The Original Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 0.50)

*

The next morning I had a realization: Shelley and Keven had no clue as to what went on in their own home. None. Mandy didn’t come home last night and they didn’t even noticed. They didn’t care.

To tell the truth, I was surprised they passed the adoption agency’s investigation. Kevin was never home. If he wasn’t at the hospital, he was off with his golf buddies or at a medical conference. And Shelley was just clueless all around.

I was a bit surprised that their marriage worked. I saw no interaction between them. But I knew there must’ve been something between them, Shelley went on a lot of the conferences with him. Which is what she was packing for that morning. When I entered the kitchen, I saw three suitcases on the stoop and Shelley was flying from the kitchen, down the basement, back up, and then up to their bedroom. Occasionally she made a side trip to the foyer closet. Then back to do the entire routine again.

It would’ve been funny if I hadn’t realized, at that moment, that I was more a boarder—not paying rent—than a daughter. This is how Mandy and Austin must feel.

“Uh,” I spoke up, “Mandy wanted me to let you know that she took off early this morning for school. She needed to do some stuff with student council.”

“Oh, okay,” Shelley mumbled, distracted. She stopped, suddenly, and turned to me. “You have a good day at school, Taryn. And don’t forget to talk to Coach Greenly. He seems like a very nice man.” Then she was off again.

Grabbing an apple, I left and saw Austin waiting on the curb with a sullen look on his face.

“Hey, punk. Need a ride?”

He glowered at me for a moment and then stood up slowly, following me to my car. As I pulled out onto the road, I asked, “So, another conference, huh?”

“This one’s in Switzerland,” he snapped, slumping in his seat. “They’re going to be gone for freaking three weeks. It’s a month-long conference, that’s what Mom said.”

“And your dad?”

“He’s an asshole,” Austin mumbled, looking out his window.

I dropped him off outside the middle school and was surprised when he said, “See you later.” No middle finger goodbye this time. We were making progress.

When I got to the high school, I parked in my normal spot. The hallways were crowded, like always, but there was excitement in the air: the football team was leaving for the play-offs that afternoon.

Which meant no Devon for two days.

Which meant Mandy would be annoying as hell for two days.

Which meant…fuck.

First period was exhausting. All the cheerleaders were out—they’d gotten permission to finish their decorations for the pep-rally. The football players were leaving immediately after the pep-rally, which meant we got out of sixth period twenty minutes early. I’d yet to decide if was going to attend or skip. Who wouldn’t skip? Seriously.

I actually attended health for second period. No Tray. Molly informed me that he had skipped, along with all the football players.

So needless to say, school passed without event. Every class was full of just normal average students and some of the discussions were actually fun. Interesting to listen to, at least. I got into a debate in history. I knew way more about the Roman Empire than whatever her name was.

Molly told me later that she was our soon-to-be valedictorian.

Imagine that. But I did know more than she did. And the teacher agreed with me.

And…surprise, surprise: sixth period was magically full. It was like everyone that was skipping decided to attend sixth period. And I have no idea why.

Hearing the last bell, everyone filed out and chaos ensued. I swear, half the students took off for the parking lot and the other half went to the auditorium. I was still torn: to skip or not to skip?

“Hey,” Molly piped up from behind me.

“Hi.” I gave her a lazy grin.

“You going out?” She gestured to the parking lot.

“Uh…I haven’t decided if I’m skipping or not.”

She looked confused. “Um…the pep rally’s in the parking lot.”