Tallulah We got into Mr. Dace’s car without speaking. I wasn’t sure yet what to expect. If he was planning on telling my mother about the party or not. I didn’t think it sounded very fair, considering I hadn’t drunk anything. And I hadn’t gotten in the car with a driver who had been drinking. Mom knew I was with Asa at Ryker’s get-together to cheer Nash up. That had been a massive fail. Nash had not been cheery at all. He looked miserable. And none of his friends seemed to understand why. That had to be frustrating him. “Which way do I turn?” Mr. Dace asked. “Left,” I r eplied. He turned his small car left and then glanced over at me again. “Asa Griffith doesn’t seem like your type.” I’d just met the man. He had me for one class today. I frowned. “Why is that?” I asked, trying not to be snarky. I didn’t want to make him an enemy and give him a reason to go talk to my mom. He shrugged, turning his focus back to the road. “You seem more serious, mature, interested in your grades. Asa is a beast on the football field, but he’s also not serious about anything else.” I had no reason not to be honest. “You’re new. You don’t know who I was. Or what I looked like before the summer. I’ve lost weight. A lot of weight. I didn’t have many friends, or any friends before. A social life is new for me. I’m
adjusting to it all.” “How did you lose weight?” he asked. That wasn’t something the others had asked. They hadn’t cared. They’d just liked the results. “I walked daily. Drank water and ate healthy.” I almost added that I did that all because I was angry, hurt, and bent on revenge. But I didn’t. “That’s impressive. But you’re right. I wasn’t here last year. I didn’t know you. What I saw was today. And the girl I noticed wasn’t one to spend her Monday night at a party with drunk football players.” This was not his business. I didn’t need life counseling from my English Literature teacher. “I take my grades seriously. I enjoy reading. But I can also have a social life.” He nodded. “Yes, you can. But you’re just... more mature, or I assumed you were, than what I just witnessed back there. Those guys have years before they grow up.” I had never had a father. No man in my life to give me advice. Maybe this was normal. Older men liked to tell you what to expect from younger guys. I wasn’t sure, so I tried not to get annoyed. “What’s your favorite book?” he asked. “I don’t have one favorite. I’ve got a bookshelf of favorites, though, and I doubt you’ve read any of them.” He smiled then. The corners of his mouth lifting as I glanced over at him. We came to the intersection that, if you followed straight ahead, would take you to the high school. “Turn right,” I told him.
“I read too,” he r eplied. I didn’t doubt that. He seemed the reading type. “I’m sure you do. But I know you don’t read the books that are my favorites.” “And why’s that?” Leaning back, I finally relaxed since getting in this car. He was being much more pleasant now. “Twilight, Harry Potter all seven books, Beautiful Creatures, Hunger Games, City of Bones, Matched, The Selection, Before I Fall...” I paused, grinning now. “Read any of those, Mr. Dace?” He shot me a quick look, and his eyes were extra nice when he was smiling. I’d noticed that today in class. But in the moonlight they were almost... breathtaking. As was his smile. It was different. My stomach felt a little nervous. “I’ve heard of several of them. Since many were made into movies. But ke ep in mind I’ve taught high school before. Those happen to be popular among many high school readers. And I did read the Hunger Games.” Out of all the books I mentioned, I wasn’t surprised to hear that he’d read that series. “But not Twilight?” I teased. He chuckled and shook his head. “No, that one didn’t grab my interest.” “I can’t imagine why,” I drawled. Then I pointed up ahead. “The blue mailbox with the clouds painted on it. They... glow in the dark.” I hated even having to explain that. I loved my mother, but she was whimsical. Silly. And she loved things that glowed in the dark. “I see that. Makes it easy to spot.” He seemed amused. “Yes... I guess so.”
He slowed before it was necessary, and although I was sure he was just being careful, I realized I wanted to believe it was because he was enjoying my company as much as I was his. “Do I need to come inside and explain my bringing you home to your parents?” he asked. “No,” I r eplied quickly. “They won’t see my car and wonder who I am?” I knew my mom would be awake in the living room watching the news. But she wouldn’t look outside. “It’s just me and my mom. She trusts me. She has no reason not to. She knew where I was. I’ll explain what happened and that you gave me a ride if she questions it. But she won’t.” He looked surprised. “Very laid-back mother.” I gave a nod of agreement. “Yes. Who paints things to make them glow in the dark, bakes sweets that we don’t eat, and decorates for Christmas the day after Halloween.” “Sounds like life with her is never dull.” “Not one moment.” And I never could understand why the man who had supplied the sperm to make me hadn’t stuck around. My mom was fun. She brought smiles and happiness just by being her. Why wouldn’t a man want to be near that? He must have been a mean bastard. That’s all I could figure. “Where’s your dad?” Mr. Dace asked. “Don’t have one of those,” I r eplied flippantly, then reached for the door handle as the car came to a stop in my driveway. “I’m sorry.” He sounded like everyone did when I told them I didn’t have a father. Sad, concerned, like they wished they hadn’t asked.
“Don’t be. My life is good just like it is.” I looked back at him before I got out of his car. “Thanks for the ride.” He studied me a moment. “You’re welcome,” he r eplied. “See you in class,” I added, then st epped out of the car. “I look forward to it.” That comment made me pause. Just for a second. I closed the door behind me and walked to my front porch. His last five words teasing me. Like they meant something that I knew they didn’t. But why had he said that? Why that way? As I reached my front door, I glanced back to see him pull out of my drive. That was... very unexpected. All of it.