Page 44 of Endless Anger
NINETEEN YEARS OLD
She leavesme behind with my tail tucked between my fucking legs, wishing I could wring my sister’s neck for dragging me here in the first place.
How did everything get so fucked up?
I would have crawled on hands and knees to my death for Lucy Wolfe. Now she doesn’t even want to see me.
Was my own self-preservation worth it? Was keeping her out of the loop worthanythingif I don’t get to see her, speak to her, or exist near her?
Leaving the room with my heart in pieces, I head toward a side exit through the narrow hall, pausing as I work the door open. A glance over my shoulder proves that no one’s paying me any attention—though I see the asshole from before find Lucy in the crowd.
My teeth grind together, and a shot of adrenaline pumps through my limbs. I want to stalk over there and drag him out with me.
But that’ll just irritate Lucy even more, and knowing her, she’d fall further into his arms just to spite me.
Instead, I walk outside, snatching a cigarette from someone hunched in a corner, and flick it into the brush at the building’s base. It catchesinstantly, an explosion of bright orange flames consuming the grass and crawling quickly up the wall.
A few people inside notice immediately and scatter. It only takes minutes for the door to become mostly unusable, blocked by the fire. Covering my face with my jacket sleeve, I step over it, ignoring the heat scalding my shins.
I reach back inside, my hand connecting with the wall and pulling a lever there.
An alarm begins blaring throughout the bar, lights flickering against the smoke slowly creeping in, and the sprinklers activate, soaking everyone in the vicinity.
That ought to get her out of there.
Jogging back to where Noelle’s parked, I slip into the passenger side silently. She hangs up with whoever she’s on the phone with, turning to greet me with a big smile.
“Well? Did you—” She cuts off, her gaze darting past my head as the crowd begins evacuating Lethe’s. Her expression flattens, and she slumps in her seat. “Should’ve fucking known.”
Yeah, I muse to myself as she starts the vehicle,you should have.
Still, my hand whips out when she shifts gears, keeping the car in place.
She gives me a questioning look, trying to move, but I squeeze her fingers tight. “Ow, you fucker! Jeez, sorry for trying to help.”
“I didn’t ask for assistance.” I keep my eyes fixed on the bar. Waiting.
ObviouslyI’m fucking waiting.
I’ll walk back in and carry her out if I need to.
My heart pounds like a kick drum in my chest, loud and perturbed.
Maybe I shouldn’t have done that.
A reddish-orange glow grows behind the building, smoke billowing into the night air. My lungs feel heavy, weighed down by my impulsivity.
Finally, I see that familiar head of raven-colored hair. She comes out with her arms wrapped around herself.
Alone.
My pulse slows a little. I let go of Noelle.
When Lucy’s attention shifts, instantly finding the car, I lift a hand in some sort of wave or parting gesture—I don’t know. My limb moves of its own accord.
She doesn’t respond. When she turns away, I can’t help the glee that surges within me when she finds a familiar blond in the crowd, heading off to stand with her instead of the guy from before.
As we drive away, I fold my hands in my lap, noting the fresh red welts on the backs of my palms. I imagine they match the lightly charred skin on my calves, though none of that felt worse than seeing Lucy again after all this time and knowing it hasn’t changed a fucking thing.
