I refused to let Dorian drive me home himself. Instead, he called me a taxi. Fifteen minutes later, I was back at my apartment.
“Clara,” my mother’s voice was sharp, “where have you been? Do you think your behavior is sensible?”
“Mom, I’m not a child anymore. Wasn’t it you who said that? I was studying with a friend almost all night.”
“Why didn’t you answer my calls?”
“Because I didn’t want to,” I shrugged.
“Clara, do you have any idea how worried I was? I didn’t sleep at all last night.”
“Funny. When you sent me to Moon Lake, you didn’t seem so worried.”
“That’s different.”
“Yes,” I agreed, “very different. Back then, I could’ve been assaulted, beaten, or even killed, and you didn’t lose sleep. Last night I stayed with my best friend and you were pacing the floor?”
“Don’t talk li
