Off Limits by Glen Robins

Author:Glen Robins [Glen Robins]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2021-04-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Junior Year—Collin

Edison High School

Huntington Beach, California

After Thomas Burns’ funeral, Collin noticed how Emily became distant and quiet around the group during lunch and stopped coming over to Collin’s house to study and hang out. She was also noncommittal about meeting him for their Saturday morning walks with Charlie.

He missed the real Emily, but he knew she was grieving her loss. Even though she had yet to open up to him again since Thomas’s passing, he suspected she felt guilty about what she had told him.

Collin tried to fill the void left by her hollow homelife to the extent she would allow him. He felt very unsuccessful about it.

By the end of the third week of the second semester, Collin felt the disconnect with Emily had gone on too long. To remedy the situation, he brought Charlie to her house on a Saturday morning in early February. When Emily’s mother answered the door, both Collin and Charlie were viewed with disdain as she drew back and glared down at them. “I’m afraid Emily is unavailable,” Mrs. Burns snapped. She halfway hid herself behind the sturdy door as if Charlie were a ferocious beast.

This almost made Collin laugh out loud.

Collin responded with the only thing that popped into his mind. He tried to brush off her condescension by being energetic and friendly. “Oh, I’m sorry. Do you know when she might be available to go for a walk with Charlie here? He misses her.”

A dark look crossed Katherine Burns’ face. “Well, quite frankly, she will not be available for quite some time. She is enrolled in college preparation courses which take place in the evenings, with practice examinations every Saturday.”

Collin shot an eyebrow upwards as the surprise registered. “Oh, Emily hadn’t mentioned anything about this—”

“Of course not. She didn’t think I was serious when I warned her not to waste her time. Since she has chosen to attend public school, she has fallen far behind the academic standards required if she is to attend her father’s alma mater. She has a lot of making up to do and cannot afford any further hindrances.”

Collin found himself dumbfounded. Was she talking about him? Did she just call him a hindrance? He looked into Mrs. Burns’ narrowed eyes, searching for something to say that wouldn’t add to Emily’s woes, but ultimately decided not to respond. He was halfway between stunned and angered. Heat was building in his cheeks and neck. Collin tamped down his first impulse, remembering some of his mother’s teachings. Avoid confrontation. She’ll take anything you say out of context and use it against Emily, he said to himself. Just walk away. That’s the best thing.

So he turned away and began to descend the dozen or so brick-covered steps that led back down to the sidewalk.

But his acquiescence did not prevent Katherine Burns from going further. She raised her voice so he could hear her clearly. “Furthermore, it would be well if you did not attempt to further distract my daughter from her studies.

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