Page 28 (1/2)

"Was it because of Hope?" she asks

I pop another sht it quickly I hate this conversation My legs are begging ain I started this--I’s It was Hope, it wasEverything fucking hurt and I was so sick of it"

"Do you still… Do you still not care if you live or die?"

Ifor a reason to care I didn’t even knoas fucking looking, but then you shotthat happened before slowly stopped ers into her ainst her ear

"You still drink After that, you still get drunk night after night"

It’s not a question It’s not an accusation She says it so calmly, so matter-of-factly And that’s exactly what it is It’s a plain and simple fact But I feel the tension in her body and I know it scares her It scares me too I’d like to reassure her, but she needs to knoho I am

"Yes, I still drink Because that’s the kind of person I am I’m a careless, selfish bastard and I will always put my needs before anybody else’s But I don’t want to be this way"

"You don’t have to be this way," she murmurs "You’re better than that"

I don’t knohat it is about this girl, but when she says shit like that, I fucking believe her

35

Lucy

The door opens quickly, slaainst the brick wall "Hey, man We’re on" I look up at the dru me

"Give me a few more minutes, Lewis Okay?" Park doesn’t look away fro back inside

As Park leans in to kissfaded bruise near his eye, and a shocking realization hitshiht back?"

His dark brows draw together in confusion "What?"

I feelto water My sto ht back when those guys jumped you, Park I know you didn’t And if you care now, like you say you do, then ould you do that?"

I study his face, waiting for so So away He shakes his head, his face palingsecond

"Tellto die that night? I think I’ to throw up "Tell me," I say louder

"I don’t knohat to say"

"The truth" My voice quivers over the two suys hurt you?"

"Yes" He twists his fingers into his hair, his eyes flicking over my face "I cared, but I couldn’t take all the shit that was running through my head There was just too much I wanted to feel less…or different I don’t know Once they started onelse faded, and… I honestly don’t know It was stupid, but I learned ain and Park closes his eyes, his jaw tight "Dude, they’re getting iet in here"

I reach out and take Park’s hand His eyes open, peering down at our interlocked fingers and I tug lightly "Co rowdy" I offer him a smile and he finally moves toward the door with me

Just before I’ me into the wall, and kisses ue, it eases the anxiety of the past fewon to this moment

He pulls back and draws his thumb across my lip "I don’t love you," I breathe

His head tips to the side One side of his mouth twitches up into a smirk and he cocks a brow His thu my neck "I don’t love you either," he says softly "Not at all"

"Dude, seriously," Lewis announces, the frustration evident in his voice "Crazy, horny feo, dickhead"

"You better go" I give hi to be with Jessie?"

I nod "And Bree If I can find therins "I’ll see you after the show"

"Okay," I agree "Good luck, break a leg, and all that"

His smile widens He leans into me, his breath warm on my skin "Just so you know--I lied," he states And then he saunters off, leaving rabs theI lied about? I bite down on my lip and turn to find Bree I take two steps and slae hands reach out gripping my arms

"I’m so sorry," I say, embarrassed "Thanks for the save" I tip my head back to see who I nearly trampled and ood"

"Jared" I yankthem over my chest