Not staying for the last class, I shot out of school and rushed home to get ahead of Jane. Need to gather the essentials before getting kicked out.

  At the cost of nearly numb lungs, I manage to set a record for covering the distance from school to home—just twenty-three minutes.

  Without pausing to catch my breath, I head to my room. Into my backpack goes my wallet with somehow a whole $400 in it, an unfinished bottle of juice, laptop, personal keys, and cell phone.

  Of course, I don't intend to leave home permanently. I'll just create the appearance and visit when Jane's absent. For this reason, I'm not worried about clothes and other daily stuff.

  I could follow Jane's order and go to my uncle in the next city. However, I'm sure he doesn't know about my possible visit and there's no arrangement, plus I fundamentally don't want to turn to him. When mom died, he didn't help Jane and me at all, even though he knew perfectly well we had no other close relatives. I still haven't forgotten or forgiven him for that.

  Instead, I plan to temporarily stay with Sharon or Rob. They live in big houses, there should be a room for me... well, at least definitely a storage closet. But if they refuse, I have some other options.

  The downside—there's uncertainty with school since Jane will know I'm still in city. Though she hardly has any way to influence that.

  It would be convenient if she'd at least specified how long she's kicking me out for. When she first demanded I leave, she let slip it would be for a relatively short period, but since then she dodges any details. I don't even think about the reasons anymore.

  Probably should wear something bright for the date... I suddenly thought as I looked in the mirror. Not that I cared about Lily's opinion, but being friendly and relaxed will definitely make her more open. It'll be easier to find out what motivates her.

  For the first time in a few weeks, I open my clothes closet and look for something suitable. Among the few items I manage to dig up just one pink t-shirt with a smiling strawberry print. It was a joke gift from Sharon for my 16th birthday.

  I pick it up—fits size-wise. Only the slightly out-of-place print is concerning.

  "Whatever," I said aloud. Soon I was decorated with a strawberry, my usual t-shirt and hoodie went into the backpack.

  With that done in my room, I dart to Jane's room. Need to swipe the gun. As a partially homeless person now, I need it more.

  As usual, there's wild chaos here, far surpassing my own mess. I'm always amazed how such carelessness fits with her strict and rigid personality.

  There's all kinds of trash—from food wrappers to torn clothes, unknown stuff sticking out of drawers, rumpled bed, desk covered in junk.

  Fortunately for me, she always keeps the gun box in one place. I carefully walk through piles of trash, clear a spot for myself and bend down in front of the bed, lighting up the space underneath with my phone flashlight.

  Chaos reigns there too, some old blankets mixed with towels blocking the view. Last time I dug for it two months ago, absolutely nothing has changed.

  Why the hell does she keep all this? I got angry, lying completely on the floor.

  Fitting myself in, I slide my hand under the blankets and move it around, trying to grab onto something. After a minute I feel something square and pull it out.

  "How did this even get there?!" I grumbled, tossed aside a plastic kiwi box and reached further.

  Over the next five minutes I dug out an old slipper, a small toy duck, and some wire before feeling another square object.

  Seeing a dark box coming out from under the blanket, I immediately open it and try to feel for the gun... but it's empty.

  No way, did she hide it somewhere else?

  I pull this box out completely, it turns out to just be similar to the one I need. Substantially smaller, more suited for some kind of jewelry.

  Suddenly I feel my skin prick around my wrist. Damn, I'll scrape up my whole arm with this digging, need to wrap it up.

  I decide to try my luck one last time before searching elsewhere. Pushing my arm in as deep as possible, I grabbed onto a square lid and pulled the object toward me.

  "Victory!" I rejoiced, clutching the trusty Glock 19.

  I get to my feet, dust myself off and put the gun with a spare magazine in the secret compartment of my backpack.

  Mission at home complete, I turn off the flashlight and check the time—forty minutes until 3. Definitely can't run into Jane, time to get out.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  I'll have to call a taxi to the park, none of my friends with cars can give me a ride. Really though, I'll arrive not much earlier, will only have to wait for her a little bit.

  Though based on today's experience, I wouldn't be surprised if she's already there, I thought, heading for the exit. Main thing is the "date" doesn't drag on until night.

  ##

  On the way to the park, I began to feel uncontrollable confusion. I had dozens of theories about Lily's goal, which led to just as many date scenarios, and I couldn't figure out how to behave. None of them seemed plausible, which only added to the mystery. I could only rely on chance and a successful attempt to get her to talk.

  As I stepped out of the taxi, I immediately confirmed my guess—my new friend was sitting on one of the benches at the entrance to the park, looking ahead. Lily took her appearance seriously: she's wearing a cute beige dress, light heels, and a small white purse slung over her shoulder. It's impressive that she dressed like that, but my strawberry wins hands down.

  She notices me, waves hello, stands up and walks to meet me. I put on a friendly face too.

  I see she's smiling sweetly... but as soon as we get close enough, her eyes bulge and her expression twists into a mixture of shock and confusion.

