Chapter 30: Anita

Hayley led the way into her house, and I followed dejectedly. She paused after closing the door, listening, before she turned to me with a nod.

"Okay, no one's home. Go up to my room, and I'll follow you with drinks."

She headed for the kitchen, and I made my way up the stairs. I'd come to her place often enough since we became friends that I was pretty familiar with her house. In her room, I tossed off my shoes and sat on the bed, leaning back against the headboard. I stared at my lap, playing with my fingers, only looking up when Hayley entered the room.

"Here," she said. She held out a can of soda to me, then sat across from me, keeping the other one to herself. "Sorry I don't have a lot of snacks in the house. How are you feeling?"

I sighed, listlessly pulling the tab on the soda can, then taking a sip.

"Not very well," I admitted. "You already know my life is a total mess."

"Did something happen?"

I arched an eyebrow. "You mean, besides the inci-dent that happened at