oils with the jojoba, but the combination smelled like a stuffy cabin. Iâd even let it sit longer than two weeks trying to mellow it out, but the musty smell remained.
Last week, Iâd bought some cypress oil. Maybe if I put eight drops into the jojoba with a few drops of cinnamon it would balance out into a nice scent. I opened my log book where I kept careful notes of all my perfume recipes. Then I began lining up my supplies. If it came out well, I could try it out on Lance to see if he liked it.
There was a knock.
âYeah?â
The door opened and my sister, Sarah, stuck her head in. âWhat are you doing?â
âMaking perfume.â
She waltzed through the door â Sarah waltzed everywhere. She wanted to be a famous ballerina, so she pretended she was on stage all day long. The thing was, she kind of looked like a ballerina, flowing blonde hair, long skinny legs, nose in the air.
âCan I smell it?â
âIâm not even close to being finished.â
She plopped on my bed.
âDadâs gone again. Wonât be home for dinner.â
âHim missing dinner is nothing new,â I said.
âYou think he stays away on purpose?â she asked, searching my eyes.
âWhy would you think such a thing? He has two jobs. He hardly has any free time.â
âIâd rather go to public school. Then he wouldnât have to work every single minute of the day.â
I grimaced. âMom and Dad wonât hear of it, especially Mom. Itâs Bates Academy or nothing. How many times have we had to listen to her go on and on about what a great school it is? At least she doesnât volunteer all the time like that batty group of moms in the Booster Club. But I thought you liked Bates. I wouldnât want to go anywhere else.â
âStill, itâd be nice to see Dad,â Sarah said. âPlus, Momâs a super crab tonight.â
âSheâll get over it. Give her some space. You can be a bit clingy.â
She stood up in a huff. âThanks a lot. Youâre such a comfort.â
âSorry.â I sat and patted my bed. âSit with me for a minute. How was school today?â
âI can stay?â She jumped back onto my bed and scooped up some of my stuffed animals, hugging them. âIt was great until Jonathon punched Bradley at recess. Then the whole school had to listen to this huge lecture about how bad fighting and bullying are. It was totally unfair.â
I laughed. âSounds like it.â
âI actually liked Jonathon before. Now I canât stand him. Anna likes him, though, âcuz she told me.â Sarah beamed as if revealing the most delicious secret in the world.
âWell, I guess itâs good for her you donât like him anymore.â
Sarahâs eyes lit up. âYouâre right, Emili, thanks. I guess I better go do my math assignment. I hate math, donât you?â
I grinned. âGo do your homework.â
She dropped my animals and sashayed out of the room. I stared at my phone. Marc shouldâve already gotten my text. Like a total coward, I picked up my phone and turned it off, dropping it onto my bedspread like it was hot. I didnât want to talk to him or read whatever heâd text back. I couldnât bear it. I just couldnât.
I glanced upwards. How many times had I lain in bed counting all the circular brush strokes on the ceiling? Other than my perfume, it was the perfect distraction from one mess or another. I started counting them again, but I didnât get far. It wasnât going to work this time. A gripping sadness settled over me, and all I wanted to do was stop my brain from thinking.
I felt like a limp doll. I stayed in my room for the next couple hours, my gaze going again and again to my silent phone. I still couldnât make myself turn it back on. I tried to do some English homework but couldnât concentrate. Marcâs face kept
Clive Cussler, Paul Kemprecos