Chapter 78

• Why did he think his dad was such a good guy under the surface? He was more deluded than my mother, who was saying something. Still, I was probably deluded about my mum, too. He was likely as optimistic as I was, hoping one day they’d turn a corner and be the parents we needed. At least my mum never raised her fists at me, and at least I was eighteen now, and able to provide support for us both, rather than depend on her to keep our electricity on.
• College went by in a blur as I tried to concentrate. English, Maths, Science. My surface-level friends chatted their usual pointless chatter, and the buzz of Friday was rippling through the other students, but I wasn’t feeling it. I had no plans for the weekend, other than longer shifts at the pizza place. I was done with any more fake illusions of friendship than necessary. I felt thirty years older than everyone around me anyway.
• I hung on in the library for a decent few hours after college finished, because I really couldn’t be doing with another round of Jayden singing Scottie’s praises. Plus, Scottie might well be there himself. I left it long enough that I managed to get to our block without any distractions and let myself in with a sigh. Mum was back from shopping. I saw it from the collection of bags lined up on the sofa. Zaza’s. Great. The price tags on those things would be expensive.