CHAPTER TWELVE
Kalen
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I’m sipping my first cup of coffee as Dalton walks back upstairs.
Either he’s going to try Hailey again or he’s going to wake up Luna and let her know that we’ll be leaving for school soon.
I don’t know which one is worse.
Staying home to make sure everything will be okay, or having to spend all day in school knowing the potential catastrophe we’re causing by leaving them alone together.
Fuck it.
Downing what’s left in my mug, I place it on the counter, then head into the dining room to collect my books from the night before.
Once I have everything gathered up neatly, I carry them into the living room, retrieve my backpack from where I left it yesterday afternoon and shove my books and notebook in.
I have to remember to stop leaving things around. Dalton is stressed enough without having to pick up after me too.
I stifle a yawn with my hand as I make my way toward the staircase. Taking the steps two at a time, I jog up to the second ring of Hell, then quickly head down the hallway toward my room, but something stops me just short of reaching the door.
Luna’s bedroom door is cracked open again and I can hear soft voices inside talking quietly.
I inch closer and peer inside, feeling a rush of jealousy when I see Dalton sitting on the edge of her bed, engaged deep in conversation with her.
Luna nods as he talks.
He raises his hands, motioning toward the door, and she rubs her eyes tiredly before pushing herself up into a seated position and glancing over.
I scowl as I decide to stop watching them and step back quickly.
Had she seen me?
I honestly don’t care.
I saw plenty of her last night, and I would carry the memory of her pale skin and the curves of her body for the rest of the day.
I would also do my best not to let my brother’s confidence bother me.
He always seems to know what to say—even when he doesn’t really have anything to say at all.
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My head is lowered as I doodle in my notebook.
I managed to finish my homework in study hall like I knew I would, and now I’m sitting in Biology listening to the instructor drone on and on.
He’s going over the answers to our homework, and while I should care whether I got any of the questions right, I really don’t.
I’ve already passed enough of my classes to know I’ll be able to graduate, and doing any additional homework assigned to us is just me placating our teachers.
I’ve learned everything I already can from what they’ve taught us.
Now, I need to learn how to be a man and how to stand on my own two feet.
With a sigh, I flip the page and continue doodling.