Page 38 of Tag

Cici

No, but I am muting this chat for the time being.

Some of us actually do our schoolwork before the last minute.

Okay, I actually took offense at that.

Nick

Tell us when you’re home, Sanj.

Layla read along beside me with a slight smile. “They really love you, huh?”

I shrugged, warmth blooming in my chest despite everything. “It’s mutual. We’re family.”

She nodded slowly. “Yeah. I know.”

The way she said it held a wistful note. “I wasn’t excluding you, Lay.”

“Not intentionally, you don’t, but I’m not in the group chat.”

“You are in our group chat.”

“Not the one with all of you.” She laughed, but it didn’t sound happy. “I’m not part of whatever you guys have, Sanj. I used to think I would fit in with you all one day, but I can’t. No one can. You guys are still a mystery to me most of the time.”

I shifted my bag as I considered her words.

She let out a sigh and went on to explain. “I don't want you to feel upset or anything. You all support each other like it's instinctual. You protect each other's secrets as if they're sacred. You're always there for one another. You're a solid front. One that doesn't fall apart.”

I hadn't realized she felt this way at all. Was I oblivious? I had always tried to include Layla, ensuring there was room for her without pushing her into situations she wasn't comfortable with. I believed everyone had made a good effort to welcome her.

She wasn't entirely part of the core group, but was that really surprising? We had nearly two decades of shared memories and bonds. To some degree, I could see where she was coming from, but I couldn't force the girls to embrace her more than they had, or the guys to be less reserved. Everyone had different boundaries that had to be considered and respected.

Then, because my mouth often outran my brain, especially when emotions were involved, I blurted out, “If it makes you feel better, you've already come further than most. We only sacrifice outsiders once a semester."

She looked at me in surprise and then laughed. "What?"

"I have no idea why I said that," I admitted, laughing along. "I think my last brain cell is hanging on by a thread today."

The tension between us eased a bit, but I could still sense the sadness behind her smile. So, I changed the subject.

“Well, now seems like a good time to tell you about my masked stalkers,” I joked.

Her smile disappeared immediately, and she focused intently on my words as I detailed everything, from the one on the field, to the one outside Ashton's house, to the one under the tree by my lit class, and the one recording us on the bridge. It didn't feel like it was the same person each time. I explained that I hadn't mentioned it earlier because I was still trying to understand it all. She stayed silent until I finished.

Her first words were soft. “That’s not normal.”

“No shit.”

We walked quietly after that, lost in our own thoughts. The neighborhood seemed to have caught Hunt fever already.

Houses that were previously overloaded with seasonal decorations, plastic jack-o’-lanterns, and animatronics that screamed when you got too close, had now mixed in Hunt decorations. People even busted out yard signs with bold slogans, making the lawns look like campaign ads.

Slice First, Questions Later.

No One Hides.

It’s Always Closer Than You Think.

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