Letting You Go (Stone Lake 1)

I stare out over the water, not replying to her—unsure of what to say.

It’s definitely a mistake being here alone with her.

“I didn’t know you knew my name,” she says, trying again. She’s not looking at me, she’s gazing out at the water. I can’t see her face clearly, despite the full moon above us. If I had to guess though, I’d say she was blushing because I can hear the embarrassment in her voice. It makes me feel like an asshole.

“I shouldn’t have done this.”

“Done what?” she asks.

“Came out here with you. We don’t fit, Luna.”

“What?”

“I’ve known your name since the day you walked down the hall and smiled at me, Luna. You were a freshman and so damn pretty you got my attention right away. I’ve watched you every day of every year since then. You have to know that.”

“I do,” she says, her voice dropping down into a near whisper. “But you never spoke to me. I thought maybe…”

“Maybe what?” I ask her when she doesn’t finish.

“I thought maybe I was imagining it because I wanted it so much. I wanted you to like me.”

“You shouldn’t.”

“What?” she asks, confused.

I turn to her and she’s looking at me. In the moonlight, I can see the way her forehead crinkles with uncertainty, and I think it’s cute, even if I shouldn’t. Then again, I think everything about Luna Marshall is cute.

“We don’t fit,” I repeat.

“You said that before, but I don’t understand.”

“You’re uptown, Luna. You live in a big house on a hill with a picket fence and a three-car garage.”

“So?”

“So, I live in a house that could probably fit in your garage. My dad walks to work because he had his license revoked for driving drunk. He comes home and drinks the night away. You eat dinner with your parents every night. Atticus and I fix a peanut butter or a bologna sandwich because that’s what we buy from the jobs we go to after school.”

“That doesn’t matter to me.”

“It wouldn’t because you have no idea what it’s like to live the life I do. But I know the real world, Luna, and your kind and mine don’t match.”

“I think we match,” she says shyly, ignoring my warnings. She even manages to get brave and slides her hand back in mine. I want to pull away. Instead, I thread my fingers through hers.

“Your parents won’t. If you ever try to bring me to that fancy house on the hill, you’ll see.”

“I guess we’ll just have to see what happens, won’t we?” she asks.

Unease rises up inside of me when she smiles. Her face is full of happiness that shines bright, despite the darkness. I don’t understand what just happened. She should be running the other way. Instead….

It feels like she just claimed me.

Chapter Six

Luna

“Gavin?” I whisper.

The moon has completely disappeared behind the clouds and the sound of the water sloshing gently against the dock, combined with the crickets chirping and the darkness brings an eerie feeling. My heart rate kicks into overdrive, and I wonder if I can make it back to the party despite the black. I’m not even sure what direction to start. “Gavin!” I call out again, this time slightly louder—but not too loud. I’m an avid watcher of horror films, and it’s always the girl who acts like an idiot, screaming and panicked, that gets slaughtered.

I’d rather not have slaughtered written in my obituary.

“Relax Luna. I’m here,” Gavin says. His voice has the magic ability to make me instantly relax.

“I got scared when you weren’t here,” I mumble, feeling only slightly embarrassed. Then I see him walking through a large clump of trees, carrying a small flashlight, and he’s holding… my blanket.

I smile.

“I went back to get a blanket. I didn’t want you to get cold.”

“That’s sweet,” I tell him, suddenly feeling warm all the way to my toes.

“Not really, I was cold too,” he says, stopping as he gets next to me. He’s got a different look to him than normal. At school he’s always looked so cocky—like he doesn’t have a care in the world. He always gives off the bad boy who will break your heart vibe, full force. Here, like this, he looks relaxed, self-assured but not arrogant, just… real. After years of viewing him as someone akin to a rock star, it’s a huge difference.

He’s… normal—incredibly good looking, cute, sexy and funny, but normal.

He could definitely be on the pages of Seventeen magazine and look better than anyone they’ve ever used. But still, he’s … normal… real.

And I think he likes me.

Me!

He sits down on the dock beside of me. I watch as he bunches up his jacket and puts it on the dock. Then, he spreads the blanket over both of our legs. Finally, he turns the flashlight off, throwing us back into the dark. Somehow, it doesn’t seem as scary with Gavin beside me.