Page 4 of Escape

“What are you doing up so early? I was just about to start breakfast before I came up to pry you out of bed this morning.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess my body’s getting used to waking up early.”

My mom sent me a look that indicated she didn’t necessarily believe what I was telling her to be the truth, but it was clear she didn’t think this was a fight worth starting. She likely believed it was better to count her blessings that her son woke up on his own on a Monday morning, eager to go to school.

So, she jerked her head to the side and said, “Grab yourself some juice. I’ll have your breakfast sandwich ready in a few minutes.”

I smiled at her before moving toward the refrigerator. “Do you want any?” I asked.

The silence stretched between us for a moment before she finally answered with a bit of surprise in her tone, “Sure, kiddo. I’ll have a glass, too.”

I poured each of us a glass.

A few minutes later, just as she promised, my mom had my breakfast sandwich made. And before we walked out the door, so she could drop me off at school, she held out a brown paper bag and said, “Don’t forget your lunch.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Before I knew it, I was in my first period class, and Josie was already there in her seat. I smiled at her and said, “Hey, Josie.”

“Hi, Huck.”

“Have a good weekend?” I asked.

There was no smile on her face as she lifted her shoulders toward her ears and murmured, “I guess.”

Just as I was about to press her for more information, Mr. Lewis said, “Okay, class, I hope you enjoyed your weekend, but it’s time to get back to learning. Take out your books and open to page eighty-six.”

I had no choice but to spin around in my seat and pay attention to our lesson for the day. Or, well, I tried to pay attention. The Josie that was sitting behind me seemed so different from the one I’d spent the morning and early afternoon with at the library on Saturday.

And unfortunately, Mr. Lewis taught us right up until the bell rang, so by the time I got my textbook and notebook put away, Josie had already walked out of the classroom. We didn’t have any other classes together, leaving me feeling disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to see or talk to her until tomorrow.

But a few hours later, I walked into the lunchroom and made my way over to the table where my friends always sat. That’s when I noticed Josie sitting several tables away. She had her books out and was alone.

Did she always sit by herself?

“Hey, Huck. You’ve got to hear about Mikey’s weekend with this chick he met at this restaurant we went to after the movies,” Sam said.

I tore my gaze away from Josie, looked at Mikey, and said, “It sounds interesting, but can you fill me in next period? I’ve got to take care of something.”

“What do you mean?”

I jerked my head in the opposite direction and explained, “Science project stuff.”

“Look at you being all scholarly,” Mikey joked.

Rolling my eyes, I turned and walked away. As I made my approach, Josie never looked up from her books. Only when I sat down on the opposite side of the table and placed my lunch on top of it did she notice.

“Huck.”

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“I’m just working on some homework I got in my math class earlier today,” she answered.

“Aren’t you going to have lunch?” I pressed.

Josie grew visibly uncomfortable. “I… I forgot it.”

Much like my mom had been with me earlier that morning, I got the feeling Josie wasn’t being entirely truthful. Instead of questioning her, I decided to take another approach. “Oh, man. That sucks. Lucky for you, my mom always overpacks for me. I can share with you.”