Alone, but Not Lonely by Tvisha Gupta

Author:Tvisha Gupta
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Society of Young Inklings, Inc
Published: 2022-12-09T00:49:17+00:00

Chapter Ten

I jolt awake, the headphones I plugged in my ears before falling asleep, blaring a piano tone through my head. I pull them out, breathing hard. Not the best awakening.

I look around me, trying to get a sense of where I am before remembering that I’m stuck in Silke’s house. I check my phone to see what time it is. 6:32 AM. I breathe in deeply, stretching my sore muscles. I make out the faint outlines of the sleeping girls around me and slowly lift myself from the ground, making sure not to accidentally step on anyone. My bag had remained packed for the most part, as I had arrived in my PJs and hadn’t really planned to unpack anything else. What would I even take out? My books? Ha, as if, I think. I’d probably get kicked out.

I tiptoe over the scattered sleeping bags, grabbing my packed backpack. I glance at my phone and see a text from my mom, letting me know that she’s on her way to pick me up. I pull on the jacket that I brought and quietly open Silke’s door, making sure to avoid the creaky floorboard. My feet pad on the floor as I walk towards the front door. I pass Ms. O’Brien on my way out and see her passed out on the couch, an empty wine glass on the table next to her. My mom would have sent her a text earlier alerting her to my aching stomach, for which reason I had to leave early. The door creaks open as I pull on the handle, and the cold morning air hits me harder than I expect it to. I shiver and pull my jacket tighter around me with the one free hand I have. I see my mom’s car pull into the long driveway of the house and speed-walk over to her.

“Hi, beta,” she says as I enter, wincing and laughing as I bump my head on the car door. “You okay?”

“Yes, for the head bump, not really for the sleepover,” I say, rubbing my head with my hand.

“Want to tell me what happened?” my mom says, starting to drive. “We can go get croissants and coffee at that cute little shop you like.”

“Thanks, Ma, but I think I want to go home and sleep. I didn’t get very much last night,” I say, yawning and stretching my hands out over my head.

“You didn’t get much sleep? Ms. Sleeps-at-10-everyday?” my mom says, grinning at me.

“Ha ha. Very funny. But I am exhausted.”

“Was it the other girls that kept you up?” my mom asks as she fiddles with the radio, turning on the classical music radio station.

I turn a little red. “No, it was Cruise.”

We come to a stop at a red light, and my mom turns to give me a surprised look. “Cruise? Why?” she says, a small smile on her face.

I turn redder. “We were texting until pretty late. He texted me a picture of some Indian food

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