AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Eighteen.
Memories push their way up to the surface, this time more vivid than they’ve been in years.
Pale, gray skin. Wide, vacant eyes.
Blood.
So much fucking blood.
There’s a wet, squelching sound, and my hand burns, it stings, flooding with warmth—
“V-Vale?”
My eyes squeeze shut, and I barely manage to hold back my flinch.
How the fuck did he find me?
“You’re hurting me.”
Releasing Seth’s fingers like he burned me, I’m only vaguely aware of him bringing his hand to his chest, massaging and flexing his fingers.
“Sorry,” I mutter, lifting my hand to my face, ignoring the way it trembles as I pinch the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger.
My gut hollows as I almost expect the digits to be wet and sticky and smelling of pennies. Relief is instant when all I catch is a whiff of sweat and dirt.
I’m not there.
“Are you okay?” I hear dimly, Seth’s voice almost piercing as the sights and sounds of the field surge forward, the present once more returning to me. Sharper than it should be.
Knowing Seth’s watching me closely, too closely, I will the tension in my shoulders to unwind, and my heart to slow down.
It’s been years now since I thought about that night, or the boy who lurks in the deepest corners of my memories. The one who once lurked around the edges of my sleep.
“Yeah,” I say quietly, pasting on a look of indifference as I drop my hand back at my side. This time, I don’t tear my gaze from my boyfriend’s as I plaster on a small smile and say simply, “Headache. Sorry. Came out of nowhere.”
His brow pinches like he’s not quite sure he believes me.
Fortunately, before he can say anything, Coach blows his whistle and shouts for us to hit the lockers. Game time.
Forcing a swallow, I shrug and say, “Gotta go,” and make to pull back my other hand.
Seth grips my fingers through the gaps in the fence, tugging me before I can get too far.
Already knowing what he wants, I step forward and meet his lips through a hole in the fence in a quick, chaste kiss.
“Have a good game,” he says softly, before pulling back, my weird behavior from only moments ago already forgotten, just like that.
Typical, I think with a quiet huff. Not that I’m complaining. It’s moments like these I’m reminded why I’ve put up with him for so long.
My gaze flicks between his eyes as I nod.
Stepping back, I finally risk one last glance over his shoulder, not even surprised when I find the guy still standing over there. Watching, as if he never looked away, as if he was waiting for me.
His head is tilted almost curiously, as if he’s trying to figure something out. Like maybe how he knows me.
Shit. Time to go.
“Thanks,” I rush out quietly, absently, to my boyfriend.
