Page 66 of Fervency Love

“Everything alright?” Mom misses nothing.

“Yes, Mom, I’ll just miss him a lot,” I confess.

“I understand. If he’s the one, everything will be okay, honey. I love you. Have a good time. And remember, you’re only seventeen. You have your entire life ahead of you.”

She always knows what to say—my wise, wonderful mother. It’s just that I want him to be the one so bad! I wouldn’t survive us breaking up. That would kill me.

We go downstairs. Vicky and her mom are waiting for us.

“Ready, babe?” My friend kisses me in greeting.

“Sure thing!”

We take the back seats in the bus, of course. There’s me, Ivy, Vicky, and Iris.

Time to go. In Austria, the boys buy alcohol. Before we pass the next border, they’re totally hammered. The camp counselors notice, and it gets ugly. But that’s okay. They order the coach to stop and we can slip away unseen and have a smoke or two.

Around midnight, the bus descends into complete silence. Everyone is deep asleep. Only a couple headrest TV sets buzz with the sounds of comedy flicks. Ivy and I are talking about love. It takes us until three in the morning. The conclusions? Not too optimistic. If we’re already dying of wistfulness, how are wesupposed to survive a full fourteen days?! At some point, there’s nothing more to be said. Snuggling Ve’s T-shirt, I fall asleep.

Finally, we reach a stop in France, where we’re about to spend the night. I can finally take a shower and sleep in a real bed like normal human being. We’re sore all over from the long trip. In the evening, the boys come to our room, carrying specially prepared cocktails. They want us to drink with them, but Ivy and I politely refuse. Vicks and Iris decide that if we’re not up for it, neither are they. The boys are clearly disappointed, but they don’t press the issue. I can’t do it. I promised. Even if Ve would never know, I’d be a disappointment to myself.

Throughout the night, we make fun of Sonia. What a star! Acting like she’s Barbie. The way she moves makes her look like a parody of catwalk models. She wanted to act the smartass at first, but she soon learned she didn’t stand a chance against us. Funny little bitch. I wonder where they come from. What drives them? A typical blonde. Shocking. I had no idea she was coming. I’ve known her for years from school and the projects.

It’s four in the morning. We get up. We’re about to continue the ride in an hour. A quick shower, lashes, hair—okay, ready. Suddenly, a phone ringing. It’s mine. Several texts. Ted and Myro. I read them and have a heart attack. I can literally feel the blood draining from my limbs. My vision swims, my heart is hammering like crazy. Ivy is instantly at my side.

“What’s happening, Abby?”

“What’s wrong, Abbs?” Vicky asks, appearing right next to her.

I can’t talk. I hand them the phone so they can read for themselves. The words are still spinning in my head, making me mad with terror.

Ve had his jaw dislocated.He lost a tooth and has a black eye.He can’t speak.

“Jesus, what did he do this time? What happened?” Ivy is equally tense.

“Don’t you worry. As soon as we stop, we’ll buy a phone card and you’ll call them,” Vicks says, trying to console me.

I don’t even know how we end up in the bus. Some time later, we reach the next stop. Ivy shakes me out of my stupor.

“Come on, Abby. Let’s go buy that phone card.”

“Okay. But you do it, Ivy, right?”

“You know I hate it.” She tries resisting.

“But we’re in France, and you’re the only one who can speak French!”

“Please, Abby, do it yourself.”

Fuck that. Every time the same story. I buy the card and call Connor’s house. Nobody picks up. I dial Myro. He picks up instantly.

“What the fuck happened, Myro? Talk to me! Details, please. I have little time!” I yell into the receiver.

“Listen. Ve was at his buddy’s at the West estate. He was walking back home alone and a couple of fuckers took issue with him.”

“Jesus! How’s he feeling?”

“Better now. Ted was with him. They set his jaw. Don’t worry,” Myro says soothingly.

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