Tethered (J + P series) by D.A. Roach Page A

tonight.
     
     
     
    Chapter 16
     
    Saturday.  Dad wanted to take a drive with me to get the car washed. I don't know why he liked this particular car wash, but he was willing to drive 20 miles to get there a few times a month.
     
    “Ready?  You're driving.” he said with a smile.
     
    I was glad Dad was handing over the keys.  I needed to keep my driving skills sharp and I missed being behind the wheel. It did not provide the same freedom that driving alone had, but this was a close second.
     
    As I pulled out of the driveway he asked, “How is school going?”
     
    “I love it there.  It was hard at first, I was homesick.  But now my friends are like my family away from home.  We help each other out.” I replied.
     
    “That's great.  I met a few of them and they seem nice.  How do you think your grades will look?” he asked cautiously.
     
    “I don't know.  I really don't.  I have worked really hard this year but it's way harder than high school.”
     
    “Yeah, but you were an A, B student in accelerated classes – you should be breezing through college.” he said proudly. 
     
    “Um, Dad, there are a LOT of smart people there.  I am not sure you will see only A's and B's.” I tried to prepare him.  I honestly had no idea what my report card would say but if I prepped him for the worst case scenario, he could only be pleased once he saw the grades.   His body tensed.
     
    “You're not partying too much are you?”
     
    “I go out two times a month, nothing more.” I replied.
     
    He was eying me – trying to determine if I was telling the truth.
     
    I punched the code on the car wash and threw it into neutral. 
     
    “How's your roommate doing in her classes?” he inquired.
     
    “You know, I think she has really been struggling.  She has been partying more than attending class.  I tried to drag her to the library, but the truth is that she is rarely even around.” I sighed.  I worried that Gabby would not make it to sophomore year.  Maybe I would have to force her to join me at the library once a week next semester.
     
    The blow dryers started up and it's so loud that it's not worth trying to talk over them. 
    When we exited I said “It's driving me nuts not knowing how I scored on my finals.  You know, at school I can walk into the building and it's posted a day or two later.  Now I have to wait a week or more for it to arrive in the mail.” What I neglected to say was that I was petrified my parents would make it to the mailbox before me and see my grades before I did.
     
    'Waiting is hard.” he looked at the clock in the car and said, “We better hurry home so we can get ready for the dinner tonight.”  The dinner.  Every Winter break my parents have a dinner with Lisa's parents.  Lisa was a girl I became friends with in sixth grade.  She was awkward and shy but nice.  Over the summer, she had blossomed and came to seventh grade looking beautiful.  Everyone else was still awkward but she was like Aphrodite - you couldn't help but look at her with envy.  Unfortunately, she loved all the attention and it rotted her soul.  She became a shallow and self absorbed person.  She had a little gang of kids that adored her and followed her all around.  I was not looking forward to seeing Lisa tonight.  My parents thought she was incredible.  In fact, they would point out to me how perfect she was and how I should strive to be like her.
     
    When I got home I brushed my hair and pinned my bangs back.  I picked out my favorite dress and put it on. It was a little more snug than it had been this summer.  I guess I needed to watch what foods I chose at school to try and take these 10 pounds off.  As I was taking off the dress and trying to maneuver it over my head, my mom barged into my room.   “Perry” she said, followed by a loud gasp.  Since the dress was covering my eyes I was scared something dangerous was happening in the room.  Maybe I was