Unchanged by Crews Heather

Author:Crews, Heather [Crews, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-03-19T23:00:00+00:00

~

My mom was home when I arrived, which was surprising but not too much so. She had broken a bone. I figured she needed a day or two off work to rest. She was in the kitchen making a grocery list, which excited me because when I began rummaging in the cupboards for something to snack on, all I found were crackers.

"Can you put bagels on there?" I asked. "And cream cheese, please. Oh, and maybe cranberry juice?"

"Lilly. We need to talk."

I turned to stare at her, confused by her stern tone of voice. She hardly ever spoke harshly; she was usually so gentle and forgiving. What could I have done to upset her since I'd last seen her? Had Brandt said something to her about me and Austin? Or was this going to be a reprise of that talk?

Then I noticed a familiar slip of paper on the table. Without moving closer to examine it, I knew it was my latest report card. I'd gotten it a few weeks ago but had hidden it in my room then purposely forgotten about it, knowing my grades were far, far from impressive. I'd never been an outstanding student, but my mom must have had higher expectations for me after all or she wouldn't have looked so angry.

"Oh," I said, feigning a casual tone, "that's my report card."

"Yes, I know," my mom said icily. "Brandt gave me his weeks ago, but I had to call the school to get them to send me a copy of yours. Why is that, Lilly?"

I shrugged. "I lost it?"

"Conveniently, I'm sure. These grades are unacceptable, Lilly. I am embarrassed for you. I don't expect much, but I do expect effort. Clearly you haven't been exerting any in your studies."

I was silent, unable to come up with an acceptable excuse. It was true I hadn't made much effort at school, but how could I tell her I had a hard time getting interested in classes, especially in my senior year? How could I add that my next report card would be probably even worse because since the first of December, since my eighteenth birthday, I'd been distracted by nightmares and an unexpected past life? She wouldn't care or even know what I was talking about. And if I tried explaining to her about Ahaziel, she would only assume I'd let a boy distract me from schoolwork. There was nothing for me to say.

"I'm going to have to ground you," my mom continued. "I want you in your room, studying."

"How can I study?" I protested shrilly. "I don't know what we'll be learning in school in January. Besides, all my books are in my locker."

"I'm sure you can borrow Brandt's books. You can use them to read ahead, so you'll at least be somewhat aware of your lessons when your break is over."

"Why aren't you at work?" I asked snottily, snatching up the box of crackers.

For the first time a crack appeared in my mom's cool demeanor. "We can have that discussion another time.

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