“You going to answer that?” Allison asked.
I sighed. “I guess I should.”
“She’ll just keep calling until you do.”
“I know. I know.”
“Maybe you should tell her how you’re feeling. She might understand.”
“Yeah, no. Maybe when I’m settled at school the cyclone of crazy can miss me because I’m an hour away.”
She giggled. “You don’t give your mother enough credit.”
I pulled my phone out. “And you give her too much.”
I swiped my finger across the cracked screen of my phone before I held it to my ear.
“Hey, Mom.”
“You forgot your cell phone charger! I found it in your room.”
I paused. “What--? Are you--? No, Mom. I have two. One of them I keep in my purse. Why--why are you in my bedroom?”
“Because something stinks in your room, so I’m cleaning it.”
“Mom. Don’t go in my room. I’m serious.”
“I can’t let the smell just linger.”
“Mom!”
“Do you want me to run you over an extra pair of underwear? I mean, you’ve got some laying out on your bed. Did you mean to pack them?”
I groaned. “Mom. Just spray some Febreeze and I’ll fish out the scent when I get back. I’m sure it’s nothing.”
She sighed. “I can’t live with that smell while you’re gone. And we’re out of Febreeze.”
I paused. “I bought a three pack of it a week ago. They should be under the sink.”
“Oh, it’ll be fine. Let me just--what’s this?”
“Mom!”
Allison squealed. “The boys are pulling up.”
“Mom, I have to go. Please, just get out of my room.”
“What’s this box? That’s what stinks so badly.”
“The damn box doesn’t stink, Mom! Put it down!” I roared.
Everyone froze. Allison stared at me with wide eyes and Mom fell silent. I didn't want her touching that box. Holy fuck, I’d make Michael take me back to the house just so I could take the box with me. In fact, that was a great idea.
I sighed. “I need that box with me, actually. It’s got some information I need in it.”
Mom cleared her throat. “I can, uh, fish it out for you if--”
“Mom, I love you. And I get this is hard for you. And I’m sorry I yelled at you. But you have to start coming to terms with this. I’m going off to college in a couple of weeks and you have to find a way to be okay with that. You can’t snoop around in my room. You have to trust me on this, okay? Just… just be proud of me? Okay?”