Chapter V

I get home and do my homework. Then, I sit by Mom on the couch, and we have that conversation where the daughter asks the parent(s) for things.

Mom:  Hey, sweetie.  How was school?

Me:  Great.  Can I have some friends over to talk about prom?

Mom:  Absolutely.  I’m glad you’re making friends.

Me:  Thanks, it’s been hard.

Mom:  Do I need to buy a cake?

Me:  No. It’s not like a party.  Four pizzas?

Mom:  Four whole pizzas?

Me:  Yeah, there will be boys.

Mom:  Alright, I guess that’s true.

Me:  And I want you to meet my date who I’ll probably go to prom with.

Mom:  Is this why you’re having this get-together, just so I can meet your date?

Me:  Yeah, it is.

Mom:  I am so proud of you. You’re bringing your prom date just so I can meet him and approve of him to see if he’s good.

Me:  Yep. Always thinking.

That last one was a bit of a lie.  I really don’t care if she likes him or not. I sit and watch TV as Mom orders the pizza.

“Hey!” I say. All of my friends come over at the same time. I guess they carpool or something.
            “So where are we having this party?” Haley asks.

“Outside. You kids don’t need to make a mess in my house.” Mom says, politely though.

“Oh, Mom. This is Peyton. He’s my prom date,” I say.

“Oh, ok. You are the one?”

“Yes ma’am.” Peyton says.

“You have good manners. You seem nice. You are approved. But if you hurt my daughter at all, I know karate.”

“No you don’t Mom.” I say.

“Well I will learn as long as you are around her. And I am going to be checking up on you kids about every 10 minutes.” Mom says.

“Mom!” I say loudly.

“Okay, fine. Every 20 minutes. Now go have fun.  Start planning.”

We all go outside and start planning. Brian brought his brother Justin, who Samantha seems to like, and Peyton brought his cousin, William, who likes Jamie. Everybody has a date for prom. Right now, everyone does, at least. This took a lot less time than I had planned. The guys don’t really want to stay, so they left, bringing a slice of pizza with them of course.  The rest of us go upstairs.

“So this is my house. I have a study, room, and bathroom.” I say as we go inside and upstairs.

“Woah.  I love this.  You get your own place upstairs?  I’m so jealous,” says Haley.

“That’s exactly what I say when I first got it,” I reply.

“Ooooh. I love the study. We should do homework here sometime.” Jamie says.

“SHUT UP!  Can’t you shut up about school for one night?  I am so sick and tired of you talking about school all the time! I mean, I might, but that would only be if I met someone or something. But, you get my point!” Samantha says.

“I’m sorry if that’s the way you feel,” Jamie says calmly, while wiping a tear from her eye.

“Please, don’t call off prom for me. I have always wanted to go,” Samantha says.  She is almost crying, too.  Haley doesn’t care. She just stands and stares, like this happens every day.  If it does, then it’s a very unhealthy thing.

“I won’t call off prom, but we are leaving now. And you are telling Mom the truth about what you said. And, if you do as I say, I won’t make you skip prom,” Jamie says.

“Alright,” Samantha says.

“Woah, wait a second. Samantha, you are going to leave, just because your sister told you to? And Jamie, you are just going to threaten that you won’t let her go to prom?  You could have just asked for an apology.  Now, both of you apologize, and act like this never happened. Okay?” I say.  They were silent.

            Buzzzzzzzzzz, buzzzzzzzz.

My phone vibrates, and it’s from Haley. Why would she be texting me when she’s right here?

Haley: I left.

Elizabeth: Why?

Haley:  Because.

Elizabeth: Why did you leave?

Haley: I wanted to. You have a really boring house.

Elizabeth: But you were talking about my bathroom.

Haley: I didn’t say I liked it. I am going to bed. Ttyl J

Elizabeth: Goodnight.

Haley:  ily as a sister!!!

Elizabeth: I don’t

Haley: But all my friends are my sisters.

Elizabeth: well then you only have 2 sisters. Good night.

She doesn’t respond after that. I just want to know why she left. Whatever it was, she was being very dramatic about it.

Samantha and Jamie decide to leave, happily though.  I take them to the front door, and watch them leave.  Then I put the pizza in the fridge and go back to my room.

I hear a tap on my balcony door. I open the door and see him:  Skye.

“Why are you here?” I ask.

“I wanted to come here. And it is freezing outside. Can I come in?” he asks softly.

“No.  Just go home,” I say, frowning a bit.  He’s been getting on my nerves with this mysterious crap.

“I am at home,” he says after a bit.

“This isn’t your home, it’s mine and my mom’s, along with everything else here.  You should go now, Skye,” I say.

“Well, I’ve been sleeping in that oak tree, on the big branch right there,” he says as he points to it. “I just came here to say hi. But, seriously, can I come in?  I’m so cold.”

“How do you pay for school?”

“I rob. That’s why I stole your locket.”

“Oh. You can stay here tonight if you want. Or bring one of my blankets and pillows outside.”

“I’ll stay here tonight.”

“I’ll ask my mom to build you a tree house outside on that tree.”

“Thanks.”

“Well, I’m going to bed. I’m really tired.”

“Okay. Goodnight,” he says. He gives me a kiss on the forehead and falls asleep on my beanbag chair.

I wake up in the morning and see a note on my mirror. It says:

Elizabeth,

            I want you to have the locket back that I stole from you. Will you forgive me for taking it?

Skye

I see the locket right under the mirror where the message is. Then, I see him outside on the tree, fast asleep. I want to give it to him, but I’ll do that later when he wakes up.

            I go downstairs into Mom’s room and say, “Mom, can I have a tree house in the tree behind my balcony?”

            “Why would you want to do that?”

            “I could sleep out there sometimes, or something.”

            “I’ll ask the mayor to get one. When do you want it?”

            “As soon as possible.”

            “I’ll call him when I get up, okay?”

            “Okay.  Thanks.”

            I go upstairs into my room and see Skye sitting on my bed. I tell him he’s getting a house. He is definitely delighted. Then, I put the locket in his hand.

            “Why?” he asks.

            “You can sell it and keep the money, for things like clothes.”

            “Are you sure?”

            “Absolutely.  You made me feel bad when you said you sleep in the cold.”

            “I’m sorry, I really am.”

            “It’s okay.”

            “Okay.”

He kisses me on the cheek, surprising me, then turns around and watches the TV.