Chapter 35: Remember That Elaborate Lie You Made Up About Being From The Future? Part 1

Nubia had the covers over her head, but I knew that she wasn't asleep. I expected her to say something like "I told you so," but she didn't say anything. I lay there quietly.

I could never tell my mother the truth now. I was all in. I closed my eyes. I put Bill and all of the careful plans that he had made to protect himself at risk. I was not happy that he hadn't backed me up on this, but he had at least given me a back-up story. But damn, my mama would never trust me again. When she reached the age of seventy—again—she would probably throw this up in my face. Remember how you made up that elaborate lie about being from the future? That's why I can't trust your decision-making skills.

I went to sleep feeling as low as I had ever felt before.

On the school bus Bernice announced that Cheryl and some other girls were talking smack about me, but she assured me that she had my back and we spent most of the ride to school with her describing how she had defended me.