My mind‘s racing with all kinds of different thoughts, and none of them are good. Why the hell did she lie to me about going to lunch with Adrianna after the game? I‘m sure when I ask her, she‘ll probably have all kinds of excuses. But they won‘t real y be excuses. They‘ll be lies. Natalia is a liar. But even as I‘m thinking it, I‘m having a hard time believing it. She wouldn‘t lie to me without a good reason. She risked her life for me at Homecoming. I realize I‘ve been sitting here gripping my phone so tight it‘s about to snap in half. So I get up and head down the hall toward my mom‘s room, where I‘m pretty sure she‘s taking a nap (i.e., sleeping it off). My first few knocks go unanswered. ―Mom.‖ Nothing. ―MOM!‖ I yell . Final y there‘s a low groan from the bedroom. ―What?‖ ―I need to talk to you.‖ More groaning, followed by more muttering. ―I‘m sleeping. Can it wait?‖ ―No.‖ ―Fine.‖ Loud sigh. Footsteps. She opens the door wearing a white bathrobe, her eyes so swollen and droopy that it looks like she‘s been in a ten round fight.
