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Marley doesn’t even realize there’s anything going on with me, which is disappointing. I thought we were supposed to have some unbreakable bond or something. I don’t have anyone to talk to, and I’ve never felt more alone than I do right now.
I don’t know how much longer I can take this. I feel empty, and I’m not sure I’ll ever recover from this.
Mallory
I fall to my butt, back against the wall of the closet, with my hand over my mouth. I try but fail to choke back a sob. I can’t believe I was so selfish. I feel sick to my stomach at the thought that I could have prevented her from doing what she did, if I’d only been paying more attention.
We had been drifting away from each other for a while—she had Beau, and I wasn’t ready to find a boyfriend. I wanted to go to parties and hang out with my friends. Mallory was the complete opposite of me.
I lean my head back against the wall, when I hear a knock on my door.
“Mar, you ready?”
It’s Delaney.
I wipe my eyes, trying to gather myself so she doesn’t notice something’s wrong.
“No, go on without me.”
“I’ll do no such thing. What’s going on?” she demands, wiggling the doorknob, before she realizes it’s locked.
“I’m fine, Del. I’ll be there soon. I just fell asleep and I’m not ready yet,” I lie.
There’s silence from the hallway, and I know she’s still standing there.
“I promise.”
“Okay, but if you’re not out there in the next half hour, I’m coming back for you,” she says.
I allow myself a few more minutes to pull myself together, before standing up and shoving all the papers back into the box, and then I carry it out to shove into my bag.
I don’t have time for a shower, so I pull my hair out of the messy bun and run my fingers through it. Earlier this week, Delaney and I went shopping, and I found the cutest summer dress. Tonight feels like the perfect time to show it off.
I pull it out of my bag. It’s white with a plunging neckline. There are two thigh high slits on both sides and the material is so soft it almost feels like silk. My auburn hair and tan skin looks amazing in contrast to the bright white of the material.
I shoot Delaney a quick text, reassuring her that I’m on my way before she sends a search party, and then I slide my feet into my favorite pair of flip flops.
My uber arrives a few minutes later. It’s only a short walk from the house, but I’m not one to walk by myself in the dark.
I can see the bonfire from the road, and the bass from the music is pounding.
Delaney is standing by the side of the road when I get out of the car.
“Holy fuck, Mar,” she says, grabbing my hand, making me twirl around.
“Is it too much?” I ask.
“Absolutely not. You look fucking incredible,” she says, pulling me towards the crowd of people.
She hands me a drink from a cooler when we get up to the fire. She starts chatting about a hot guy she found, and I let my eyes wander around the crowd. They land on Clark almost immediately. He’s staring right at me, but he’s fucking wrapped up in Riley. The sight almost takes the air from my lungs. I’ve never seen them show any ounce of interest in each other, so the whole thing is unfamiliar. So is the feeling that’s running through my body at the two of them.
“I’m going to take a walk,” I tell Delaney, after I down a shot with her.
“You just got here,” she says, frowning.
“I just need a minute.”
She looks around, clearly worried.
