Read Online After the Before by Jessica Gomez - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jessica Gomez
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face when she glances between the door and me, and asks, “Can I stay for just a few more minutes?” I already know I can’t deny her anything.
I nod … yes.
Chapter Eleven
Jasmine
After we discuss our project, we sit in silence. There are a million questions running through my mind, questions I’ve wanted to ask for so long. Why did you join a gang? Why didn’t you ever come to see me in the hospital, or after? Why did you forget about me?
I ask none of them. I’m just grateful he let me stay a little longer to finish working out the jitter bugs from earlier.
When I finally work up enough courage to go outside, Alex insists on walking me out , and I want him to. On our way to my car, his eyes venture to all the people around us. I thought it safe, so I glance too. No one will meet his eyes. Everyone seems to know that a major infraction has occurred to someone the gang leader knows. I wonder if they think I am a lady friend of his. The thought doesn’t disgust me… it’s actually the opposite.
We make arrangements to walk down to the river after our last period tomorrow and look for all the plants on the list. The more we are able to locate, the more points we will receive on the project.
Even though the evening started out horribly, my visit ended relatively well, and my last smile stays plastered to my face as I drive back to the wealthier side of town. In ways, I wonder what it would be like to live in a lower class neighborhood. Everyone’s yards hold a bit of personality and most look like they take pride in their homes, while the wealthier yards are all the same manicured lawns, bushes, and shrubs, lining every sidewalk and house.
I pull into the driveway and tuck my car into the garage. The four, two story white pillars at the front of our house greet me. I’m returning home later than normal, but still hope to catch my dad before he goes down for the evening.
Once inside, I head straight for his room, ecstatic to find him still awake, and his nurse putting his night meds into his IV.
“Hey, Daddy!”
His eyes light up when he sees me. He puts on his strongest smile and blinks once.
“I was hoping you would still be awake. How was your day?”
He blinks once again.
“To tired to talk to me, huh?”
He blinks once.
“Well then, let me do all the talking.” I smile. I can tell by the look in eyes that he knows something is up. There are weeks that go by that I don’t even smile, let alone within minutes apart from each other.
“My day at school went well. My teachers are still hounding me about getting all of my work done so I can graduate early , which is going to be awesome!” I look at him and see the excitement in his eyes for me. I pause for a second before I spill my next bit of info. I don’t expect him to react badly, but if he does, who would he tell? “I’m lab partners with Alex Navarro in biology. We have a project together; it’s due a few days after we get back from the senior trip. What do you think about me talking to him Dad?” I’m concerned that it will bother him. Before he can blink, I look away and continue to talk, afraid of his scrutiny. “I know mom doesn’t want me anywhere near him, or his mother for that matter, but…I don’t know…I just can’t see how they should be blamed for any of it. They are living through the same nightmare we are and…”
“Jaaazzzz.”
His voice is stronger than I’ve heard it in a long time. He definitely achieves his goal of getting my attention, so I look at him, watching all the emotions in his eyes as he gives me one long, solid blink.
I wait for him to blink again. When he only stares back at me, I ask. “Are you sure?” My voice thick with emotion, more than a conversation about Alex should elicit. On the other hand, relief sweeps through me – I can talk to him without feeling guilty.
My father blinks hard again.
“Sorry to interrupt,” the nurse says, “but he just received his nightly meds
I nod … yes.
Chapter Eleven
Jasmine
After we discuss our project, we sit in silence. There are a million questions running through my mind, questions I’ve wanted to ask for so long. Why did you join a gang? Why didn’t you ever come to see me in the hospital, or after? Why did you forget about me?
I ask none of them. I’m just grateful he let me stay a little longer to finish working out the jitter bugs from earlier.
When I finally work up enough courage to go outside, Alex insists on walking me out , and I want him to. On our way to my car, his eyes venture to all the people around us. I thought it safe, so I glance too. No one will meet his eyes. Everyone seems to know that a major infraction has occurred to someone the gang leader knows. I wonder if they think I am a lady friend of his. The thought doesn’t disgust me… it’s actually the opposite.
We make arrangements to walk down to the river after our last period tomorrow and look for all the plants on the list. The more we are able to locate, the more points we will receive on the project.
Even though the evening started out horribly, my visit ended relatively well, and my last smile stays plastered to my face as I drive back to the wealthier side of town. In ways, I wonder what it would be like to live in a lower class neighborhood. Everyone’s yards hold a bit of personality and most look like they take pride in their homes, while the wealthier yards are all the same manicured lawns, bushes, and shrubs, lining every sidewalk and house.
I pull into the driveway and tuck my car into the garage. The four, two story white pillars at the front of our house greet me. I’m returning home later than normal, but still hope to catch my dad before he goes down for the evening.
Once inside, I head straight for his room, ecstatic to find him still awake, and his nurse putting his night meds into his IV.
“Hey, Daddy!”
His eyes light up when he sees me. He puts on his strongest smile and blinks once.
“I was hoping you would still be awake. How was your day?”
He blinks once again.
“To tired to talk to me, huh?”
He blinks once.
“Well then, let me do all the talking.” I smile. I can tell by the look in eyes that he knows something is up. There are weeks that go by that I don’t even smile, let alone within minutes apart from each other.
“My day at school went well. My teachers are still hounding me about getting all of my work done so I can graduate early , which is going to be awesome!” I look at him and see the excitement in his eyes for me. I pause for a second before I spill my next bit of info. I don’t expect him to react badly, but if he does, who would he tell? “I’m lab partners with Alex Navarro in biology. We have a project together; it’s due a few days after we get back from the senior trip. What do you think about me talking to him Dad?” I’m concerned that it will bother him. Before he can blink, I look away and continue to talk, afraid of his scrutiny. “I know mom doesn’t want me anywhere near him, or his mother for that matter, but…I don’t know…I just can’t see how they should be blamed for any of it. They are living through the same nightmare we are and…”
“Jaaazzzz.”
His voice is stronger than I’ve heard it in a long time. He definitely achieves his goal of getting my attention, so I look at him, watching all the emotions in his eyes as he gives me one long, solid blink.
I wait for him to blink again. When he only stares back at me, I ask. “Are you sure?” My voice thick with emotion, more than a conversation about Alex should elicit. On the other hand, relief sweeps through me – I can talk to him without feeling guilty.
My father blinks hard again.
“Sorry to interrupt,” the nurse says, “but he just received his nightly meds
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