Free Hidden Scars by Amanda King

him, Becky. Wouldn’t you think that since I can’t call him, he’d call me?”
    “I don’t know, but you can’t sit in this room all night, and neither of us has a car. We have no choice but to wait to hear from Kyle. Meanwhile, let’s get something to eat. You haven’t had anything all day.”
    The cafeteria hadn’t started serving yet, so we went to Eddie’s. I ate like a starving bird dog, not only from hunger, but I didn’t want to miss Kyle’s call.
    As we walked back to the dorm, Becky tried to distract me by pointing out how beautiful the yellow and brown leaves were swirling around the ground. “At this rate, the trees will be naked in another month. And the air, can you smell it? The scent of autumn.”
    I partially paid attention to her ramblings.
    No sooner had the lobby doors closed behind us, and I stood stock still, gaping. Chuck and Mrs. Henderson sat across from one another in matching wing-backed chairs. They chatted away, completely unaware of our entrance.
    Becky finally broke the silence. “Chuck, what are you doing?”
    “Yes, what are you doing here?” I wanted to scream, but managed to maintain a calm tone. Did he know who he was talking to?
    Chuck rose. “Hey, girls, I decided you two wouldn’t be gone long.” His smile broadened. “So, Mrs. Henderson and I have been getting to know one another better.”
    “Yes.” She stood and faced Chuck with an extended hand, her expression unreadable. “It’s nice to have met you. I enjoyed our conversation. I’ll leave you young people to enjoy your evening.”
    She looked directly at me. “Morgan, don’t forget to sign out if you plan on leaving the campus.”
    Chuck spoke, “We won’t be going any farther than my car.”
    Her eyes shifted from me to Becky. “Well, I’ll be in my apartment if you girls need me.”
    She gathered a tray with cups and saucers then headed toward her quarters.
    “Thank you,” I muttered, before glaring at Chuck.
    I didn’t speak another word until her door closed. “What are you doing? Where have you been all day? Why haven’t you called? What were you and Mrs. Henderson talking about?”
    Becky cleared her throat. “I’ve got some homework to do. I’m glad you’re okay, Chuck. Holler at me later, Morgan.” She walked away. Her footsteps soon faded in the empty hallway.
    Chuck opened the lobby door. “I thought we could talk in the car.”
    Outside, when I was sure no one could hear, I whirled toward him. “What is wrong with you? Where have you been? Your grandmother said you quit your job. And then I walk in the lobby and find you and the dorm mother having a tea party! What’s going on?”
    He grinned and laced his fingers with mine. “It wasn’t tea. It was coffee.”
    “What?”
    “I said, we had—”
    “Who cares what she served.” I snatched my hand from his. “Have you lost your mind?”
    Chuck leaned over and planted a quick, but firm, kiss on my lips. “I’ve always loved that feisty personality.”
    I stomped my foot against the pavement. “I mean it, Chuck.”
    “Okay.” He chuckled and backed away. “But let’s go sit in the car and talk.”
    We walked in silence. He held the passenger door for me. I sat and waited for him to settle in the driver’s seat.
    He shifted his body to face me, laid his hand across my shoulder, and rubbed my neck. “When no one answered the phone at Janet’s house this morning, I figured you had to be on your way back here as planned. I called her house again at nine. No answer, so I left Greer and got here a little after eleven. When I called your floor and didn’t get anyone, I phoned Mrs. Henderson. She told me you’d been here since ten thirty.”
    I breathed deep and released the air slowly. “That still doesn’t answer the question of where you’ve been. But first, I want to know what you said to Mrs. Henderson.”
    “The truth. I explained if she felt the need to notify your parents about us dating, then she should know