"Mom! Where's my blue sweater!" I called, running down the stairs.

"In the wash. It was your turn to do laundry!" She called back.

"Crap! Crap, crap!" I said.

"What is it?" She asked.

"That's my lucky sweater! I can't do a math test without my lucky sweater!" I said.

Dad chuckled at the dining room table.

I turned to him, "You laugh now, but you won't be laughing when I fail this test because I can't wear it!"

"If you wanted to pass, you should've studied." He said, taking a bite of toast.

"Oh yeah, you're one to talk." Mom retorted with a grin.

"I was a great student." He said with good humour, but we all knew that was bull.

I sighed, "I guess I could wear that pink shirt. It's not as lucky, but it'll do."

I walked back up the stairs, defeated. My 8 year old brother Elijah was walking down the stairs in his underwear.

"Good morning, snotface." I greeted.

"Morning, ugly." He replied.

"Be nice!" Mom called from the stairs, but Dad only laughed.

I returned to my room at the top of the stairs, and dug through piles of clothes until I found my pink tank top, and then put a long thick grey cardigan on top. I returned back downstairs and joined my family for breakfast. Eli had been dressed. Mom had made bacon, eggs, and toast.

I quickly ate because time was running out, and Mom would leave me behind if I wasn't ready on time. Well, not really, but she'd threaten to, anyway. When breakfast was finished, I put the dishes into the dishwasher. Then I brushed my teeth, and I was ready to go. Mom was waiting by the door.

Mom gave Dad a quick peck on the cheek, and we were off. Dad drops off Eli at school before he goes to work at the mechanics shop. Mom works at my high school, so I bum a ride most mornings.

Mom and I got into her car, and she turned it on, letting the car warm up.

"How are you feeling, Hannah?" She asked.

"Fine, yourself?" I automatically replied. I had to wonder what brought this on.

"Well, I just heard you were having difficulties with Anna Bridges and Justine Lee." She said.

"Oh. Don't worry about that. They're just stupid and petty." I brushed off.

"Hannah…" She said.

"Mom, if there was a problem, I'd tell you, ok?" I brushed off, a little too brusquely to be casual.

Actually, those girls were causing me a lot a problems, but I didn't want to tattle. Snitches get stitches.

She tucked my bangs behind my ear.

"Don't sink to their level, okay?" She asked.

"Okay." I replied.

The car was warmed up, and Mom got the car going to South Anchorage High School. We didn't live far, so it was a short ride, only 15-20 minutes. She parked in the staff lot, and I hopped out. It didn't matter if people saw me with her. Everyone knew she was my mom, and I couldn't be bothered to care, even if I did get teased a bit.

"I'll see you later." I said.

"Bye." She replied, and I walked off toward the art room.

The door was open, but Ms. Seldon wasn't there. Class wouldn't start for another hour, but art was my first class, and she wouldn't mind that I started early. To be honest, I was slow, and kind of clumsy, and I needed all the extra time I could get on my projects. I took my clay project from the counter. It was on a large piece of wood with burlap stapled to it, and a garbage bag over it to keep it from drying out. I placed it on the table, and got to work on my awkward lopsided vase. Ceramics wasn't my forte, but I enjoyed it.

I worked on it, lost in my own little world. Ms. Seldon eventually returned. We briefly greeted each other, and she got to work at her desk, as I continued to work. She had turned on a soft music radio station, and the music was nice to listen to.

Eventually students started to trickle in, and got started on their own projects. My class friend Amelia took her place next to me.

"Did you see the hot substitute that's subbing for Mr. Clayton today?" She asked.

"No, what does he look like?" I asked.

She grinned, "Tall, black hair, kinda pale, even by Alaska standards. And he has these weird amber coloured eyes… it must be like a defect or something. But he's a hottie, I'll tell you that."

"I can't wait." I said, but I could feel butterflies in my stomach.

I didn't do well with hot guys. Or guys, period. Outside my dad and my brother, I haven't had much to do with the male gender since I became aware of the differences between boys and girls. But I had Mr. Clayton for fourth period, the last class of the day, so I was about to find out. I wondered if I could pretend to be sick to get out of school for the day…

Amelia sighed, "You're lucky. I wish I could have something hot to stare at for an hour and a half. All I have is old balding Mr. Ryans."

