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Piper
My heart feelslike it's being stabbed with a spoon.
Not a fork, or a knife. Nothing sharp enough to penetrate the armor I've put in place around it.
Nope. Only the dull edge of a spoon.
Over and over again.
The pain slowly intensifies as Max draws out each word as if his tongue is caressing every syllable. Making love to them.
Love.
Family.
Friendship.
And the crowd is eating it up. Every eye is locked on where he's standing on the lounge chair. Every smile beaming just for him. For the lies spewing from his mouth.
Sure, he makes it sound appealing. Falling in love. Being part of a family.
While all eyes are on Max, I take the opportunity to glance around at my friends. The only real family I want to claim.
At least that part of Max's speech doesn't suck.
There's even a little bit of truth to it. You don't have to be blood related to call someone family.
Still, while I consider Kendall, Willow, and Alexis my family, I can't help but wonder how long it's going to be before my chosen family forgets about me. They each have their own lives, separate from our friendship.
Boyfriends. Obligations.
This summer has been one of the hardest of my life. Everything has changed. Everyone.
Except me.
I'm still the same Piper I was when the school year ended. Hell, sometimes it feels like I'm still the same girl I was when I first came to Lake State two years ago.
Focused on school. Driven by my achievements. My eye is on the prize, the end game.
Graduate and start my career. Help teenage girls realize their value. Keep them from making the same mistakes I made when I was younger. In need of acceptance. Begging for attention.
Which is why Alexis and I are so perfect for each other. Well,wereperfect for each other. Neither of us were interested in the distraction a relationship would bring into our lives.
Again, everything has changed this summer. It started with Willow. Her dad passed away suddenly, and it broke her. Finn was there to help pick up the pieces and put her back together. I didn't know it at the time, but something had been brewing between them for years. The perfect storm. Things could have gone horribly wrong for them, but Max, Willow's older brother, ended up giving them his blessing.
This statement still shocks the hell out of me.
There must be something about the Graham brothers, because as soon as Willow and Finn started dating, Kendall fell in bed with Finn's brother, Declan. From what I heard, they didn't have sex, but there were some R-rated texts that would make even the most scandalous person blush.
Last but not least, my best friend, roommate, and better half, decided to risk it all and fell for the youngest of the Graham brothers, Micah. I watched her fight against her feelings for him. Of all my friends, she has the most to lose. I'm not talking about her heart either. If she screws up and loses her scholarship, everything is over for her. She would have no place to live, no way to pay her tuition, and her dream of getting a degree would die.
Which is why I was shocked when she told me she and Micah made their relationship official. I figured she'd have a summer fling and drop him before classes started. So ... before tomorrow. Nope. They're going strong.
As happy as I am for my friends, I can't help but feel like I'm floating on my own island now. Alone. Without the company of the people I love and trust the most. I don't have a life raft, and someone stole my fire starter.
It's cold over here.
Do I want what they have? I used to think I did. I used to believe in love and happily ever afters. Then my parents’ marriage fell apart, and everything I thought I knew about relationships suddenly felt like a lie.
