Karyn woke up and stretched in her bed, luxuriating as she felt her calves and feet run across the comforter.
And sat bolt upright.
This isn't my bed, she thought vehemently but with underlying uncertainty.
She had fallen into a peaceful sleep, based on the position of the sun, hours ago, after Mom and Daddy--
No. Mom is Bethany Black, Dad is Jake Black. That's Sarah's mom and dad.
had left her
No, they left Kara. I'm Karyn.
(but they left me)
to make sure Sarah and Paige made it out the door.
Paige is always running late, she must have driven Sarah crazy--
Karyn shook her head. She needed to get moving, to clear her head if nothing else. She heard a chime on
(her phone)
the phone next to her on the bed. It was from Sarah (with a profile pic of Sarah laughing with open joy in a way Karyn had never seen). She tapped it, and it was a group selfie from
(the squad)
Sarah and the rest of the cheerleaders holding up an impromptu sign that read, "GET BETTER SOON, IT SMELLS TOO NICE HERE WITHOUT YOU."
Karyn couldn't help herself, a laugh burst out of her at that.
Susan McMillan
(Mom)
popped her head in with a smile. "You're looking better," she said warmly.
Karyn had spent her whole life being loved by
(Jake and Bethany Black)
her mom and dad, but that smile was like sunshine after a cloudy day. "I am," she said. "Can I go to school now?" She needed to get out of here and talk to Jon.
(why on earth would I talk to a loser like him?)
Susan's smile turned wry. "Nuh uh," she said with Mom Finality. "Doctor said you probably needed rest, so I let you sleep the morning away. Come down and have some pancakes, I made chocolate chip just for you."
Karyn paused. Chocolate chip pancakes were her favorite kind and always had been. Weren't they? Hadn't they been?
The need to actually get out of
(her)
this bed and the sudden rumbling in her stomach helped her push aside that concern. "Coming, Mom," she said with a smile, not noticing what she'd said.
