Chapter 123: Aramu-sick

FRIDAY FINALLY ARRIVED, AND our plans weren't going as expected. Ruthie's parents were going to Phantom of the Opera in San Francisco, keeping them out late. We planned to sneak out after her brothers went to bed and corner Zander at the party. We'd still have plenty of time to get back before her parents. Anyway, that was the plan until Dad said I couldn't sleep over.

I pouted, I whined, I pleaded. And I didn't care that I was being a snot this time. But nothing worked. He took one look at the circles under my eyes and my pale skin and said I needed more rest. It was true that I looked like crap. I even felt achy. But I wasn't sick in the conventional way. I was Zander-deprived. As ridiculous as it sounded, I needed him like I needed air to breathe. It was the aramusatu, aka aramu-sick. But Dad had no idea about that and eventually lost his patience with me. He yelled that the discussion was over, scaring me because it was so out of character for him. At that point I knew all was lo