Sweet Dandelion

Turning back around I leave, letting the door click closed behind me like a period on the end of a sentence.

Hours later, the door finally opens and Sage enters, looking utterly exhausted. I can’t quite make sense of the utter relief I feel upon seeing him, but I dive off the couch into his body.

“Whoa.” He stumbles back from the force, wrapping his arms around me. “I missed you too, Weed.”

I hold him tight, not wanting to let go.

“Don’t leave me,” I beg my brother brokenly. “Everyone leaves, but you can’t.”

He squeezes me tighter, resting his head on top of mine. “Never.”

Chapter Forty

It takes a solid week for the snow to clear enough for us to go back to school. The record blizzard was so bad that trucks were brought in from out of state, not just to fix the power, but to clear the snow from the streets. I watched from Sage’s window as snow was loaded onto dump trucks to be hauled away. It looked eerily apocalyptic.

Tying the laces on my yellow Vans, I say a grateful prayer that this is the last week of school before winter break. Sure, it means a lot of time spent by myself with Sage working most days, but for the first time since the school year began I’m not looking forward to my fifty minutes spent with Mr. Taylor every day.

I’ve spent the whole week reminding myself he’s Mr. Taylor, not Lachlan.

All my reminders didn’t stop me from buying him a Christmas present, though.

Standing up, I brush my hands down the front of my jeans and shrug into my gray sweatshirt with the school’s mascot on it. Sasha had gotten it for me, and I forgot about it, burying it in my closet. I’m sure she’ll be happy to see me wearing it.

Layering on my coat, gloves, and hat, I finally swing my backpack onto my shoulders, ready to brave the cold and catch the bus.

Calling out a quick goodbye to Sage who would normally already be gone for work, I dash out the door.

I barely manage to catch the bus in time, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I was tempting fate a bit, hoping I’d miss it and get to go back home.

Climbing the stairs, the door squeaks closed behind me as I find my seat and sit down by the window. The cold from the glass seeps through, chilling the air.

Popping my ear buds in, I search through my playlists. I pick a random one and click shuffle. Hollow by Jome begins to play.

Leaning my head back, the bus pulls away from the sidewalk while I pretend I don’t see the black Acura driving beside it.

“Nice sweatshirt,” Sasha comments, flipping her curly blonde hair over her shoulder as she sits down at the library table.

“Thanks, some weird girl got it for me,” I joke, plucking at the fabric.

“Rude.” She sticks her tongue out. “It’s nice to see you sporting some school spirit for a change.”

“I’m trying.”

“She looks nice in whatever.” Ansel winks at me as he pulls out a chair. I know he’s not flirting with me, just trying to stick up for me.

“It’s okay.”

I look over at Seth with an open mouth. “It speaks.” It’s so rare for him to reply at all that it takes me by surprise. I’m pretty sure this is only the second or third time he’s spoken at lunch all year. I don’t have any classes with him, but I can’t help wondering if he talks in those.

Seth gives a shrug in response, picking at his packed lunch.

I unwrap my sandwich. I didn’t get chicken salad today and I’m beginning to

regret that decision. My turkey sandwich looks more like regurgitated cat food. But I didn’t want to look at the chicken salad sandwich, let alone eat it, because I knew I would only think of Lachlan. I’m dreading enough seeing him today.

I understand where he’s coming from, why he keeps pushing me away. I’m not dumb. I see how wrong this is. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t break my heart a little being around him, especially when I seem to always give him a little piece of me in each of our sessions. It seems there’s always one single truth I leave him with before I go.

“You look distracted,” Ansel notes.