His voice softens. “Yes. You take care. If you want to come back to Cherrywood, I—”
“Please, Ozzie.” My voice breaks.
I was hoping he wouldn’t bring it up. I knew in my mind that after learning about last night, my family would try to take me home.
But I can’t leave now.
Vanessa has finally given me the opportunity I’ve been waiting on all my life. Something happened between Keith and me and I cannot leave without knowing what it is, or how it will unfold in the future.
Yesterday changed my life in so many ways.
“Okay, I’ll say no more. You’re still in Keith’s house, right?” Oscar asks.
“No. I’m in an apartment at the Kings Security campus,” I reply, holding my breath.
Thankfully, he just groans and doesn’t argue further.
21
CLEMENTINE
There are three bedrooms in the apartment. Mere and I took the ones on one side of the living room and Keith has taken up the main bedroom on the other side. After Oscar’s call, I returned to my room. But minutes later, Mere poked her head through the door and asked if she could join me.
I readily agreed. Being alone isn’t something I want at this moment. I don’t want to think about the horrific last evening or the weird night with Keith and the weirder morning.
We don’t talk about what happened yesterday. We’re already on edge. I tell her about my workday instead.
“So, the entire prom collection is named after me?” Mere looks at me with wide eyes.
“It’s crazy. I was just calling my design Merida. But Vanessa chose your name for the entire collection.” I show her a photo of my design.
Merida gasps, holding my phone in her hand. “You’re so talented, Clem. It’s the prettiest prom dress I’ve ever seen.”
“I’ll make something much prettier for your real prom.” Hope builds inside me as I remember the dream I had of Mere’s prom. Will I still have this opportunity? Will we all still be together?
“Really?” she squeals.
Before I can reply, there’s a knock on the door and Keith steps in. My heart flips, seeing his big frame in my room. His eyes widen as he catches Mere and me stretched out on my bed.
Does this make him think our kiss was wrong?
Doesn’t he see that Mere and I are bonding so much beyond the world of friendship?
He clears his throat. “Oscar’s on his way.”
“Here?” I sit upright.
“I got a call from the main gate security. He should be here in a few minutes.” Keith hesitates before adding, “He isn’t alone.”
“Kristy?” My heart hammers in my chest. Please let it be Kristy. I don’t what anyone, especially Mom, to be here. But Keith shakes his head. “It’s my mom.”
I jump out of the bed and look down at my clothes. I’m wearing black flip-flops, out-of-fashion jeans, and a gray cotton T-shirt, which is a size too big. Everything was most likely picked from a discount store.
“My clothes. I… I can’t meet my mom dressed like this.” I try to fix my hair by loosening my ponytail and tying it back again.
“Clem, you look fine. Your family must be worried about you, that’s why they’re here.”
Sweet Mere! She has no idea why my family is here.