Page 37 of The Rebel
I stormed back to the entrance, elbowing a girl and knocking her guitar—well, it was sticking out and in my way! Taking the path around the football field, my chest heaved with every step, my rage on the brink of bursting as I tried to reason with myself. Scott had accused me of being hot-headed and Gabby hadn’t denied it. And now they were having a secret rendezvous in the music room!
I found myself at the school gate, and though I should have gone to the art room, I was filled with such fury that my legs kept on walking down the street. What’s the worst thing that could happen for not turning up to Miss Creighton? Detention? I already had that! The wind swirled and the gray clouds overhead kept the temperature low, and after two blocks I wished I had a coat and a beanie and mittens. Stupid me for thinking I’d get a ride home with Gabby.
I surged ahead, hoping I’d beat the rain and snow showers, but I was mentally scrambled and not in a clear head space. All I could think about was Gabby in the throes of giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to Scott. So much for the community garden helping to ‘create a sustainable system’ and ‘increasingbiodiversity of plants.’ Likely Gabby’s interest in that was waning as quickly as our friendship.
With a head wind as I turned off the main street, I trudged on. It was bad enough Mom and Dad and Paris abandoning me, but Gabby? Did three years of friendship mean nothing? Where was the loyalty? With my rage rising, I figured I had two options, release all my anger by taking my sketchpad and drawing, or something more physical. Hitting tennis balls could be cathartic but it was too damp, whereas a ride down the sledding hill would be perfect.
I found Volley sleeping in front of the living room window. His eyes opened as I stroked his fur, but he immediately closed them again. The traitor! Even he wanted nothing to do with me.
I’d packed my ski pants and parka in my suitcase which was at the Sinclairs’ house, so I had to rummage in the back of my closet for last year’s gear, which was a little short for me now. I bundled up in a scarf and beanie and gloves and grabbed my sled from the garage. Sledding on my own didn’t faze me one bit—I just needed a shot of adrenaline, a thrill to take my mind off of the stuff that was plowing through it—namely, disloyal friends.
Mom had said I could use her car in an emergency. This was definitely an emergency—my mental health was at stake! Besides, I was only going across the bridge to River Valley, a few miles to Oak Brook Hill, Mom and Dad weren’t going to find out—and what if they did? They couldn’t ground me from Europe.
There were lots of younger kids on the small hill, so I made my way up to the top slope. I saw a few boys from school, but with my hair tucked under my black beanie and a scarf wrapped tight around my neck, I wouldn’t be instantly recognizable.
The rush from sledding down the hill was exhilarating, the wind robbing me of breath, the crisp air stinging my cheeks. The only thing missing was sharing it with someone. I should have invited Oliver. He loved sledding as much as I did, unlike Jadewho thought it was just for kids. I kept going, lugging my sled back up the hill as the temperature plummeted and snow flurries swirled, my concentration solely on the path of my sled.
I wanted to stay, but it got to the point where my fingers were freezing, even in gloves, and my nose was numb. I reluctantly packed up and headed to the car. I turned up the heat, rubbing my hands together to warm them, smiling as I remembered Jade’s heated seats, wishing I was in his truck now. But my smile evaporated when I saw I’d missed two calls from Dani. I’d forgotten to leave her a message, and now I was forced to lie. I texted that I was at my friend’s house and would be home later. Dani hadn’t said anything about a curfew, and anyway, she didn’t set my rules.
With the blood in my fingers restored, I drove home, and the reality of my situation surfaced. Gabby and I were on the brink of a breakup. There were no texts from her and she wasn’t picking me up for school—tomorrow looked as bleak as the weather.
Volley raced to me when I went inside, probably annoyed at me for being late with his food. I opened a can of his favorite chicken and tuna flavor, but he turned his nose up at it. Trying to entice him to the bowl, I knelt on the floor and called to him in my high pitched voice.
“Volley, Volls, come on, come on, it’s your favorite, come on.” I clicked my fingers, luring him over and sweeping him up, I clung to him tightly, my lower lip trembling.
“It’s just you and me Volley. Just you and me. No one needs us. I’m sorry for leaving you alone, ha, now I know how it feels. I won’t leave you again, I promise.” I rubbed my chin against his fur, catching my tears. “I love you, Voll—,”
The sharp knock at the back door sent Volley flying off me, his claws catching my chin in the process. I scrambled up ontomy feet, hastily wiping my tear-stained cheeks as I heard Jade’s voice calling, “Valencia? Hey Valencia, are you in there?”
Chapter 10
JADE
“Valencia’s not with you?” Mom asked, looking at her watch as I came into the kitchen.
“Is she supposed to be?” I asked, plonking my backpack on the floor by the high stool and heading for the fridge.
“No.” Mom shook her head. “I was just hoping she might be. She texted earlier that she was at her friend’s house,but...”She sighed in exasperation. “I just had a text from school that she didn’t show to her detention at the art room.”
“I haven’t seen her,” I said, frowning at the news. “Did she forget and go to her friend’s house?”
Mom’s head was still shaking. “I don’t know. She hasn’t replied to my text. And it appears she doesn’t answer her phone.”
I grimaced, feeling bad for her. Mom had put everything into welcoming Valencia and though she’d been with us for less than twenty four hours, so far Mom had been rewarded with nothing but grief. After staying in her room all night, apparently Valencia had rushed out this morning, declining the breakfast Mom had gone to the trouble of making. Pancakes were generally a weekend treat, so Ollie and I definitely benefitted from that.
“She was in a hurry to feed Volley and get a ride to school with her friend,” Mom said, like she was making an excuse for her. “But now I’m a little concerned. Valencia’s never been a...”
Mom didn’t finish, so I jumped in with what she was probably too afraid to say out loud, “...a rebel or a trouble maker?” I poured a cup of milk and gulped it down.
Mom sighed again. “Yeah. Should I be worried? Should I tell Kristin?” She answered herself before I could. “I think I’ll waittill she gets home and talk to her. Get her side of the story first. There might be a legitimate reason she couldn’t get to detention.”
“Hmmm.” I was mighty curious as to what that might be. Because Vice Principal Hayman wouldn’t stand for that behavior.
“Or what if she’s had an accident?”
“Pretty sure someone would have contacted you,” I said, and keen for Mom to quit worrying, I changed the topic. “Hey, I was talking to Lucy. We’re going snow tubing on Saturday, so could we do our Brit night after that? Are you okay with that?”
“Yes, of course,” Mom said enthusiastically. “Sounds great. You write a list and tell me what we need to get.”
