Page 12 of The Book of Legends
I drive,feeling worthless. Like I’m an orphan. The neighborhood is a blur outside my window as my eyes strain when it gets dark. Soon, I won’t be able to drive. I have to lie onevery exam that my eyesight is still good enough to drive, but I know next time it won’t be.
It’s not like I’ll have to drive anywhere. I won’t be coming back.
This house. This street. This life. It feels like I’ve been kicked out of my own world.
I pull into the park. The same park where my aunt took me since I was a kid.
I glance at the swings. The dog park. The pond where we fed the ducks.
I stare at my hands.“Why, Aunt Nan? Why now?”
The wind blows against my face, but it doesn’t carry answers.
“Why couldn’t you stay a little longer?”
But that’s the thing about time. There’s never enough.
My phone vibrates; Diana’s name flashes on the screen until the notification pops up. A missed call from Diana. I should go back to the dorm and tell her what happened and the reason why I can’t meet her at the party. But I can’t be alone right now. Nan wouldn’t want to see me like this. She would be so disappointed.
I need someone to fill this hollow ache inside me. I need Micah.
It feels like a five-minute drive to the house party off campus when it usually takes almost two hours.
The place is packed, but I managed to find parking by the curb. When I walk in, I wince at the loud music. It feels like the walls are shaking. Bodies grind against each other on the makeshift dance floor. College students, athletes, jocks—everyone I recognize from campus.
My eyes sting, swollen from crying as I try to focus. My palms sweat.
I scan the faces, trying to place them. Some give me curious looks. Others point.
I hear the comments over the music.
“It’s the girl with the glasses.”
“Isn’t she friends with Micah, right?”
“Damn, those glasses are huge.”
I push forward, not caring to hear what they think. All I can think about is getting to Micah. My best friend. The only person I have left.
I check my phone and stare at the ten unread texts I sent from the park bench. All from me. All to Micah. And all ignored.
I press send, telling him to call me back. I was tempted to call Diana to see if she’s seen him, but I didn’t want to explain. I didn’t want to hear anyone’s voice but his.
Laughter erupts from the family room. I glance up toward the loft. There’s a pool table. But no one is playing because there’s a girl lying on her back. Her skirt is bunched up on the top of her thighs. And standing between them…
Micah.
His hand slides up her skirt slowly while his lips press against her throat. I watch him pull out his phone, swipe across the screen?—
And ignore my text. My body locks up. My chest tightens, strangling my breath.
He knew I called. He just didn’t give a fuck about me enough to pick up. He read that I needed him urgently.
And he didn’t care.
Diana’s voice cuts through the noise. “Hey, you made it!” She frowns. “Selene? Are you okay?” I can’t speak. I’m still trying to breathe. “Is it Micah?” I shake my head frantically.
I shouldn’t have come. I shouldn’t have?—
