LACEY
You know what I WANT? I want everyone to stop asking me what my PROBLEM is.
I don’t’ have a problem. I have a lousy LIFE.
I wish everyone would just leave me ALONE.
Including best friends who THINK they know everything.
Because they don’t.
“Look, I can’t stay because I have plans.”
“Plans?” Victoria raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
“Yeah. I…Gel and I have a date,” I lied. “It’s pretty important too. Sorry. I’ll see you later.”
Victoria sat up and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Lacey, your family is important,” she said loudly. For a woman feeling so sick and faint, Victoria suddenly seemed to have plenty of energy.
I checked out the big white clock hanging above the doorway. “Oh, I’m late,” I said. “Enjoy dinner.” I whirled around and headed straight for the front door.
Freedom, I thought as I stepped outside.
It wasn’t until I’d made it a few blocks that I realized I had no place to go. Not only did Gel and I not have a date, but I knew that right now he was plastered in front of his big-screen TV, playing the new Air Raid video game with Rob.
Maybe I could show up at Kristen’s house. I mean, I never had a chance to find out if she’d left a message for me, but I was sure she had. In fact, right now she was probably worried that I hadn’t called her back yet.
Let her worry, I decided, kicking a rock down the sewer.