I nodded. Secretly, I'd take Mr. Ryans over Mr. Hot Guy any day of the week. This was also the class I had the test in; I couldn't take any more distractions. I'd fail for sure.

Class came and went. Amelia talked animatedly about different topics. Shoes, a concert she was going to on the weekend, back to Mr. Hot Guy. She gave him the code name Joe because she didn't actually know his name. She made him sound like the physically perfect human. Butterflies resumed in my stomach. Maybe I didn't have to fake a stomach ache to get out of school, after all.

My next class was slow. I lamely attempted to assuage my worries by reminding myself he's only human and just a teacher and it didn't matter who he was or what he looked like because I'd never see him after this brief stint. But it didn't help.

However, my worries ended up not being necessary because Mom tracked me down at lunch.

"Hannah, you should probably go home." She said.

"What?" I asked, stopping short.

"You said you weren't feeling good this morning, darling. You aren't looking too good. I think you should go home and rest." She said.

Her words were awkward, forced. My mom was a bad liar. I felt fine, except for the butterflies in my stomach. But I knew there was a reason behind her words, why she wanted me to go home.

"Okay." I agreed.

"I'll drive you home myself." She said, relieved I didn't put up a fight, or question her.

She accompanied me to my locker so I could grab my stuff. She popped by the office to let them know, and she led me back to the car. I don't think anyone was watching me, but I acted like I felt sluggish just in case. With the anxiety all day, it wasn't difficult. Mom was kind of pale though, and she was shaking a bit. I got the feeling she was scared herself, and was probably the one who should be going home. I didn't mention this though, and let her take me home without a word. I was worried about her, though.

I didn't really know what to do, so I threw in the laundry I neglected to do previously. After that, it was really quiet, and it felt weird. I turned the tv on low for background noise, and started to tidy up absentmindedly. When I heard the washing machine finish, I took the clothes and put them into the dryer. I plunked in front of the tv as I waited for it to finish. Then I folded the clothes, and put them in their respective bedrooms. I put Eli's away for him, but I left Mom and Dad's on their bed.

Dad came back around 3 with Eli. Eli normally would go to daycare after school, but I guess Dad picked him up because he was off for whatever reason anyway.

"You're home early." I said.

"There wasn't much to do, so I clocked out." He said.

He didn't say anything about me being home. Mom must have called him.

"I didn't know you were one to take off early." I commented.

He shrugged, "Other guys take off all the time. It was about time I got a piece of the action."

I grinned, "I guess so."

Dad sat down next to me to watch tv. Eli played on the floor with his toy cars and the plastic car racing set.

"Is Mom okay?" I asked Dad.

"Yeah, why wouldn't she be?" Dad asked casually.

"I don't know… she just seemed… off. It might've just been my imagination." I brushed off, but something in my gut told me I was right.

"Don't worry about it kiddo." He ruffled my hair, "Probably just something at work."

"I guess." I said.

We continued to watch in silence. At 3:30, I got up and put a lasagna in the oven for dinner. If anything, it gave me something to do, even if it was a 5 minute job. I joined Dad back on the couch, and he was mysteriously focused on the television set. Even though he looked casual, he seemed oddly tense.

I heard Mom's car pull up the driveway at 4:15. This was very odd because she often stayed behind to mark until 6. She opened the door, holding giant thick plastic folders that held her marking.

"Welcome home." Dad greeted.

I bit back my question. Why was Mom home early? Why did she insist I go home at lunch? Now that I think about it, why did Dad come home early, and bring back Eli? Dad never took off work like that. He loved his job. And he was definitely tense about something. This all had to be interconnected, somehow.

"Mom, I was thinking of going to go see a movie tonight with Amelia." I tested, to see how she'd respond.

"I don't think that's a good idea. It's a school night." Mom said.

Mom has never given the 'it's a school night' excuse, even for sleepovers. She trusted me to be responsible, and to be in bed at a reasonable hour. Yes, something was definitely up.