Adopted

Chapter 8: Suspension

I stood on the sidewalk, waiting for a taxi, hoping to avoid any encounters with potential serial killers disguised as drivers. Suddenly, a black Toyota screeched to a halt beside me, and a guy with a questionable mustache and even worse taste in sunglasses leaned out the window.

"Hey there, beautiful," he said, cigarette dangling from his lips as he attempted a suave wink.

I raised an eyebrow, trying not to laugh at his failed attempt at flirtation. "Uh, what's up?" I replied, eyeing him warily.

He leaned over to open the passenger door, gesturing for me to get in with all the charm of a used car salesman. "Wanna go for a ride, darling?" he asked, his mustache twitching with excitement.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes so hard they'd get stuck in the back of my head. "Oh, sure, I've always wanted to cruise around town in a sketchy-looking car with a guy who reeks of desperation," I deadpanned, taking a step back.

He chuckled, clearly not getting the hint. "Come on, don't be shy. You won't regret it," he insisted, flashing a toothy grin that did nothing to reassure me.

I shook my head, trying to suppress a giggle. "Yeah, no thanks. I'd rather walk barefoot over hot coals," I replied, making a mental note to avoid black Toyotas with questionable drivers in the future.

With a frustrated huff, he revved the engine and sped off, leaving a cloud of exhaust fumes in his wake. Dodged that bullet, I thought to myself, shaking my head in disbelief.

Finally, a real taxi pulled up, and the driver shot me an annoyed look as I climbed into the back seat. "You took your sweet time," he grumbled, rubbing his temples like I had single-handedly caused all the traffic in the city.

I rolled my eyes, unimpressed by his attitude. "Hey, blame the universe for its impeccable timing, not me," I shot back, settling in for what promised to be the mo a little victory dance on the sidewalk.

The driver rolled down his window and shot me a glare that could curdle milk. "Don't let the door hit you on the way out," he muttered, clearly eager to be rid of me.

I grinned, feeling victorious. "Don't worry, I'll try to contain my overwhelming charm," I quipped, tossing him some money and skipping away before he could come up with a snarky comeback.

I rang the doorbell, ready to face whatever punishment awaited me at home. Little did I know, the real chaos was just getting started.

***

I rang the doorbell, bracing myself for the impending storm. Aunt Manny swung open the door, her expression a mix of irritation and concern.

"Young lady, you are grounded!" she bellowed, her voice echoing through the hallway.

"Grounded? For what?" I protested, already on the defensive.

"For escaping school and for fighting with your teacher!" she exclaimed, grabbing my arm and pulling me inside.

I rolled my eyes, already tired of this conversation. "Oh no, you are not going to ruin my one week of suspension," I muttered under my breath.

Aunt Manny's face turned a shade of red that matched the fiery rage in her eyes. "One week of what?" she demanded, her voice rising with each word.

Uh-oh, busted. I gulped, realizing I'd let slip more than I intended. "Uh, nothing! Just one week of... uh, enjoying the lovely weather!" I stammered, trying to backtrack.

But Aunt Manny wasn't buying it. "You even got yourself suspended!" she accused, her voice laced with disappointment.

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Hey, it's not like I planned it. These things just happen," I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

Aunt Manny's eyes welled up with tears, catching me off guard. "You think Margaret's death was easy for me?" she choked out, her voice trembling with emotion.

My heart sank as I realized the depth of her pain. "I promised her to take care of you as my own child," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper.

I felt a pang of guilt wash over me, realizing how selfish I'd been. "I... I didn't mean..." I began, at a loss for words.

But Aunt Manny held up a hand, cutting me off. "Go to your room," she said softly, her voice weary with resignation.

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I'm sorry, Aunt Manny," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

She didn't reply, but her eyes softened with understanding as I turned and trudged up the stairs to my room. As I closed the door behind me, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd let her down once again.