I can do this.
“And you don’t love her?” She stares at Winter.
“No, I don’t. I never did. I love you.”
When I say the three magic lies, I anticipate a million things from her. I somehow convince myself that I can handle everything she’ll throw my way. But I was wrong. I wasn’t prepared for what was to
come. I would never, not even in a hundred lifetimes, be prepared for what was to come…
“Great. Then you won’t mind if I do this.”
It barely lasts two seconds.
But it’s enough.
The gunshot echoes in the silence of the night and I fall apart, shouting at the top of my lungs.
“No!”
Two seconds.
One move.
That’s all it takes for my world to come crashing down.
35
Home Is You
Winter
“No!”
I close my eyes, anticipating the gunshot, anticipating the pain, anticipating the end. But nothing happens. I’m not dead. How am I not dead? The gunshot hisses in my brain as my hand jumps to my right ear. Blood comes dripping down my palm. The bullet grazed me.
She missed.
When he runs to me, Haze’s face is indescribable. His eyes are bloodshot, his mouth open. He captures my face in his hands and breathes heavily, his entire body trembling as he wraps his arms around me and holds me so tight it’s hard to breathe. He looks like the weight of the world has just been lifted off his shoulders.
“What were you saying? She means nothing to you? You’re a fucking liar, Haze.” Bianca sniffles. “It’s your fault. You’re making me do this. You’re giving me no choice.” She cries louder and points the gun at the guy she claims to love.
There’s nothing we can do. We exchange glances that are filled with defeat. We don’t need to speak. Our gazes are saying goodbye. We’re saying “I love you” for the last time. We both close our eyes in anticipation of the inevitable. We hold each other and pray that this will be quick.
That’s when a loud noise startles us.
Another gunshot.
A bullet ricochets on the ground next to Bianca and she jumps.
We all turn our heads to see a car speeding toward us, its glimmering headlights blinding us as it approaches. The person responsible is stretching their arms out the vehicle window. Then, the driver of the car strikes the brake and all doors are swung open as three silhouettes climb out of the vehicle. Relief. That’s all I can feel.
Will, Kendrick, and Alex.
“About fucking time.” Haze glares at them. Panicked, Bianca stares at the three witnesses who just showed up and looks for a way out. The boys are surprised, shocked that the girl they’ve been going to school with since they were kids is behind this.
She’s cornered and she knows it.
“Bianca? Y-you did this?” Kendrick asks, and the seriousness of what she’s done finally dawns on her.