Page 14 of Pick Me Up On Tuesdays

"Okay," I replied, rubbing my temples, "let's pretend for a second that I do believe you're telling the truth. How do you plan on getting the money?"

Ethan's lips parted—then snapped shut.

Parted again—halted.

At last, he exhaled. "I'll. find a way."

I laughed. "That's not a plan, Ethan. That's merely you hoping the universe will magically deliver the solution."

Ethan crossed his arms. "Sometimes it does."

Then, as if this wasn't the most bizarre morning of my existence, Ethan simply walked out of the car into the middle of the road—

And waved down a school bus. Not Paramount High's.

I swear.

A public-school bus.

Like some kind of peasant.

The bus groaned out a tired whistle as it screeched to a halt, its driver already radiating that if-only-he-hadn't-been-born look.

Ethan smiled at me. "Get in. You're already late."

I glared. "And you?"

"I'll think of something."

I hesitated. Ethan could have just called his dad's phone and a new car would be brought in under five minutes, but he wasn't going to do that. No, instead, he was being suspiciously secretive.

Either way, I had more pressing things to think about.

I took a breath, walked into the bus, and walked towards an empty seat.

My phone beeped.

Joy: Clark what's up?

Me: Today so far has been a nightmare.

Joy: Good. Spill.

Shun: R u okay though?

Me: Physically? Yes. Emotionally? No. Oh, and Ethan's car is smashed.

Joy: YES. YES. THIS IS EVERYTHING I HOPED FOR. CONTINUE PLEASE.

Shun: …seems like we missed a lot of things.

When I got to Paramount High, everyone already knew.

The gossip had started before I'd even ventured into the main hallway. Teens clustered together, talking behind their hands, their eyes flicking to me as I passed. Some were subtle, some not, and a handful didn't even try to hide their smiles. My stomach formed knots all the way down the ten-miles hallway.

But that didn't matter. Not then.

For the first time in my entire life, I wasn't called to the principal's office to be praised. No certificate, no applause, no congratulatory handshake with awkward eye contact and a compulsory smile for the school newsletter. No, not today.

---