Free Hummingbird Heart by Robin Stevenson

boyfriends had given her an STD and I knew about the time she got busted for driving drunk, but I knew next to nothing about my own father. And she’d lied to me about sending those photographs. For eight years . I wondered what else she’d lied to me about.
    I’d had enough. If my mother wouldn’t tell me, maybe Mark would.

e L even
    After school, I was supposed to take Karma to the Boys and Girls Club. Mom had signed her up for another group, and I figured I could drop her off and then, if I had enough nerve, go down to the Ocean Front Hotel and see if Mark was still there. Mom thought I was having dinner at Toni’s place, so she wouldn’t worry if I was late getting home.
    â€œThe last after-school club was okay because Scott was there,” Karma told me as we got on the bus. “But the woman running this one is really annoying.”
    â€œHow come?” My hands were sweating just thinking about my plan. I pressed them against my jeans and hoped I wouldn’t lose my nerve.
    Karma shrugged. “She just bugs me. She’s pretends we’re just playing games, but she’s always trying to get us to talk about stuff. About our feelings .” She made it sound like a bad word.
    â€œDid you tell Mom you don’t want to go?”
    â€œDuh. Course I did.” She slid into a back-row seat. “Last week I went downtown instead. That’s why Amanda made you go with me today, you know. To make sure I got there.”
    â€œYou skipped your group?” I sat down beside her, not sure whether to be impressed or concerned. Even I knew that hanging out downtown was a shortcut to all kinds of trouble for a kid her age.
    She nodded. “It’s a waste of time. Anyway, I wanted to look at the bike repair stuff down at Green City Cycle.”
    I laughed. “Of course you did.”
    â€œWhat’s so funny?”
    â€œNothing.” I pushed the button. “Your stop. You want me to meet you after or can you make your own way home?”
    Karma didn’t budge. “What are you going to do? Are you meeting Toni?”
    â€œMYOB, kiddo.”
    â€œDylan…tell me.” The bus pulled to a stop, but Karma didn’t budge. “Please?”
    I watched a couple of passengers swipe bus passes. “If I tell you, will you get off the bus?”
    â€œSure.” She stood up.
    An older man sat down across the aisle from us, and I lowered my voice, even though no one was listening. “I’m going to see if I can find Mark.”
    Karma’s eyes widened. “As in, your father?” She sat back down. “I’m totally coming with you.”
    â€œKarma!”
    She didn’t budge. The bus driver pulled back into the flow of traffic, heading toward downtown. “Mom’s going to kill me,” I said.
    â€œBecause of me skipping group or you seeing Mark?”
    â€œEither. Both. Take your pick.”
    Karma grinned. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”
    â€œThe Club will call her and you know it.” I just hoped Mark wouldn’t do the same.
    â€œAre you mad?” Karma sounded more curious than worried.
    â€œYou drive me crazy, you know that?”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œNo, I’m not mad.” I was actually kind of glad of the company, and now that I’d told Karma what I was doing, I was less likely to chicken out.
    â€œI’d do the same thing, if it was my dad,” Karma said. “I wonder why Amanda made us leave like that. You think he said something that made her flip out?”
    I shook my head. “No clue.”
    â€œMaybe he wants custody or something. He’s a lawyer, right?”
    â€œSeems a bit unlikely. I’m too old for that, don’t you think? Anyway, he hasn’t even wanted to see me until now.” What the hell was I doing? My mother would murder me if she found out. Maybe I could ask Mark not to tell her. If he was even still here. Maybe