I was beside Nathan as we trailed behind the others toward Kota’s house. I stopped in the street, and glimpsed at my parents’ house down the road. Nathan paused, following my gaze to the two story gray house.
“I already checked on your mom,” he said, reading my thoughts. He wrapped his hand around mine, and tugged me toward Kota’s. “There was an empty soup cup by her bed. She was asleep. I made sure to leave some crackers for her. Marie wasn’t there.”
My eyebrows popped up. “You did all that?”
He nodded. “Luke checked on her while we were at the mall, too. She’s fine.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t sleep over,” I said softly, unsure if I wanted the others to hear. “My dad isn’t there. Should she be alone?” It felt wrong to abandon her. A couple of hours out, that was different. Usually my father came home in the evening and was there on the weekends to watch out for her. Now he wouldn’t be. Despite her mood swings, she was still sick, dying. What if she needed something in the middle of the night and no one was there?
Nathan’s blue eyes darkened and he squeezed my hand. “I’ll check on her again tonight. I promise. Okay? Try not to worry about it tonight.”
“If you’re sure,” I relented. She wasn’t his responsibility. Was it selfish to let him so I could enjoy the night out?
His serious face lightened. “You’re too sweet for your own damn good.”
My cheeks warmed again as he tugged my hand, holding it.
We were almost to Kota’s drive when North paused, turned around and faced the opposite side of the road. He cupped his hands around his eyes, as if trying to ward off the sun’s glare.
I turned, as did Nathan. Everyone stopped.
Micah and Tom were headed down the road together behind us. Tom was waving. Micah looked annoyed. Behind them trailed Jessica. I wondered if they were actually friends, but I realized that on this small street, those boys might be the only kids her age within walking distance. Or maybe she was friends with Tom. He seemed nice.
Their group caught up with us. “What are you guys doing?” Tom asked, and he eyeballed me. “Is there a school dance or something?”
Gabriel smirked. “Not tonight.”
Jessica shared a look with me, and a small smile. I took it to mean she liked the clothes. It made me feel a little more comfortable in them. “You’re staying the night?” she asked.
“Yes, I think so. Aren’t you?”
She shook her head. “I’m waiting on a ride to my other friend’s house. I’d stay but I promised her two weeks ago I’d go to her sleepover.”
She didn’t think anything was wrong with me sleeping with the guys at her house. That made me feel better, too.
Micah blew a raspberry. “That’s it? You’re sleeping at Kota’s? She made it sound like you were doing something kinky.”
Kota lifted an eyebrow. “She who?”
“Danielle,” Micah said. “She was going to pay us twenty dollars to come take a photograph of Sang and you all being stupid.”
Silent communication flew between faces of the boys. A photo?
“I think she meant to put her on Facebook,” Tom said. “Or maybe Photoshop her face onto a pig or something. I wasn’t going to take a horrible one.”
“You guys are the worst spies,” Luke said. “Don’t you know if you’re going to take secret photos that you’re not supposed to tell?”
“I don’t care,” Micah said. “I was going to take one picture. It’s all high school drama to me. Personally, I couldn’t care less. Danielle’s stupid.”
I looked at the guys, but it was Nathan who caught my glance. His expression mimicked my own concern. This wasn’t just stealing my clothes. This sounded more like she didn’t like me at all and was trying to get… revenge? I didn’t understand why.
“Jessica,” Kota said, disappointment dripping from his tone. “I can’t believe you’d agree to this.”
“I wasn’t there,” Jessica said. “I was leaving the church and when I walked past on my way home, she stopped talking to them. She wouldn’t talk to me.”
“Here,” Luke said. He pulled out a wallet from his back pocket, unfolded four twenties, and passed two to Micah and two to Tom. “I’ll pay you both double to take a picture of someone’s butt and tag Danielle on Facebook.”
Tom brightened, taking the money. “I bet I can get Derrick to post it on a day she isn’t able to log in. Maximum exposure.”
