Page 32 of Fueled Hate

“You’re not a fun big sister. I think you should at least extend the invite.”

“It would be nice to have him around for the weekend.”

Willow agrees as she adds, “Parker can give him a campus-life tour.”

“We’ll see.”

Parker would be the best option, but I’m still not sure about having Levi here. I doubt he’d accept the invite anyway. He barely responds to my messages as it is, but I guess it’s worth a shot.

We finally stop chatting and turn our attention to studying, but I don’t get much accomplished. As I’m walking to my next class, my phone rings and I see my old high school’s contact flash on the screen. My stomach drops while my mind races through every bad reason they would be calling me.

“Hello.”

“Hey, Sadie. It’s Dee from Staffordsville High School. How are you doing?”

“I’m good, Mrs. Dee.”

“I’ve been trying to reach your dad for a few days but can’t get in touch with him.” I hear the calmness in her voice which makes me relax a little. There’s still a reason my former AP is calling me after being unsuccessful in reaching my dad.

“I haven’t talked to him today. Is there something I can help you with? Is Levi okay?”

“Sweetie, I’m a bit concerned about him.”

“Why’s that?”

“He’s missed almost every day since school has started back. I was hoping to check in with your dad and make sure all was well at home.”

“Dad said he was back on the team. He’s been going to practice.”

“No, sweetie. I’m afraid not. Coach tried to get him back on the team this year, but Levi wasn’t having it.”

“Oh.” I feel silly at the response and at the fact that I’m so clueless about what’s going on with my brother.

“Just have your dad give me a call so we can get Levi on track. At this rate, he’ll be repeating his senior year, and it’s only the second full week of school.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I reply as we say our goodbyes and hang up the phone. I immediately call Levi which, unsurprisingly, goes unanswered. Dialing my dad, I’m met with the same. No answer. I dial the auto shop where the receptionist tells me he’s stepped out for a few minutes but should be back shortly.

I pace the small area in front of the classroom for two minutes. There’s no way I’ll be able to concentrate on class. Dad needs to know what’s going on. I need to yell at Levi. Going through the motions is better than not showing up. If he’s not showing up at all for school, he really doesn’t care. What’s most concerning to me is where he’s spending all his time. Dad said he’s been busy with football, yet he isn’t on the team. So what has he been doing?

It takes me no time to make the decision to walk back to my car. I chose a school only an hour away for this reason—I’m close enough to go check when something’s going on and something definitely is.

Hurrying off campus, I make it to my car only to find the same moron from this morning leaning against it again.

“I can’t do this right now,” I say, shouldering him out of the way so I can open the door. The moment it’s open, he pushes it closed. “I’m not going to do this right now.”

“What’s wrong?” The concern in his voice actually makes me laugh.

“Just get out of my way. I need to go.”

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Everything and you’re not helping. Now, get out of my way.”

“I can help if you’d let me. I’ll drive you anywhere, or ride with you. Just tell me what you need.”

“What I really need is for you to get the fuck out of my way. I don’t need anything else from you.”

His face tightens but he steps to the side, finally allowing me to get into the Mustang. I don’t waste any time starting it up and speeding out of the parking lot. The hour drive home seems like the longest ever. And it’s way too much time to be alone with my thoughts—of Levi, of my dad, and of Dylan. The latter really pisses me off. He’d been a jerk all morning, then wants to be my savior. Not. Happening.