Author's Note: Mia worries about her best friend.

Chapter 4

Mia was only half listening to what Rebecca and Isabel were telling her about their weekend this morning in class. It was a week after Letty's dad's funeral and her friend hadn't been back to school since then. Of course Mia expected her to take some time off, but she also knew that Letty had dreaded being stuck at home with her mother in the aftermath of her father's death, afraid the woman would go back to drinking.

Mia and her dad had gone to the funeral and that was the last time she'd even seen Letty. She was starting to worry.

Maybe after school she'd swing by and offer to help catch her up with her missing assignments… or at least check in on her.

Mr. Victor had just started taking attendance when the girl in question walked through the door, not quite late enough to get a tardy. Mia let out a little sigh of relief and smiled over at her.

Letty didn't smile back, but she gave her a small nod, sinking into her seat and trying to ignore the other kids staring at her. By now the whole seventh grade probably knew that her dad was dead. Letty squared her shoulders, sending an unfriendly glare at the most obvious offenders until people quickly found something else to do.

Mr. Vincent passed back the math tests from the week before and told Letty to be prepared to take the make up exam at the end of the week.

Class was boring as usual, and Letty read the car magazine hidden in her textbook while Mia dutifully took notes and followed the lesson. After the class was over she rushed out the door after her friend, grabbing her arm gently.

"Hey," she said. "I didn't know if you'd be back…" it was lame and Mia knew it was lame. She didn't want to treat her friend the way people had treated her after her mom had died. She cleared her throat and shook her head. "Anyway, do you want to come over after school today? I can help you with whatever work you missed…"

Letty sighed, then shrugged. "Sure, I guess." She never seemed to care much about school, but Mia knew she'd always tried because it had been important to her father. "I gotta go to English.." she said, then paused. "I'll see you at lunch?"

Mia gave her a grin, nodding. "Yeah. Our usual spot."

The rest of the morning passed as usual and once Mia arrived at the area in the quad beneath one of the large trees. Usually Letty would swing by the cafeteria to grab her lunch before meeting her here.

Mia had just unwrapped her sandwich when the other girl appeared in front of her, wearing her usual raggedy jeans and oversized t-shirt. She sat down beside her with her tray of food, some congealed-looking macaroni and cheese and an apple and a bottle of water.

"You should just let me pack you a lunch," Mia said, frowning at the food.

"No way, you're not my damn Mom, Mi," Letty groused. "Besides I can make a sandwich if I want to. I just like to sleep in more."

Mia snorted and they ate in silence for a moment.

"So… how are things?" Mia finally asked.

"Shitty," Letty said. "But Mom hasn't started drinking again yet…" she poked at her macaroni. "She just cries all the time. I hated being around it. That's why I wanted to go ahead and come back to school."

"You know you can always come over to our place… if it gets to be too much," Mia offered.

"I know," Letty nodded. "And thanks. I will."

Mia was silent another moment. "I know how much it sucks…" she said softly. "I can't say that it stops but… you know, it does get a bit easier to just keep going."

Letty didn't say anything but she nodded. The two friends sat in companionable silence again before Mia changed the topic to the upcoming school dance, which Letty groaned about, then about her brother annoying her and about a race Letty should come with them too in the next few weeks.

Yeah, it would get easier to just keep going. She just wished her dad was here to come along with her.