“Then it’ll be your butt on her page,” Micah said. “But fine. We’ll do that.” He turned around, heading back down the road. Tom followed. Jessica stayed with us.
“Should we be pranking her like this?” Victor asked.
“Probably not,” Kota said, but he turned, heading back toward his house. “But I let her get away with stealing Sang’s clothes. This will show her we’re not going to sit by idly any more. If she wants to humiliate Sang in some way, she’ll have to take on all of us, too.”
The others muttered in agreement.
My heart thumped, and I tried to smother the feeling that I was very happy about this decision.
Kota led the way to his front door, pulling his keys out of his pocket and unlocking it. He entered and held it open for us to join him, collecting in the foyer. Jessica floated past all of us, heading down the hallway to her room.
“Kota?” his mother called from deep in the house. “Is that you guys?”
Nathan released my hand. My fingertips tingled as he had held it so tightly, but I wondered why he let go as soon as Kota’s mother sounded close. Was it bad we were holding hands?
“It’s us,” Luke called to her. “We’re home.”
I smiled at the thought of him saying it as if we all lived there together.
Erica came out from a hallway. Her green eyes lit up and she smiled. She reached out and wrapped her arms around Luke’s neck, who was the closest, and kissed his cheek. He air kissed hers and stood back. She did the same with everyone, lastly me.
When she finished hugging me, she stepped back, still holding on to my hands and looking over the clothes I was wearing.
“Oh my goodness,” she said. “You are adorable.”
“Gabriel,” I tried to explain but it felt awkward to finish the sentence. He helped me buy the clothes? He dressed me?
Erica shook her head and pressed fingers to her lips quickly. “Oh yeah, he’s good. This is gorgeous.” She hugged me again and whispered in my ear. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
I blinked rapidly, trying not to tear up. Did she mean it? Was I wanted?
She stepped back and we moved into the living room together. Our bags were dropped against the far wall. Silas and North sunk into the couch. The others took the floor with Kota and Luke disappearing upstairs. Loud thudding thundered from Kota’s stairwell. They reemerged with huge bean bag chairs.
“Alright,” Gabriel said. “It’s about f... time.” He glanced at Erica but relaxed when she didn’t appear to notice the slight slip.
The beanbags were all the same dark blue color, big enough to sit two people and they were about as high up off the ground as the couch. It took a couple of trips to get all four downstairs. The coffee table was tucked against another wall by the bookshelves to make room.
I wasn’t quite sure where to sit until Silas scooted over on the couch and patted the seat next to him. I sat down between North and Silas, feeling eerily tiny next to them.
“Okay, kids,” Erica said over the chatter. Everyone else collapsed into the bean bag chairs and quieted. “Quick rule check. Since Sang’s here, we have to change it up slightly.”
“Aw man,” Gabriel said, but he was grinning.
“Everyone sleeps downstairs tonight,” she said, pointing to the blue carpet. “Not that I don’t trust you boys but I want Sang to be comfortable. Besides, I don’t know if all eight of you will fit upstairs together.”
I leaned into Silas. “Do you all do this often?”
Silas nodded. “Either here or at Victor
’s house. The rest of us have small rooms in our houses so it’s kind of tough with all of us.”
“Also,” Erica continued. “If I hear from Sang you guys are picking on her, I’ll beat you senseless. She’s a girl so treat her like a lady.”
There was a collection of giggles.
“Other than that, the house is yours. I know it is still kind of early but what do we want for dinner?”
“Sang has to make it,” Nathan said. “She lost.”
“They cheated,” I said but they all laughed. I did, too.
“That’s good,” Erica said and she winked at me. “Since you have to cook, you get to pick. We’ll worry about it later.” She waved her hand in the air as if dismissing us. “Other than that, try not to break anything expensive and...”
“Don’t set the house on fire,” they all chorused.
My eyes widened and I looked at Silas.