  "John, what the fuck?!" she asks accusingly. Seems the "romantic" atmosphere was destroyed before it could even start.

  "What?" I reply bewildered.

  "What is this shit?! How is this even fucking possible?!?!"

  "Um, what are you talking about?"

  "Is this... Is this a joke? Why?!"

  I followed her gaze, it's directed somewhere down. It quickly becomes obvious what got her so worked up. I smirk.

  "What, embarrassed to be seen with a guy in this t-shirt? Didn't think you were one of those who cares about others' opinions," I parodied her morning provocation.

  "In such a t-shirt...?" she said slowly.

  "Never seen childish prints before?"

  "John..." notes of sadness appeared in her voice. The girl's expression remains unchanged.

  It hits me that her shock is genuine and she's really stunned by something. Tension rises, I look again in the direction of her gaze, but there's nothing there.

  "Lily, are you okay?" I asked warily.

  Several more seconds pass, seemingly endless. At some point, this strange state suddenly leaves her.

  "You... you idiot!" no trace of shock remains, she's indignant. "Like I'd be embarrassed by some t-shirt with a googly-eyed strawberry? I wear similar ones to practice every day. But you probably put yours on for the first time in your life, judging by how wildly wrinkled it is."

  Lily sticks out her tongue. I sigh with relief, seems everything's back to normal.

  "Then what was that about?"

  "Ah... Wanted to see your reaction to something sudden and incomprehensible. Can't say you impressed me much. Your friend was way more emotional."

  The reason for Rob's strange answer becomes clear to me.

  "Should I take that as criticism or a compliment?" I said sarcastically.

  "However you want!"

  Hope she doesn't pull anything else like that, I thought. Though it was intriguing.

  "Alright, enough standing around, let's go walk," Lily grabbed my hand and strode toward the park gates.

  The park itself was sparsely populated, which was nice, and the sun finally came out from behind the clouds. This created a positive mood. The most important thing was not to run into anyone from school, or they'd take pictures of us together and the rumors would be unimaginable.

  We stepped onto the paved path laid along a lawn with trees and headed forward.

  "Been a while since your last date?" Lily starts. Something stings inside—not a question I wanted to hear.

  "Yeah..." I answer neutrally. Though that old mess barely counts as a date. "What about you?"

  "If you don't count the short talk with your friend, then three months ago. It went extremely badly, the guy turned out to be dull and boring. I'm sure you'll make up for that case."

  "So you don't consider me that way?"

  "I don't know anyone else who'd deliberately throw a ball in the PE teacher's eye. You're anything but boring."

  She has good conversational tact. Though hardly sincere.

  "Why does that impress you so much? Not the coolest life achievement."

  "First, I have personal dislike for the reasons mentioned earlier. And it's just cool that you can allow yourself that. If I did it, I'd get an ocean of problems."

  "Because of popularity?"

  "More because of my 'excellent reputation.' Everyone has unfounded special expectations and ideas about me. Primarily my dad, though I never even see him."

  "But that's for your benefit, isn't it? Your future's much brighter than mine."

  "It might not seem so from the outside, but all this responsibility, obligations and need to be perfect really fucking weighs on me. Can't say one wrong word, have to accommodate PE teachers like that, and all for some meaningless nonsense. It's really nice talking with you now because you don't care about all these social games. Not giving a damn about society—that's what I consider truly cool."

  I listened carefully and looked at her. It hadn't occurred to me that she had such a worldview. Only is all this true...?

  "Well, on the other hand, you have the strength and will to maintain yourself at the top, I physically couldn't do that. Deep down though, I would like to have status similar to yours."

  "And I'd like to throw a ball at that jerk and break the chemistry teacher's flasks. Ah, too bad you can't switch positions with someone even for a day," she said sadly.

  "What about your mother? You only mentioned your dad," I changed the subject seemingly by chance.

  "Mom died when I was 7. Car crash, still can't believe she parted with life so absurdly. Dad was broken with grief for several years and ended up completely burying himself in work. Lucky if we see each other two or three times a year. But he's still perfectly aware of all my actions and strictly controls me through school and his friends. Unfortunately, there's no other close relatives."

  "Oh, I'm sorry. I've got it rough with parents too: dad left right after I was born without explaining why, and mom died from clinical depression when I was 12. The only relative Jane and I have is an uncle who barely thinks about us. If not for Jane, I'd be totally lost in this life."

  "God, that's terrible! I sincerely sympathize, your situation is much worse than mine. Can't imagine what it's like to be left completely without parents. Glad your sister takes care of you."

  "Me too. Though since mom's death we've had pretty strained relations, especially lately."

  "Oh, why?"

  Probably better not mention getting kicked out of the house.

  "Don't know myself... Guess she's tired of everything."

  Suddenly an awkward silence fell. As a result, Lily put on a cheerful expression again.

  "Okay, let's not talk about sad things. What are your life plans? What do you want to do in general?" she asked.