Conner again: I’m going to sleep now, so I’m sorry if I don’t reply. I fall asleep instantly, haha.
Me: Goodnight, Conner. Sweet dreams.
Conner: Goodnight, my Guinevere <3
Me: No.
Conner: Lol.
The last message isn’t as promising or inviting–not from a friend, but a company.
Orange Energy: Hi, a direct debit payment of $49.99 for electricity has been unsuccessful due to a lack of funds. We will reattempt payment in 8 days. If you wish to pay now, log into…
I grimace. Dad took my card and spent it on beer and groceries, so the fifty dollars I kept in there to pay our electricity bill were gone. Because of that, I likely have a bank fine.
While I glare at the screen, I drag my fingers through my hair. I need to get to a bank tomorrow afternoon and figure something out because I’m unsure what will happen if the payment doesn’t go through within eight days.
Why doesn’t Dad pay for any of the bills anymore? It’s like he doesn’t care. Or is it because he knows I pay for him, so he doesn’t have to?
I lift my leg and slap my foot against the wall. The coolness hits the sole of my foot, sending a chill across my skin on this humid and hot night. Closing my eyes, I then try to sleep.
25
DECLINED
Untraveled Road [Thousand Foot Krutch]
Work startsat six in the evening. There’s time to go to the bank, but I don’t want to ask Conner to take me into Central. However, the daily reminder that Dad no longer brings his police car home weighs on my mind.
Instead, he uses Mum’s car, leaving me without a car to drive. He doesn’t take his police car home anymore because—I’m assuming—he doesn’t want to total it and then explain what happened afterward.
The bell rings, ending the school day. Samantha and Dylan wave goodbye and head towards the bus stop, while I go to the car park with Andy. Conner leans against the car, and as Andy notices him, he grunts and approaches his car. He’s been acting weird all day.
Conner hung out with me during lunch, and while Wylan and Andy smoked behind the trees, Samantha and Dylan chilled with us.
“Hey,” Conner says as I grow closer. “What’s up with Andy? He’s giving me the stink eye.”
I shrug as I step into the car. “Why don’t you ask him?”
“Maybe…” He closes the door, but the window is down as he leans against it. Conner watches Andy cautiously before he pushes off and says, “Stay here. I will be a moment.”
Andy notices and steps out of his car, leaving the door open. I lean out the window and watch Conner saunter towards Andy with his hands in his pockets. I wish I could read what they’re saying. Then, I go stiff when Andy looks at me, then back at Conner as his hand grips the door tightly, and he trembles. Yet Conner seems calm. However, I’ve seen him in the art room, triggering Andy, even though Conner’s form is composed, and he isn’t talking harshly. It seems to bother Andy more than if Conner were yelling at him.
After their conversation, Andy jumps into his car, and Conner steps aside and lets Andy drive away. When he returns to his car, I ask, “What was that about?”
As Conner closes his door, he says, “I asked him if he doesn’t like me because he has a crush on you and thinks of me as a rival.” Conner smirks. “He denied it…obviously.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Noya,” Conner says, pushing the start button on his car, “tomorrow afternoon, he’s going to confess his feelings for you.”
“Sorry?”
“Can you do me a favour?” he says. “When he asks, can you tell him you will think about it?”
I shake my head in bewilderment. “Why?” My hands tighten on my pants, and I stare at the floor. Doesn’t…doesn’t Conner like me anymore?
“Because you’re going to be in his car…and alone. Andy is the type who doesn’t seem to take rejection lightly. It would be better if you rejected him at school, and if he reacts, Sammy or I can be there. Even Dylan can interject if Andy grows too violent.” Conner frowns as he says, “Andy is a violent person. Hecontinuously fights and argues with anyone and everyone. From what I know, getting rejected by a girl he has liked since year seven…I doubt he’d take it well.”