How Not to Spend Your Senior Year by Cameron Dokey

time to argue. We need to be on the road in five.”
    â€œThanks,” I said. “I really appreciate this.”
    I headed into my bedroom and closedthe door. It was only then that I realized the truth: I had no idea what I’d say to Elaine now that I’d gotten permission to make the call. I mean, let’s face it, the truth was very definitely out.
    Mind racing, I pulled my cell phone out of my school pack and brought up my own personal phone directory, which contains all of two numbers: Elaine’s and Alex’s.
    Oh, god. Alex, I thought. By this time tomorrow, he’d think I was dead, and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.
    You’re probably wondering why I didn’t just call him, too. And the truth is, I thought about it. But I also thought about the story my dad had just told. I was dealing with a potential life-and-death situation here. Specifically Dad’s and mine. According to the story, Dad had pretty much spent his whole life making sure that I was safe. I couldn’t pay him back by doing something that would risk him now.
    Don’t think about Alex, I told myself. Don’t think about the kiss you just shared and the fact that now you’ll never go to the prom. If you do, you’ll start to cry, and Elaine will knowthere’s something wrong. You can make it up to Alex later. You can find a way.
    Blinking rapidly to hold back the tears, I punched the code for Elaine.
    â€œIt’s me,” I said when she picked up.
    â€œHey,” she said. “What’s taking so long?”
    Fast. Do it fast, I thought. Sort of like pulling a tooth. It hurts like anything when you just haul off and yank, but it does make the pain go away sooner.
    â€œElaine,” I said. “I can’t come over.”
    â€œWhat? Why not?”
    â€œMy dad got this promotion at work,” I heard myself say. I have no idea where this notion came from, but I was not about to look a gift inspiration in the mouth.
    â€œThat’s why he came home early. To tell me all about it. The big boss wants to take us both out for dinner tonight. Apparently he’s into getting to know the families of key employees or something.”
    â€œWell, that sounds potentially boring,” Elaine remarked. “Do you know where you’re going?”
    Completely off the top of my head, I named the swankiest restaurant that I could think of.
    â€œYou’d better dress up,” Elaine warned. “I think that’s one of those places where, if you show up not wearing pantyhose, they give you some.”
    â€œThat is so gross,” I said. I pulled in a breath. It was now or never.
    â€œSookay I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    I actually thought I sounded pretty convincing, except for the fact that I’d managed to completely defy the laws of physics and speak at the speed of light. Apparently Elaine remained unconvinced. A potentially ominous pause filled the phone.
    â€œJo, are you all right?” she finally asked. “Your voice sounds . . . I don’t know . . . kind of funny.”
    â€œOf course I’m all right,” I said quickly. “I’m always all right. I want you to remember that. As a matter of fact, I want you to promise me that you will.”
    â€œOkay,” Elaine said, her own voice brisk and decisive. “That’s it. What’s going on?”
    â€œNothing,” I responded. “But if something were , I’d be all right. I want you to remember that. I want to hear you say you will, and then I have to go.”
    â€œI don’t understand,” Elaine began.
    â€œIt doesn’t matter,” I cut her off. I took a breath. “Elaine, I realize we haven’t known each other all that long, but I’m serious about this. You have to trust me. Please just say you know I’ll be all right, no matter what you may read or hear to the contrary.”
    â€œI