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ANGIE
The path I was on sloped downhill and I was nearly falling in my rush to get away from Lynn, my long strides eating up the pavement.
I'm so mad!
"Lynn, Lynn, Lynn!” I said aloud. Nobody was around to hear me.
“I don't understand you at all. What's your deal? Now you've got me so mad I'm talking to myself! First you're okay with "breaking and entering", or as you called it, "investigating" the music department at night to, to what? To find out that the music was stolen? What good did that do? What a waste of time that was. If you were here right now, that's what I'd tell you. I'd say "Waste of Time" right to your face."
Then I saw someone approaching on the path, so I continued the train of thought in my head.
We never found out anything. Well, except I found out all that stuff about Mr. Lee. I slowed down and readjusted my book bag on my shoulder as I raced down the path. I don't think I told Lynn about that. I meant to tell her this morning, but I forgot. I guess it doesn't matter now.
The path swerved to the left and I kept going, kicking at the asphalt. I can't comprehend anything that goes through your little mind, Lynn. We; you, me, Kanu, we all work hard together racing all around town to try to track down your brother. Then, impossibly, we find him! Okay he's a little beat up, but he's all-right. That's good, right? Why can't you act like it's good? You have him safely home, which is what you wanted. But still you don't tell him the truth.
"If your brother is the most important guy in the whole world,” I shouted, startling a bird, “Then why not tell him the truth?" I kicked a rock, and it flew down the hill.
I thought you were like me, that you cared about your family. Now I'm not sure. You lie so easily. Maybe you've lied to me. How many times have you lied to me?
That stopped me in my tracks. I thought I had found a friend. A good friend, someone I could trust. But not you. You're just like all the others, just like my ex-boyfriend. I can't trust you.
I started walking again.
What's the deal with your brother, anyway? At least Lynn was acting a little interested in how he was doing. Doesn't he care about her? He didn't even seem to like her. First there was last night, when he completely ignored her. Even though she's the one who pulled him out of the garbage! Then he completely lost it over Kanu, and now he just froze her out. No matter how many times I fight with my brothers at least they give me a chance to work it out. Why wouldn't he give her a chance to fix her mistake?
My watch beeped, and I flipped my wrist up to check; it's nearly ten fifteen. I'm definitely late for class. I looked around, disoriented for a moment. What class was I going to? Where the heck am I?
This path was flat, so I must be on the north side of campus. It led directly to a building that was very out of place, it was so tall. Two ten-story yellow-brick towers were connected by a skywalk.
This is the math and science building - I remember taking that skywalk last week to get to a professor's office hours.
I swung my bookbag off my shoulder, to find my schedule. Where am I going? I should know what class I have now, what's wrong with me? I can't even think straight! All of these other thoughts keep getting in my way! Dammit. This is ridiculous. Lynn is a mess, Jim is a mess. Nothing makes any sense. It's driving me batty.
Mom always said that when I feel mixed up and overwhelmed, I should just pick one thing and solve it. What one thing can I fix? I don't want to go anywhere near Lynn, but I NEED to know what's going on.
I looked up at the Math building. I wonder if...would Jim talk to me?
It would be all-right to talk to him, wouldn't it? He wouldn't tell his sister what happened to him, but maybe he'll tell me. I'm a stranger, or at least, I'm someone he just met.
I've got this. I can miss class today, and work on at least one mystery. I am tired of all the questions and sneaking around and the lies. It's time I heard the truth, about something. Anything.
To put actions into words, I started walking forward. I won't be able to do anything else until I know the truth. I strode purposefully to the door, and tugged on the handle.
The Math department was nearly empty, but an old skinny white man with white hair wearing a pink button down shirt was sitting behind the front desk. I had calmed down enough to politely ask for the TA offices, and he pointed me in the right direction. Jim's door had his name and someone else's posted on the door, which was slightly ajar. I was about to knock when I realized that I could hear him talking.
I can wait, it's probably just a kid with a math question. I leaned, then slid down the wall and planted myself outside the wooden door, and opened up my chemistry book to pass the time.
A few minutes later the talking had gotten louder and I couldn't help but overhear.
"No, it's not like that!" he said, his voice breaking. Was he crying? "I didn't lie to you, sweetie, honey, please listen to me!" He must be talking to Kanu, although I couldn't hear her response. Maybe he was on the phone? Then there was silence. I wavered - maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe I should just go. But no, he was a big boy, he could handle it. I wiggled myself up the wall, shoved my book back in my bag, and knocked.
There was no response, but the talking had ended too. "Hello?" I called out and pushed the door wide. He was sitting alone at his desk. He swiveled the old office chair, turning to face me, and it squeaked. Had he been crying? It was hard to tell under the bruises. I bet Lynn is crying right now, too. Wow does this family cry a lot.
"Oh, um hi." he said, and grabbed a tissue off of his desk. He wiped his nose and said, "Yeah, sorry. Allergies." He blew his nose loudly. "C'min. It's Angie, right?"
I said, "Yes. Sure, I understand. Thanks." Wow, still the lying. Of course, I know that. That's why I'm here right now. I sighed. I might as well get it over with quickly.
"Can I sit down?' I asked.
He nodded and said, "Okay, sure. Just move my office-mate's stuff, she won't mind. She's never here, anyway."
I looked around the tiny room. Oh boy, wow either this department was dirt cheap or he was a really low-status grad student. They had somehow fit two desks with hutches and two chairs into a 6 by 6 foot box. A small window overlooked a parking lot. His desk was surprisingly neat (compared to his car) but the other one was crammed with books and papers that were spilling out of the shelves. A few papers were scattered across his office-mate's desk, and also her section of the floor.
I slid the second chair out. The seat was covered with more papers, so I lifted them and tried to balance the pile on top of the desk, then I sat down and faced Jim. He had finished wiping his eyes, so he looked a little better. He still looked like he had been run over with a truck, but at least his face was clean.
"So, you are Lynn's friend, huh?" he asked.
"Yes, well for the moment," I replied, shaking my head in disappointment. "But that's not why I'm here."
"Oh, yeah? Why 'r you payin' me a visit, then?"
"To ask you for the truth."
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