You’re Invited!

This is part 4 to the Marenford series.

Read Part 1, "Everything's Illegal in Marenford."

Read Part 2, "This is Marenford High."

Read Part 3, "Freedomford."

Image: Pinterest

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“You’re messing with me,” Noah said, crossing his arms.

We were talking behind the school building near the dumpsters, the only place I could find around here that didn’t have cameras. This place reeked almost as bad as the hockey boys.

“I’m not,” I assured him, narrowing my eyes. “Me and a couple friends are escaping Marenford tomorrow.”

“So… you lied when I asked if you planned on staying in Marenford?”

“Well, I’m telling you now,” I pointed out, crossing my arms over my chest. 

We stood in silence for a moment. I wish I knew what he was thinking. Because he was thinking. I could practically see the cogs turning in his brain. 

“You’re serious, then?” he asked, tilting his head to the side.

The sun was beginning its descent across the horizon, the sky turning orange. 

“I’m serious,” I said. “I’m sick of this place. We all are. You can… You can come with us.”

His eyebrows raised so high I wondered if they’d fly off his forehead.

“I’m in,” Noah said quickly. “Who else is going?”

“Just me and two of my friends,” I said. 

I wondered how Sam would react to me bringing along a guest. She’d probably want to kill me.

“So you’re just… inviting me to come?” Noah asked, tilting his head. “What’s the catch?”

“Dude,” I said in an exasperated tone, rolling my eyes. “There is no catch. Listen-”

I pulled a notebook out of my bag and ripped out a piece of paper, the shredded bits falling to the ground like artificial snow. Which we did have, by the way. Real snow was too dangerous apparently.

“We’re meeting at Leota’s Field tomorrow at three AM and leaving from there. Bring anything you might need for a week… or a month or-”

I stopped short. I didn’t know how long this journey would take, in all honesty.

“Just plan accordingly.”

I handed him the paper and zipped up my backpack, slinging it over my shoulder.

He took the page gingerly as if it was on fire. 

“Okay, I’ll be there,” he said slowly, studying my face.

Again, I wish I knew what he was thinking. I turned away and started walking. Then I turned back to him.

“Oh, one last thing,” I added. “Don’t get caught.”

He gave me a crooked smile, stuffing the page in his pocket. “I won’t, Jasmine.”

~

My dad had short brown hair and was still in his work uniform: a white collared shirt and tan slacks. His beige skin was tanned from working in the sun all day. He was a security guard. Law enforcement. Stupid-rule enforcer. Whatever you wanted to call it.

He was sitting at the dining table poring over the newspaper. I could read the headline from where I was. “Another escapee caught.” I gulped.

My mom was leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed. Her dark curly hair was permed and fell across her shoulders. She was wearing dark jeans and a lavender-colored knitted sweater. She had a small pink scar across her dark brown skin. It was underneath her left eye. She got it while playing with her sister as a kid.

“Where have you been?” she asked suspiciously as I walked through the door.

“I had a school project I was working on,” I fibbed, holding on tighter to the straps of my backpack. “It was a science project.”

“Didn’t you just have the science fair?”

“I mean it was an art project- or, a science-art project.”

My mom’s eyes were staring straight into my soul. This lie was just getting worse and worse.

“We’re doing a joint science and art project, and speaking of that, I really need to finish working on it,” I said, avoiding my mom’s gaze and sliding into my room before she could ask me any more questions. 

I shut my door, careful not to slam it because my parents hated when doors got slammed. I checked my phone. Still no news from Sam. I tossed my phone on my bedside table and fell backwards on my bed. 

My room was small, like all the bedrooms in Marenford. My bed was pushed up against the wall with a window above it. I liked looking outside as I fell asleep.

Plus, I could climb out the window and go on to the roof if I wanted to. Sam and I used to do that all of the time before my dad caught us.

I had posters all over my room that my mom bought me back when I got sick. I got super sick when I was 10 and the doctors didn’t know what to do. I could barely move. All I would do all day was sit in my bedroom, so my mom bought me the posters so I’d have something to look at.

I had a floor lamp with the light being the shape of a cloud in the corner of my room, and a beige plush carpet that made everything feel cozy.

I rolled over on my bed and checked my phone again. Still nothing. I wondered if I should tell Sam now or just spring it on her later. I decided on keeping it a secret for now. She was probably getting ready anyway.

I squeezed my eyes shut, listening to the afternoon breeze beat the tree branches against my window.

I really hope this all works out.