Page 82 of The Teacher of Nothing
“Goodbye, Callum,” she chokes out before turning on her heel and heading toward her house.
I clamp my lips together to keep from calling out to her. I want to continue to make her feel like shit for how she hurt me. But I also want to pull her close and pretend it never happened. I want to kiss her and make love to her. I want to fucking keep her forever.
The air is chilly tonight, but it doesn’t even begin to touch the coldness seeping into my heart. Or what’s left of it anyway. What little bit I had just walked away from me and climbed through a window.
Never again.
This is one lesson I refuse to learn a third time. Once sucked, but two is more than I can handle. With a sigh and a hard swallow to keep my emotions at bay, I put my car in drive.
I leave her behind.
As much as I don’t want to leave my heart with her, I’m forced to. My brain speaks logic and the farther away I get, the more my decision makes sense.
It’s better this way.
The lie sounds good in my head, even though every cell in my body begs me to turn around.
I don’t.
I drive and drive and drive until I’m numb.
Numb feels a lot better than soul-crushing pain.
Numb is the new me.
Willa
Throb. Throb. Throb.
The pounding inside my head is nauseating. Whoever thought drinking was a good idea must have been a sadist. It’s miserable.I’mmiserable.
If only it were just the alcohol to blame.
The alcohol is more like the icing on top of a shit cake.
Last night was supposed to be fun. Turns out, it was nothing but a giant nightmare. Somehow, while being with my new friends, I managed to lose my boyfriend in the process.
Sun gleams in through the window, attempting to cheer me up, but it’s a lost cause. I’m far from happy today.
My stomach roils violently. If I don’t put food in my body soon, I’m going to spend the rest of my Saturday hugging the toilet.
Somehow, I find just enough energy to crawl out of bed. As much as I’m dying to text Callum, I avoid my phone and stagger to the bathroom. My room tilts and spins. Saliva fills my mouth. I clutch onto the doorframe of the bathroom, clenching my eyes closed so I don’t puke my guts out. Once the wave of nausea has passed, I’m able to pee and brush my teeth, all of which while avoiding my reflection. Eventually, I chance a peek.
I look like death warmed over.
Dark hair is ratty and puffed up on one side. Black smudges remain under my eyes even though I managed to wash mymakeup off before falling into bed last night. My eyes are red and swollen from crying. I’m a mess.
Tears burn my eyes, but I quickly blink them back. If I start crying, I’ll never leave my room, and if I don’t eat something soon, I’ll never leave the toilet. With a sharp inhalation, I stagger out of the bathroom to my bedroom door where the nightstand blocks the door. It takes more energy than I possess to move it aside, but I finally get it moved.
Now I somehow need to make it to the kitchen and back without any run-ins with my family. The house is quiet, so I’m hoping everyone is still asleep. I turn the knob and slowly open the door, wincing when the creaking sound echoes down the hall. Before I exit, I pause to listen. Nothing. Good.
I creep my way into the kitchen, doing my best to keep silent. When I see Darren sitting at the kitchen table, I nearly crawl out of my skin. His gaze lifts from his phone and he spots me right away. No retreating now.
“Morning,” I croak out, offering him a slight wave as though his presence doesn’t bother me.
But it does bother me.
Everything about him and Levi bothers me.
