Archie: Hey, text me when you get home (3:02 PM)

Archie: Are you still at school? (3:09 PM)

Archie: Okay either you’re still at school or you’re out partying or smthn. (3:15 PM)

Archie: Do I need to cover for you? (3:30 PM)

Dad: Where the fuck are you? (3:31 PM)

Oh god…

I text Archie back first.

Ryan: Hey, yeah I’m at the library.

Archie: [Archie is typing]

Archie: Nerd. Did you tell Dad?

Ryan: Yep.

Archie: If you say so…

Gulping, I switch to iMessage.

Ryan: Hey dad, I’m at the library. We’ve got an exam tomorrow.

I shut my eyes and click off my phone, not opening them until I feel a rush of cold air. I look to my left, and the woman who was sitting next to me is gone. I nudge Ollie with my toe.

“Ollie? Ollie!” I whisper. His eyelids flutter.

“Mm?”

“Come on. Sit down.”

He licks his lips groggily and lifts himself into the chair.

“Did you not sleep at all last night?” I ask.

He just grins.

“What do you think?”

I smile.

He looks so peaceful when he sleeps.

Eww stop it.

My phone vibrates and I check the message.

Dad: Did I say you could do that? I need you to clean this place up.

Dad: I need you home in an hour.

Shit!

“What are you gonna tell him?”

Ollie asks, looking over my shoulder.

I grumble.

“Well, I’m not the one who decided to come here.”

He smirks.

Ryan: I can’t dad, I really need to finish this

Dad: [...]

Dad: Excuse me?

Dad: It’s bad enough that I’m stuck with you for the next few years. The least you could do is what your mother refused to.

Don’t you fucking dare go there…

“Here, let me see.”

“Ollie-“

He plucks the phone right out of my hands.

“Oh!”

Ryan: Good afternoon! I’m Mrs. Jefferson, your daughter’s English teacher. I’ll be needing her and a few other students to stay after school today. We sent a letter regarding this last week.

Ryan: Dad, it’s me and I can’t talk right now. They’re making me. 

He hands the phone back and I read the texts.

“Dude-“

“You’re welcome.”

I roll my eyes.

Dad: I’m heading out with friends. We’ll talk about this when I get back

Ryan: Okay. Have fun

Dad: Fuck you.

What an ass.

Ryan: Love you too.

Dad: Listen, I never asked for an ungrateful bitch. Your mo-

I turn the phone off and all but throw it in my backpack.

“Ryan, stop.”

Ollie places his hand over my own. I’d been digging my nails into my thigh in frustration.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t…” He laughs.

“Don’t apologise for everything.”

I smile and lean against his shoulder. The door to the waiting room opens and closes, and Ollie shudders. I pull my long parka out of my backpack and drape it over us like a blanket.