Page 72 of Choosing a Forever
I hoist myself out of the window, grunting when I land on my bad ankle, which gives out, and I crumple to the ground.
Chapter 26
Mackenzie
15 years old…
My stomach swirls with anticipation. I’m nervous but also excited to see Tal again. We didn’t get to talk much this summer, save for a few messages when he was home for a weekend in July.
I’ve missed him terribly.
I feel pathetic for it, but my life’s not the same without seeing Tal’s smiling face all the time.
As I wait by the bus stop, I see his familiar head of blonde hair in the distance, and butterflies erupt in my stomach. He’s tan from all the time spent in the sun, and his hair looks lighter.
When he glances up from the ground and sees me, I lift my hand in an enthusiastic wave. He returns it, but his smile doesn't reach his eyes.
Is he not excited to see me?
As he crosses the street, I stay rooted in place, not wanting to come off as too eager.
When he’s standing right in front of me, he hesitates for just a second beforefinallywrapping his arms around me in a hug.
I feel his sigh of relief, and he can probably feel mine.
“I missed you so much, Firefly. You look beautiful,” he murmurs against my hairline.
“I missed you, too. Thank you.” My cheeks flush. I’m not wearing anything special. Just a pair of turquoise skinny jeans and a plain black babydoll top.
He steps back as the bus approaches, and we don’t talk as we get on and take a seat next to each other.
“How was your summer? How are the twins?” he asks, sliding his hand on the seat between our bodies with his palm facing up.
I take the invitation and waffle our fingers together. The familiar spark of electricity that sizzled between us before the summer is still there, and my anxiety settles.
“They’re good. They’re getting sassier by the day. Summer was a little boring. Vocal performance camp was fun, I got a solo during the showcase.”
Tal squeezes my hand. “That’s awesome, Firefly. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you.” I squeeze his hand. “How was Scout camp?”
“It was alright. You know, a lot of boys being boys. I earned my watersports badge, though, so that's fun.”
I don’t know anything about Boy Scout badges or what it takes to earn them, so I don’t know what to say other than, “That’s cool. Did you get your schedule?”
“Yeah, I got it when I went to get my ID last week. Want to see if we have any classes together?”
Inod, and we both pull out our schedules. We compare classes and find we’ll be in the same theatre class this semester.
My heart pinches when I see the musical class on his list, but I try not to let my disappointment show. It’s not his fault I’m not in it.
“This year is going to be great,” he says as he puts his schedule away.
I hope so.
My heart races as I rush through the emergency room doors and to the front desk. My ears are ringing as anxiety threatens to consume me.
“How can I help you?” the woman at the front desk asks, typing on her computer.
