Almost Perfect - Brian Katcher [95]
“Yeah, but you know she’s going to assume the worst. Especially when she sees your face.”
My eye wasn’t black from Mr. Hendricks’s punch, but my cheek was discolored enough to make Mom ask questions. I had a strange center-of-the-brain headache, and I wondered if maybe I should have followed Ebony’s advice and seen a doctor.
I tried to smile. “I’ll think of something. And thanks for everything.”
Laura parked in front of the trailer. She kissed my cheek, causing me to wince, and drove off.
Mom’s car was still in the driveway, but she sometimes carpooled with another waitress. I was glad she wouldn’t be home. All I wanted to do was drink a gallon of water and sleep for twelve hours. Then I could face the world and decide what I could do for Sage.
Tammi must have told her parents what had really happened. After I got some sleep, I’d call the hospital and see if it was okay to visit.
But then what? If it hadn’t been for my ego, Sage wouldn’t even be there in the first place. I’d promised to always be there for her, and I wasn’t. I’d promised to be her friend and help her when she got scared, and I ran off. I’d promised Tammi that I’d look out for Sage and protect her. So where was I when that psycho was punching her teeth out?
I was so preoccupied that when I found Mom sitting in the living room, I almost said hello and headed to my room.
She had moved her easy chair to the middle of the floor and was staring daggers at me. For all I knew, she might have been sitting there since Laura had called the previous evening.
“Mom!”
“Where were you all night?” She was calm. Too calm.
“I was in Columbia. Didn’t Laura call you?”
Mom didn’t get up or uncross her arms. She just stared. I wanted to get a drink and sit down, but I was frozen. I stood there in the doorway, trying to think of something appropriate to say. My transsexual girlfriend got gay-bashed wasn’t it.
“Jack and I went for a drive.”
“You went for a drive.” Though Jack and I had covered many miles together over the years, Mom made this sound like an absurd story. It was like I’d told her I’d been kidnapped by clowns.
“Yeah …”
She cut me off. “So why didn’t you just drive home with Jack?”
In English class we read a story about this Eastern European guy who is tried, convicted, and executed, though he’s never charged with any crime. At that moment, I could relate.
“He met this girl in Columbia and went back to her place.” I tried to give a knowing laugh, but it came out as a nervous giggle. “You know, three’s a crowd.”
I could hear the clock ticking in the kitchen. After ten ticks, Mom spoke. “Laura said Jack had car trouble.”
A blunder, but I could salvage the lie. “Well, yeah, that’s what I told Laura.”
Mom crossed her legs. “Is that the truth?”
She knew I was probably lying, but I couldn’t back out now. “Yes.”
“That’s funny. Because I ran into Jack and his father at the gas station this morning. Jack said you got a strange phone call and just ran off. He wanted to know if you were okay.”
Stupid concerned friend. “Um.”
Mom didn’t speak. I was caught. No use digging myself in deeper.
“Okay, I wasn’t with Jack. A friend of mine had a personal crisis, and I had to go help her.”
“Was it Sage?” Mom’s anger dropped just a hair.
“Yes.”
“What was she doing in Columbia?”
How could I put this? “I can’t tell you. She’s having some real problems, and I had to go talk to her.”
Mom stood. “You’ve been acting funny since you two got back from Mizzou last week. Maybe I should call Sage’s parents and find out what’s going on.” She took a step toward the phone.
“DON’T.” Both Mom and I were stunned by the manly authority in my voice. Mom stopped walking.
“Sage is in trouble, but you have to trust me on this: talking to her parents would only make things worse. I don’t know if she’s going to be okay or not, but … it’s none of your business. I didn’t do anything wrong last night, I swear. I’m sorry I didn’t call, but I really didn’t have a chance.”
Mom stared