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My eyes closed, and I cupped ht noith the Science Fair, cross country and KC Why was I even wastingthis conversation?
Exasperated, I waved my hand in the air and let it plop down to o talk to his randed usted over his behavior I’d stopped telling her and my dad every nasty detail of his treatment of me, because I didn’t want this resolved unless Jared initiated it When that happened, I figured he’d seek me out He never had
"Because you’ve never been the sae, I want your heart to be free"
Free What did that even feel like anyo I a like you don’t care is not letting it go" She pinnedstare
My body slu inhted when Grand with the cleanup Once in my bathroom, I stripped down and stepped into the war hideaas the one place I could escape without leaving my house I could think and just be quiet whenever I needed, and no one was the wiser, and no one disturbed me
It was only six o’clock, and I had some chapters for Catcher in the Rye due tomorroell as so the drowsiness I set et up and do my school work, and went to the French doors to draw the curtains
I noticed the wind picking up and the sky overshadoith ashen clouds The neighborhood trees were still a vibrant green, and the voltage that suddenly coursed through the skya storm was on its way calmed me, so I left the doors open
Stunned awake by a piercing crash, I sat up in bed trying to getLooking around the room, I noticed that the French doors were still open, and the rain was falling steadily outside Glancing at my clock, I saw that I’d been asleep for about six hours
Peeling off the covers and stepping out of bed, I went to the railing outside htning around the ht sky That oose bumps, and droplets of rain fell onin buckets Otherwise, my floor would’ve been soaked
I studied the tree next tothrough the canopy of leaves was light With rabbed onto the crownand hoisted myself up I held one of the branches aboveinto the railing Delicious fear heated up my muscles and reminded me that I’d been a lot braver as a child I inched out until the branches got thicker and then teetered until I reached the trunk
Sitting down inleaves welcos resting on the thick branch frolorified in how easy it was to reclaim this simple part of myself I hadn’t been out here in years
Out of the corner of ht, possibly froirl ca down the front pathith a black sweatshirt over her head I couldn’t see her face, but I kneho it hen I saw the car she was running towards
KC
At Jared’s house
At ht flickered off as soon as she was in her car The uncontrollable pounding in my chest started, so I closed et back the peace I was enjoying just aa thunderstorenius" The deep voice alht out of the tree My eyes popped open, and I twisted around to see Jared leaning out hisHe was clothed, at least ThatKC leave his house
"I like to think so, yes," I er with Jared had lessened Considerably After my hateful words to hihtning? Ring any bells?"
Of course I kneas dangerous That’s what made it so fun
"It neverunder the streetlights
"What? You sitting in a tree during a store to look at hi I wanted to see his eyes so badly that it felt like an invisible hand was forcing my face to turn to him I wanted him to see me I wanted him to see us
There was no response for several seconds, but I kneas still there My body reacted to his presence, and I could feel his eyes on entle, and I instantly felt warain "I wouldn’t care if you were alive or dead"
All the air leftcompletely defeated
Nolike this It was all a game to him, but I didn’t have the heart to play it any I’m not a bully I’o
"Jared?" I said, still staring out to the rain-soaked street "I’m sorry about what I said to you today"
I looked over to hiet my text?" Ben rested his hand on uely reain "But not until much later I went to bed early"
I’d finally fallen back asleep last night at about two o’clock and woke up at four with a sto behavior yesterday in class and the way I’d gotten sidetracked froa into a person I didn’t like