Sent to Save

Elisa woke up to the shrill ringing of her phone. Groaning, she rolled over and squinted at the screen. It was Mrs. Caldwell, their next-door neighbor.

She answered hesitantly, "Hello?"

"Elisa, sweetheart, I hate to wake you, but your dad's on my porch again. You might want to come get him before he scares my cats."

Elisa sighed and rubbed her eyes. "I'll be right there."

She threw on a hoodie and some sneakers before slipping out the front door. The morning air was crisp, and the neighborhood was still quiet, save for the sound of her dad mumbling incoherently on Mrs. Caldwell's porch swing.

"Dad," she said softly, shaking his shoulder. "Come on, let's go home."

He blinked up at her with bloodshot eyes, reeking of whiskey. "Elisa, my girl! You gotta hear this-"

"Not now, Dad," she said, wrapping an arm around him and helping him up.

After struggling to get him inside and onto the couch, she sighed and checked the time. She was already late.

By the time she reached the school gates, it was past eight.

Again.

A teaching assistant, a recent college grad acting as a substitute, stood near the entrance, giving latecomers a pointed look. "Elisa, rake the leaves under the oak tree before heading to class."

She nodded, trudging over to complete the task. The hallways were mostly empty, except for the janitor wrestling with a stuck door. As she neared her classroom, she took a deep breath, hoping Mr. Davis wouldn't make a scene.

Opening the door, she found him at the board, attempting to sketch what she assumed was a map of the United States. It looked more like an amorphous blob.

"Elisa! Late again! Do you see yourself? When will you change?" Mr. Davis interrupted his scribbling, his eyes sharp behind thin-rimmed glasses.

Elisa swallowed, remaining silent.

"Nothing to say? Thought so," he muttered, waving her toward her seat.

She hurried past her classmates, catching a glimpse of her best friend, Olivia, who shot her a knowing look.

Next to Olivia sat a new student-a boy she hadn't seen before. He was busy scribbling in a notebook, his brow furrowed in concentration.

Curiosity nagged at her, but she quickly settled into her seat behind Olivia. Her friend discreetly slid her notes over for Elisa to catch up.

As she was about to whisper a question about the new guy, Olivia blinked rapidly, mouthing, "Later."

Elisa nodded and refocused on Mr. Davis, who was still glaring at her.

"Pay attention, Miss Latecomer," he snapped. "Liam, answer the question I asked earlier."

"Finally, break time!" Olivia turned in her seat, stretching.

"I'm already exhausted," Elisa groaned.

"Same," Olivia laughed.

Across the room, classmates greeted each other loudly. "Yo, my guy!" one called out, bro-hugging another.

Elisa rolled her eyes. Why were they always so loud?

"Hey!" One of them, Jason, turned to their corner. "Olivia! Elisa!"

They immediately began gathering their things.

Elisa snuck a glance at the new boy, who was still focused on his notebook.

Before they could leave, Jason rushed over.

Olivia stuck her foot out to trip him.

He stumbled but steadied himself, scowling. "Olivia! Really?"

She smirked. "Jason, what are you talking about?"

"You totally tripped me!"

"It was a mistake," she said innocently. "Maybe watch where you're going."

He sighed dramatically, then turned to Elisa with a grin. "Elisa, how's your day going?"

"Fine," she replied shortly, sidestepping him.

"Come on, chat with me a little," he teased, grabbing her arm.

She gave him a deadpan look. "Jason, I'm hungry. Let me go."

He released her. "Alright, alright. See you later."

"Yeah, sure," she muttered, walking out with Olivia.

"He's so annoying," Olivia huffed.

"He just doesn't know when to stop," Elisa said.

"Exactly. Anyway, how was your weekend?"

"Boring," Elisa sighed. "I spent most of it helping set up for the children's event at church."

"At least you left the house," Olivia pouted. "I'm grounded."

Elisa stopped in her tracks. "Wait, when did your parents start grounding?"

"I don't know! Too many movies, I guess. They're obsessed."

Elisa laughed. "I find that hard to believe."

"I'm serious! My parents binge-watch like it's a full-time job."

"What about your dad?" Olivia nudged her. "What does he watch?"

Elisa hesitated, the image of her father passed out in front of the TV flashing in her mind. "Mostly football."

"Normal enough. Anything else?"

She swallowed hard, forcing a smile. "British dramas, mostly."

"Nice! Anyway, girls' night at your place this Friday?"

"No." The answer came immediately.

"What? Why?"

"Not in the mood."

"You're never in the mood," Olivia mumbled. "Since the... incident, I haven't been to your house."

Elisa stiffened. "My dad doesn't like people over much anymore."

"Oh. Okay." Olivia dropped it, but the silence between them felt heavier than before.