She looks like I’ve slapped her, and after a moment of gaping she turns and leaves the room. Leelee watches me carefully and says, “You forgot one thing about the show.”
“What’s that?” I snap.
“It’s about sacrifice. And your mother did sacrifice—look at Dean. Always thinking he’s making the right decision for Sam and always screwing it up. He doesn’t trust Sam to make his own decisions. He constantly steps in and overprotects them.”
I’m not sure how I feel about this comparison—I know what she’s getting at. She wants me to understand my mother. What I understand is that she’s taking me away from here—tomorrow.
“True but that overprotection usually makes things worse.”
Leelee cuts her eyes at mom. “Yes, it usually does. You can’t beat nature.”
I press play on the final episode of season five and it’s oddly fitting that it’s called, “The Cage.” But I’ve seen enough Supernatural episodes, there may be hope on the horizon. Maybe not in this episode but one coming up. The room fills with the song that binds us all together. It binds Sam and Dean. It binds the boys next door to one another, to Sierra. Every time I hear it I’ll think of this little town, this summer, and all the firsts I had.
Here or not, I’ll carry on. With or without my mother’s approval.
24
I have no problem waking up before sunrise…I barely slept all night. I didn’t risk sneaking out the night before and I kept my curtains closed. My mom would be watching…waiting for any new violation of her rules, but like Leelee said, I had to tell them myself.
I fling open the curtain as though it’s some kind of signal. It’s been weeks since Jake and I met in the yard, so who knew if he even looked anymore. I grab two books, my hoodie and my shoes, and creep past my mother’s closed door.
Outside, fresh air hits my face and I think about how tomorrow I’ll be back in the land of oppressive heat and humidity. I inhale deeply and walk down the path toward the street as I have every morning for weeks. I see the shine of his blond hair before I get to the sidewalk, relief and sadness flooding through me. I’ve barely made it down two steps before strong arms pull me behind the fence.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t come.” Jake has left no room between our bodies and he kisses me almost immediately.
I touch my lips and reply, “It’s sunrise, right?”
He casts a glance back at Leelee’s house like he’s afraid someone will come out. Glances at the books as he takes them from me, recognizing that they’re the next two installments of the series. I won’t be here to read them to him. His hand slips into mine. “Come on.”
I have so much to say on the walk to our boulder. So much and not a word comes out of my mouth. His, either. A heavy weight clings to every step. At the overlook, three figures wait.
“Did you…”
“I brought them. I had a feeling it may be a good idea.”
“Thank you,” I say. Tears prick my eyes. This is hard. So hard.
George rushes up to meet us, engulfing me in a massive hug. I feel his heart racing in his chest, his hands moving to cup my face. For the first time since we met, he doesn’t speak. He just kisses me good morning—goodbye? And I focus everything on the moment. Everything.
“The sun’s starting to rise,” Jake says. Reluctantly, George steps away and the three of us approach the boulder. It’s the first time I’ve seen Charlie, head wrapped in a bandage.
“Oh god,” I say, walking right up to him. They’ve shaved the hair near his temple. I stop myself from touching it. “Does it hurt?”
“Like a dull headache. They gave me drugs.”
“I’m so sorry you got caught up in that. I can’t believe he did it.”
“He’s an asshole.” His green eyes bore into mine and he touches my cheek. “I’m just glad he didn’t hurt you.”
Jake climbs up the boulder, impatient. I get it, it’s our last sunrise.
I grab onto Charlie’s arm before he can move.
“Finish those books with Jake for me, okay?”
“I will. I promise.”
I nod to George to help Charlie up on the rock. The last thing he needs is a fall. The twins scramble up, leaving me on the ground with Dexter.