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“Yeah. Let’s go find Maddie,” Crew tells them.
My heart swells and I crack a smile, though he doesn’t see it because he’s already out the door.
That smile instantly drops when Neo barges in all broody and flips the light on again. Crew tries to grab his arm, rambling words about finding Maddie, but it’s no use.
Neo knows.
“You guys have to see this.” He laughs. “Scar peed herself.”
“Just leave her alone,” Crew tells him, but Neo doesn’t let up as he stands there pointing and laughing.
More tears fall and I wish I could run out of here and never look at their faces again, but I can’t move because it’ll only make things worse.
“I didn’t pee!” I shout. “The mop bucket tipped over.” Neo sees right through my lies; I can tell by the way he’s looking at me.
“Liar,” Neo says, “you peed your pants and now you’re trying to hide it.”
Jagger stands off to the side with his head down. Not that I expect him to help me. I didn't even expect Crew to try. Standing up to Neo is something neither of them does often, if ever.
“Gimme your phone,” Neo says to Jagger, holding his hand out to his side.
“I don’t have it. I’m grounded from it for a week, remember?”
Neo looks at Crew. “Do you have yours?”
Crew hesitates, looking at me, and I shake my head.Please don’t do it.
“Dude. Give me your phone. I gotta take a picture of this.” He hesitates some more, warranting a shout from Neo. “Now!”
Looking at me, Crew reaches into the pocket of his jeans.
All I can do is sit there while Neo flashes the phone camera in my face, laughing his butt off. Because Neo gets whatever he wants.
But he’s the only one laughing. Jagger doesn’t make a sound while Crew looks at me and mouths the words, “I’m sorry.”
If I wasn’t so choked up right now, I’d tell Crew I don’t forgive him. Because even if he tried to help me, he always cowers to Neo—they both do—no matter who gets hurt in the process.
ChapterOne
SCARLETT
Eighteen YearsOld
My stomach twists in tiny knots as I pull open one of the glass double doors to the upscale long-term care facility where my best friend lives. I’ve been coming here twice a week for over a year, but it never gets easier.
The reflection from the sun hitting crystal chandeliers overhead has me blinking away the bright beams of light.
“Good Morning, Scarlett,” Tammy, one of Maddie’s nurses, says as the door closes behind me.
With my coffee in hand, I approach her. “How’s she doing today?”
Tammy presses her lips together firmly and shakes her head. “Not great. Her blood pressure’s been pretty high.”
“Oh, no.” After my last visit, I was hopeful she was taking small steps in the right direction, but it seems like every time she does, she takes two steps back.
“Hopefully, your visit will calm her down a bit.”
“If only,” I say, gripping my coffee and focusing on the warmth in the palm of my hand. “I’m here to say goodbye for a bit. I’m leaving for school three hours away this evening.”
