Free Obscured (The Obscured Series Book 1) by C.M. Boers

date and drive together. Does
that sound okay?”
    “Sure,”
he said.
    Pete
stayed quiet. I wrote my number down and gave it to Pete before we all split up
to go to class.
    For
once, I was actually able to pay attention in the last few classes of the day.
We received our copies of To Kill a Mockingbird. And in history, we
we’re given the opportunity to work on our study guide outlines for the test
the following day. I already completed mine, so I used the time to study, which
I definitely needed after not paying attention all week. We were still in the
swimming section of our P.E. curriculum, and I was looking forward to the end
of it.
    Once
school was over I was looking forward to going home, especially since I didn’t
have any homework to focus on.
    Eli
didn’t hang around after he dropped me off, because he said he had some
homework and studying to do. That was fine with me; I planned on relaxing and
wasn’t in the mood for entertaining. I made some popcorn and put in a movie,
and for the first time that week I felt like I was truly at ease.  I
thought about how it was mom’s night to cook dinner, but since I had extra time
on my hands I considered cooking it and having it ready when she got home to
surprise her. That would be a nice treat for her.
    Half-way
into the movie the phone rang. It was Pete. I didn’t expect to hear from him.
    “Hey
Abby, how's it going?”
    I
cleared my throat. “Hey, good, you?”
    “Pretty
good. I was just calling to see if you were free tonight. I thought that maybe
we could study together for the math quiz.”
    “I’m
sorry, Pete. I was planning on spending some time with my mom tonight. Thanks
for the offer though,” I regretfully told him.
    “I
totally get that, don’t be sorry.”
    “Maybe
next time,” I suggested.
    “Yeah.
Well, I guess I will see you at school tomorrow.”
    For
the next several minutes I couldn’t stop thinking about Pete. He seemed so
genuine and caring; qualities I thought were great when it came to a boyfriend.
Maybe I was blinded by his charm, because I couldn’t see any of the bad things
that Eli had told me. Maybe that was why he was so worried about me. I didn’t
feel blindsided, but I guess that’s why it’s called that: you don’t see what’s
happening right in front of your face.
    It
was getting late in the afternoon and I needed to get dinner started if I
wanted it ready when mom got home. I checked the cabinets and decided to make
homemade macaroni and cheese, with Parmesan-crusted tilapia. Mom loved fish and
always talked about how good it was for you, or good for your heart or
something. 
    Once
dinner was in the oven it had 30 minutes to cook, so I went upstairs to put my
backpack in my bedroom and decided to check my e-mail for the first time that
week. I smiled when I saw that I had one from Kelly.
     
    Abby,
                I was so happy to read your email
today. I will write you back a good long email soon. I hope you don’t think I’m
ignoring you. Things are so crazy right now with school just starting up. I
already have two essays to write, a book to start, and two tests tomorrow,
yikes! I am sure that you are just as busy. I will talk to you soon! Hope
things are still going well.
                            Kelly
     
    It
was nice to hear from Kelly. I missed my friends in California. Even so, I was
having a lot of fun in Arizona. I would love for Kelly to come visit me and
meet my new friends. I wondered what she might think of them, or what they
would think of her.
    I
heard my timer going off; Kelly would have to wait. Mom would be home in about
five minutes, and I had just enough time to get everything out of the oven,
dished up onto plates, and to the table. I had just finished setting the table
when my mom walked through the door.
    I
was sitting down at the table waiting when mom walked into the room. Her face
lit up.
    “What’s
all this?” she asked, surprised and