Page 10 of Sellout

I doubt it, but I keep the comment to myself. I know my dad hates this as much as I do.

Dad starts his new job at the hospital soon. Once he does, there is no way he’s going to be able to drive me to school.

“Have you figured out how I’m going to get to school once you start your job?” I ask, turning to glance at my dad.

His grip on the steering wheel tightens. “Don’t worry about that, Henley. It’s my job to worry about things. You just worry about making friends.”

I sigh, saying nothing.

How can I make friends? I’m a freak.

“A true friend won’t care about your health issues,” Dad says.

I press my lips firmly together.

He doesn’t understand, but how can I expect him to? Maybe if I told him the truth, but my mind immediately rejects the idea.

“Henley—”

I cut him off. “Dad, just don’t, okay?”

He frowns but doesn’t say anything else about the issue.

“I didn’t get the chance to go grocery shopping yet,” Dad says. “Do you want to go grab something to eat while we’re out?”

My stomach growls, reminding me I only had a protein bar. “Yeah, I’m starving.”

“Was your school lunch not any good?” Dad chuckles. “That much hasn’t changed, I guess.”

“Yeah,” I say, not letting him know that I didn’t even try to eat lunch. I don’t want to have to explain to him that I got sick.

“Did you have any headaches or nose bleeds?”

“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” I answer, not wanting to lie to him. “It wasn’t that bad, actually.”

“I guess getting out of the city was what you needed after all.”

My stomach aches at the mention of our move. After my doctor mentioned that moving out of the city might help, my father didn’t even wait twenty four hours before putting in his notice at work and putting our penthouse on the market. He couldn’t get out of the city fast enough, which is fine with me. But New York was his home. He loved it there. And I feel bad for making him leave.

“Everything will work out, Henley. You’ll see.” He smiles at me.

I believe him.

I only wish I could be a better daughter. It must be hard to have a messed up kid like me.

3

An episode.

The next morning, when I get to school, there is a tall figure standing by my locker.

Parker, I realize.

My heart thumps a little faster when I see him there.

What is he doing? Is he waiting for me? Certainly not…

I walk up, not making eye contact as I open my locker, grabbing what I need for my morning classes.