to a sheepish smile. "Grocery money please. We're also out of chocolates and bread. Oh, and apple juice."

He raised his eyes to look at me with incredulous surprise and lowered his glasses across the bridge of his nose. "Chocolates? What happened to that ridiculously large bag of chocolates your admirer gave you?

"Dad!" I swatted his arm. "We don't talk about that. I've finished them all."

"Ask him for more, then."

"Dad. I don't even know who he is. Or her. Even if I did, I wouldn't just ask. That's embarrassing."

"Then you need to get rid of that sweet tooth of yours," he told me with a fond smile, shaking his head as he fished out his wallet. "Buy some coffee packets too and tissue rolls."

"Got it!" I chirped happily, accepting the wad of cash he placed on my hand. "See you tonight. Mom said we're supposed to have salmon and Cajun rice for dinner."

My father waved his hand to whisk me away from his office. "Have fun at school, kiddo."

I gave him a peck on the cheek in goodbye and hurriedly stepped out of the office. Zipping open my backpack, I fished around for my wallet, and a flash of red caught my eye as I tucked the money away. My fingers gingerly brushed the softness of the scarf, and I found myself taking it out and wrapping it around my neck, wanting to keep my skin from being bitten by the harsh Northvale coldness. I slung my bag over my shoulder once again and left the house.

My phone rang inside my pocket. "Hey," I answered quietly, walking towards the car where Theo was waiting. "What's up?"

"Thea," Faust greeted. The uncertainty in his voice made me slow my steps. "I don't think I'll be able to come to school for a few days."

"What? Why? We were supposed to talk about that happened last Friday, Faust. You promised. You had family issues yesterday."

He let out a sigh. "I know I promised, but the circumstances aren't in my favor. We'll talk once I get back to school. I'm not feeling so well."

He didn't even sound sick. I pursed my lips. Theo opened the passenger window and gestured wildly for me to hurry. "Alright. Text me when you're free. Rest and get well."

"I'm sorry," Faust murmured, and I had trouble deciphering whether he was being genuine or not. "For what it's worth, I apologize for everything that happened in the game and the fight after it."

"I understand," I said, even though I didn't. "Take care."

"You too."

I put my phone in silent mode and placed it back inside my pocket as I entered the Audi, not missing Theo's raised eyebrow in a silent question of who I was talking to. Before he could open his mouth, I said, "It was Faust. He's sick so he's not going to school."

My brother clicked his tongue as he reversed the car onto the main road. "How convenient."

"Theo."

"What? The pep rally is all the school's been buzzing about since it happened," he explained, keeping his eyes trained in front of him. "People are probably wondering about you and your relationship with Faust—they were expecting him to say no because they knew he had a girlfriend."

I exhaled heavily and leaned back against the seat, brushing my thumb against my lower lip. "People are going to talk about Faust and his affairs whenever they get a chance. I can handle myself, no one's going to do anything to me."