Free Mistrust by Margaret McHeyzer Page B

you weren’t even here,” Mom says, standing to take her cup to the sink.
    “Just thinking about cheerleading practice.” Great, now I’m lying too.
    “I said when you’re ready, let me know. I’ll take you two to school today because I need to head over to the mall.”
    “Thanks, Mom,” I say and go back to my cereal.
    “You have to watch it, Dakota. She’s going to know something’s not right if you’re always spacing out and not being here.” Sam says in a low voice, pointing to the floor, trying to tell me to be more aware of what’s happening around me.
    “I know. I’m trying.”
    “You have to try harder.” Her voice of reason screams at me. Her stern features tell me she’s right, I do have to try harder. Not to forget, but to hide the truth and the shame. I hate the fact Sam knows, but there’s not much I can do about that now. She’s involved because of a malicious, gutless person hiding behind their phone. But I need to protect Mom and Dad from what happened. I’m not sure I would be able to bear their judgment if they knew.
    “Okay, I’m going to make more of an effort. But you need to let me know if I go weird.”
    Sam’s lips turn up in a quirky smile. “Like more weird than normal?”
    Playfully smacking her arm, I smile at her. “Thanks, Sam,” I say, standing to take my bowl to the sink.
    “Don’t forget it when I want to borrow something of yours to wear.” Rolling my eyes, I simply nod. “Including that cute red sweater, and black knee-length pencil skirt.” This time I shake my head, but smirk. “Oh, and that purple dress.”
    “How about I give you free reign over my entire wardrobe?” I say sarcastically and turn on my heels to look at her with raised eyebrows.
    “Yay!” She claps her hands together and brings her bowl over to the sink. “I knew you’d see it my way.” Her smile is cheeky, and her eyes reflect the playfulness of her words. “Now, let me see, what should I wear on my date?” She rubs her hands together and leans against the counter.
    “With Calvin?” I tease. “Has he even asked you out yet?”
    She pushes on my shoulder and laughs. “His name is Taylor, not Calvin. And noooooo,” she draws out her response. “He hasn’t asked me out yet, but he will.” She does a little jiggle on the spot. “I just know it.”
    “How about we wait for him to ask you first, then we can pick what you can wear.”
    Sam stops dancing and gives me the funniest look. It’s a cross between ‘how dare you’ and ‘he’s so asking me out, sister.’ “Whatever.” She flicks her hand at me. “He’s asking me out.”
    Her features turn serious, and for a split second I think she’s mad until she starts laughing. I can’t help but join her with my own chuckle.
    “You ready, girls?” Mom calls while slinging her handbag over her shoulder. “Hurry up, we’re going to be late.” Mom’s already at the front door, and Sam and I grab our book bags.
    “Hey,” Sam shouts from her room. “I call shotgun.”
    With my bag on my shoulder, I run past Mom, and out to the car. “Hurry up, Mom!” I yell for her to unlock the doors so I can get in the front.
    “I called it,” Sam pushes by Mom who’s now locking the house. She bolts over to me, and with her hips, shoves me out the way.
    “Hey,” I protest.
    “I called it.”
    “So?”
    “I called it.” She stands guard over the front door, like an offensive lineman ready to block me from getting near the front passenger door.
    “You two,” Mom sighs as she unlocks the car and gets in.
    Smiling, I get in the back and Sam slides into the front, not before turning around and poking her tongue out at me. I was going to let her have the front regardless.
    It’s a quick ride to school, and when we pull up, Mom lets us know she can pick us up after school if we want. Sam jumps in and tells her we can catch the bus home. I’m really grateful for Sam and her quick responses, it means I don’t have to