I’ll get to see the boys at school and I’m sure they’ll be able to explain why they never answered my texts last night. I’m sure there’s a logical explanation.
If I know the Grays at all, it probably has something to do with Romulus. It usually does.
But when I get to school, the boys aren’t there. Every time a classroom door opens throughout the day, I turn expecting to see them walk in late, but every time it ends up being someone else.
That jealous pang in my stomach returns, but it’s turned into something heavier.
I’m reminded of the time they disappeared before, and I don’t like it.
I thought we were through with playing games. Through with leaving me in the dark.
I guess not.
The more the day progresses, the more frustrated and lonely I start to feel. By lunchtime, I’m at a loss about how to get through the rest of my day.
I stand in front of the empty table that the boys and I usually sit at, and then look over to the old table where Jess, Aimee, and Tom are sitting and chatting. Even from where I am across the cafeteria, I can overhear Tom trying to convince them that he does, in fact, know how to hotwire a car … only for them to loudly call him out on his bullshit. The sound of it—Tom’s attempted peacocking and Jess and Aimee immediately calling him out—it almost feels nostalgic.
It’s been ages since I joined them. Not since last school year.
Jess catches me looking in her direction, and I expect her to quickly look away as she usually does. Instead, her gaze travels to the empty seats behind me and then, to my surprise, she waves me over.
I have half a mind to walk out of the cafeteria and never come back, but I think better of it.
If I really am going to stay here in North Port, I need to start acting like it. I can’t let Rory, Marlowe, and Kaleb be my entire world … especially when they won’t share half of that world with me.
I expect an awkward silence to fall over the three of them as I settle down into the cheap plastic seats … but instead, Aimee takes one look at me, shoves a French fry in Tom’s face, and demands he make me an apology.
“See what you did?” she hisses, her lips pursing as he dodges a second french fry, this one thrown directly at his head. “This is what happens when you shove girls in the river. They don’t talk to us for six months.”
Tom ducks his head, his gaze shifting over to me for half a second before flitting away.
“Sorry, Sabrina …” he starts, but I just lift one hand and shake my head.
“If the three of you can forgive me for ditching you, then I think I can forgive you for trying to drown me.”
“I wasn’t—”
“Shut. Up.” Aimee waves another fry threateningly in front of her face, and Tom does as she says. She’s all sunshine and smiles when she beams over at me. “Done. That’s what I call a deal.”
And just like that, it’s as if nothing has changed at all.
In a way, nothing has. Nothing much happens in a tiny town like North Port.
True to Aimee’s pronouncement, none of them seem determined to hold a grudge. Instead of being mad at me, they mostly just poke fun at me about my relationship with the “strange, hot boys” … until I admit I have no idea why they’re not in school.
That’s when the three of them finally quiet.
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“You don’t think …” Jess starts, but lets herself trail off.
I know what she means.
You don’t think they’ve disappeared again.
I try to force a smile, but it feels fake. “No way. They’re probably just busy.”
Tom snorts, then looks like he instantly regrets it.