He Left Me on the Launched Drop Tower for His Bestie’s Laugh Chapter 07

He Left Me on the Launched Drop Tower for His Bestie’s Laugh Chapter 07

My mom spoke first. She looked me up and down, frowning.

“Why are you so skinny? Hiding out in a place like this-your face is all burnt and blotchy. What are you even wearing? Where’d you get those pants?”

Her questions hammered me in that same tone: impatient, disgusted, that familiar what have you done to yourself now” blame.

Before, I would’ve dropped my head and tugged at my cuffs. I glanced down at the rough canvas

pants that Principal Reeves’ spouse gave me.

“They’re fine. They hide dirt well.”

My mom choked on her words.

Ethan stepped forward, a plastic bag swinging from his hand. “Willa, we brought you food. That brand of crackers you love, and some fruit…”

His voice was rough.

His eyes stayed on my face, like he was checking to see if I was still in one piece. “I don’t eat those anymore. I never really liked them, honestly. The biscuits here are just fine.”

I’d never liked those crackers. But I was too scared to say so. If I did, I’d have nothing.

Blaire laughed from behind. “Willa, you’re so funny. We’re here to take you home.”

Lily had somehow appeared behind me, hugging my leg, peeking out with half her face, timidly eyeing the three of them.

Ethan looked down at her, startled.

“Who’s this kid?”

“My student.”

He repeated it like he didn’t understand.

“Your… student?”

“Yeah.”

My mom’s frown deepened, like the word “student” had personally offended her.

“You’re a teacher in this dump? You can barely string a sentence together-what are you teaching? You’re ruining those kids.”

Blaire tugged Ethan’s sleeve.

“Look how thin she’s gotten. The conditions here must be awful. Let’s not argue.’

Ethan took another step, only two away.

“Willa, I was wrong before. Come back with me, I promise from now on-”

“From now on, what?”

He opened his mouth.

“That you won’t make me ride the Drop Tower alone? That you’ll stop Blaire when she plans a prank? That you’ll speak up for me when my mom tears into me?”

His lips moved but no sound came.

“I’m fine here. I’m not going back.”

My mom finally snapped.

She lunged forward, reaching to pinch my ear-her favorite move, dragging me in front of the neighbors to call me a “coward.”

But I stepped back.

Her hand grabbed air.

I nudged Lily gently behind me, then stood straight and faced my mom.

“Mom, I’ve been here a month. And for the first time in my life, someone was scared for me. A little girl brought me her nightlight so I wouldn’t be alone in the dark.”

My mom’s face went red. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

I took a breath, nails digging into my palms, but my voice held steady.

“It means you’ve called me weak and pathetic my whole life. Twenty-three years I believed it.

This month is the first time I thought-maybe I’m not.”

My mom’s lips trembled.

“Don’t give me that crap! You think being some volunteer teacher makes you something? A girl

like you-”

“A girl like me, what?”

She stopped dead.

Wind rushed through the valley, rustling the pomegranate tree.

Ethan, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke. “Willa… do you still love me?”

Blaire suddenly cut in.

“Enough already. Willa, you finally beat me. Happy now? Stop messing around and come

home.”