Away Read Online Free PDF Page B

here.”
    Yeah, because I’m picking up the other ten tables! I want to scream, but I keep quiet. Kendra is the queen of Lousdale Lounge and the bosses daughter. Anything goes when she’s giving the orders around here.
    Two hours later the customers are gone and everything’s back in order. I’m soaking wet from washing dishes so fast and my feet are killing me, but I’m happy. I made a lot of money tonight. Miraculously I manage to get out on time, but it’s right on the dot. I’m practically crawling to my car. Every single fiber in my muscles ache. All I want to do is fall into bed.
    The lights are all off when I pull in the driveway. Confused I go inside, turn on the lights and read the note pinned to the fridge.
     
     
    Peter and I are going out to dinner. We’ll be out late. Lock the door.
                                                           
    -               Mom
     
    I throw my keys on the counter. Typical. Nobody’s here when I get home, either. I’d almost rather be yelled at. Taking my work shirt off and tossing it into the laundry room I throw on an old Lousdale High t-shirt and a jacket that’s in the clean basket. I’ll sleep in my jeans tonight, I don’t care. It’s more work than I’m willing to go through to change them.
    I throw myself on the couch and turn on the TV. I’m too irritated to try and sleep right now. As I begin flipping through random channels, I can’t seem to focus on anything but that note on the counter. I miss my parents and the way it used to be. But ever since I got older and out of high school, things changed. I’m not quite sure how or why, but they did, and I’ve been on a rocky relationship with them ever since.
    Sometimes, it felt like the only one who really loved me was Noah.
    I sigh and throw the remote down, giving up. I go to the phone and call Noah’s number, but he doesn’t pick up. I keep calling, three different times, but he doesn’t answer.
    I throw the phone down and gaze off into space, now over the top with anger. I bet nobody cares. Nobody gives a crap that I’m here all alone...
    The phone rings. I dash to pick it up and then answer, my voice a sharp, short note. “Hello?”
    It’s Noah. “Hey Rosie. Blow up my phone, will ya? What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing’s wrong,” I say, beginning to calm down. “I just wanted to talk to you.”
    There’s a bit of silence at the other end. “Well, um...I’m hanging out with Michael at the moment. Can I call you back tomorrow?”
    Rage flickers up in my insides, but I push it back down. “Fine. Sure. Go ahead. I don’t care. I’ll see you later.”
    “No, now you’re getting upset. Rosie, what’s bothering you? You don’t sound right. Tell me. Is it about yesterday?”
    “I’ve told you for the last time Noah, I’m fine!” I say, and my voice gets louder than I want it to. “I don’t care about yesterday!”
    “Don’t snap at me,” he says, and his voice gets angry too. “And don’t lie either. You do care, or else you wouldn’t be acting this way.”
    “I’m not lying! I just had a hard day at work, that’s all,” I say, and my insides squirm. “It’s not like you care though.”
    “Just because you had a hard day doesn’t mean you should take it out on me,” he says.
    “I’m not! I’m trying to tell you how I feel and you don’t want to listen.”
    “When did I ever say that-” Noah makes an aggravated noise into the phone. “Rosie, I’m not going to do this tonight.”
    “You’re the one making it an issue. Nothing’s wrong,” I tell him.
    “Yes, there is! If there wasn’t you wouldn’t be acting this way.”
    “You’re imagining things.”
    “I’m not the only one.”
    “Oh, so I’m crazy now, I see how it is,” I hiss.
    “You said it, not me. You’re the one who keeps repeating it nonstop.”
    “This wouldn’t even be happening if you didn’t let me down again, all I want