Page 112 of You Said I Was Your Favorite

We didn’t really talk the rest of the weekend and it…hurt. I recently started following Edie on social media and she posts constantly, which allowed me to keep track of Arch. I watched her stories religiously, torturing myself the entire time. Looking for a glimpse of Arch in every single one of them. He appeared here and there, always with a frown or scowl on his face, appearing irritated that she caught him on film. Never once did it look like he was having a good time.

I took a strange kind of satisfaction out of seeing that. His unhappiness. The dark look in his eyes.

His mood matched mine. He seemed miserable, and I was too. It didn’t help, the guilt I felt every time my father looked at me over the weekend, his disappointment in me obvious. Like he believes I’m throwing my life away all over a boy, which is so not true.

I don’t know what to do about my father and his obvious disapproval of Arch. I don’t know how to change his mind.

Arch can be so sweet, so funny. So good to me. He makes me feel special. More than anything, he makes me feelseen.

I don’t think there’s been a person on this earth who makes me feel that way. Not even my mother did. She was too caught up in my dad, the two of them deeply in love.

Until Arch. He sees me. He notices everything about me and asks questions. He’s curious about me and wants to know more, and I love that.

And when he kisses me? Touches me? I feel wanted. Cherished. It’s heady stuff, being consumed by Arch Lancaster.

I never want it to end.

By the time it’s Monday morning, I’m on campus early, lingering by the entrance to the main building, my gaze searching. Looking for his familiar face. He stands tall above everyone else, including the majority of the boys, but I don’t spot him.

No surprise. He’s late, always. I’m sure he was born late and he’ll most likely arrive at his wedding late.

It’s just Arch.

With a resigned sigh, I enter the building and head for our English class, keeping my head down, not wanting to gain anyone’s attention. I wore my hair down again—I’m eighteen now, I think I should give up the childish braids once and for all—and I keep feeling like people are staring at me as I walk past.

Or maybe that’s just me being self-conscious.

I enter the classroom to find Mr. Winston already sitting at his desk, his gaze landing on me and a pleasant smile spreading across his face.

“Miss Albright. A pleasure to see you this fine Monday morning.”

He is far too cheerful. It takes everything I’ve got to work up a smile for him. “Hi, Mr. Winston.”

He frowns. “Rough weekend?”

“It wasn’t the best.” I settle into my desk, dropping my backpack at my feet.

“That’s too bad. Hope you caught up with the reading.”

I almost roll my eyes at him and I immediately feel terrible for being tempted. Maybe I spend too much time with Arch. But seriously. Leave it up to a teacher to be constantly teacher-ing. “I did, Mr. Winston.”

His smile is one of pure relief. “Good. Can’t have my best student falling behind.”

The pressure is enormous, being considered the best student by all my teachers. It was probably good that Arch wasn’t around this weekend. Having so much free time allowed me to work on my various assignments, every one of them difficult but they’re all done.

Maybe my counselor was right. My school load this semester is really intense. Too intense.

The class fills up seemingly all at once, but still no Arch. The desk behind me remains empty when the bell rings and Winston goes to the door, pulling it shut. I duck my head, staring at the top of my desk, my mind racing.

Where is he? Is he still in the city with his family? Why isn’t he in class? He’s come in later, but this morning somehow feels different. And I haven’t heard from him since Saturday night. We were all over each other Friday afternoon—I was going to let him have sex with me for the very first time—and now nothing.

Silence.

The tears threaten, welling in the corners of my eyes and I glance up, my gaze meeting Winston’s.

“Can I use the restroom?” I ask.

He nods, the expression on his face full of concern.

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