The Demolition Project by M. J. Padgett

Author:M. J. Padgett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: aging out, depression, anxiety, teen suicide, suicide prevention, good boy, bad girl, young adult, young love, young romance, contemporary
Publisher: MJ Padgett Books
Published: 2019-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN Kate planned to treat me like her very own Barbie doll when we got ready for school the next morning. Luckily, I managed to keep her frilly junk away from me by promising to let her go wild another day. I did, however, agree to wear a clean outfit she offered. My own smelled like the café, and I had no desire to wear it a second day. Kate managed to find something muted in color, but it still felt odd wearing someone else’s clothes. Is this what it’s like to have a best friend?

The smell of pancakes wafted into Kate’s room making my stomach growl loudly. She giggled and dragged me downstairs for breakfast. When the two of us walked into the kitchen, Knox did a double-take. His eyes sparkled with delight, and his smile tickled the corners of his eyes. He assumed I had gone during the night, and his delight at seeing me first thing in the morning made me feel good. Really good. He’s more than you deserve. I forced my mind to shut up and focused on the paisley tablecloth.

“Stop blushing. You’re blowing your whole bad girl image,” Kate whispered into my ear.

“Good morning darling, how was your... oh, hello.” Mrs. Harris paused when she saw me standing behind her niece. Kate was the spitting image of Jennifer Harris. They resembled each other so much, I had a hard time believing she wasn’t Kate’s biological mother. Her blonde hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and her attire indicated she was ready for a morning run.

“Aunt Jennifer, this is my friend Charlie. We were studying last night. It got late, so I let her stay.” Kate calling me her friend almost made me feel as good as Knox’s smile had, but not quite.

“Oh, that’s fine. It’s nice to meet you, Charlie. Charlie? Is that short for something?” she asked.

“It’s short for Charlotte, ma’am.” Jennifer Harris looked me over, up and down several times, analyzing me from every angle. I felt the judgment coming. It always did, but it was I who misjudged her. She was nothing but nice, no judgment in sight.

“I think Knox and Kate could learn a thing or two about manners from you. You don’t have to call me ma’am. Jennifer will do. Would you like some pancakes?” she offered.

“Yes ma’am, that would be wonderful,” I said, finding myself unable to call her by her first name. That was something that would get me into deep trouble in the shelter. Jennifer plated a few pancakes and placed them on the table for me.

I hadn’t had pancakes in so long I couldn’t remember what they tasted like. I nearly choked as I stuffed bite after bite into my mouth, not bothering to breathe between bites let alone savor the taste. Knox was the only one who didn’t chuckle at the way I attacked the homemade breakfast. Instead, he studied me with a sad expression. He knew pancakes were a delicacy for me.

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