Dawn by McKayla Box

Chapter 3

We get home around lunch time and after my dad makes us sandwiches, he leaves for the office and I head to my room to unpack. I put my stuff away, stowing clean clothes in my dresser and throwing my dirty clothes in the laundry basket.

I sit on the edge of my bed and take a look around.

The room looks different to me. Some of the pictures that used to be on the walls are now tacked to the walls of my dorm. Things are gone from my desk, now sitting on my desk up at school. It doesn’t quite feel like my room even though it is.

At least the rest of the house still feels like home.

I grab my phone and lean back on the bed. I hesitate for just a second, then pull Trevor’s name up and text him.

I’m home.

The three dotscome up almost immediately, but it feels like it takes hours for his message to come through.

Hey. Awesome. How was the drive?

Fine. What are you doing?

Helping Brett with some stuff. Long story. What are you up to?

Laying on my bed.

There’sa part of me that expects some sort of smart ass remark about coming over to join me. In fact, I want him to say something like that. My dad’s not home and we haven’t been together in months and I both want to see him and to lay on the bed with him.

But he doesn’t respond like that.

So maybe a nap?

I frown.

Maybe. I wanna see you. When?

The dots don’t showup right away and that weird feeling in the pit of my stomach returns. I’m not paranoid. I know him. I know me. I know us.

Something is going on.

Finally, the dots show up.

Tonight. For sure. You’re going to the party?

Uh what party?

Lol at the beach?

I didn’t know.

I figured the girls told you. An annual thing at start of Christmas vacation.

Oh. I guess?

Cool. I will meet you there. Good?

It’s not good.I want to see him now. I want to know why he’s being so standoffish with me. I want to know why he’s not working for his dad anymore. I want to know what the hell is going on with him.

But I don’t want to start vacation with a fight.

Good.