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I tried to keep my cool, but impatience was getting the best of me. "Skylar," I warned.
Skylar's laugh grated on my nerves as it echoed through the phone. "Oh, my God! She's fine and not even with me," she said.
"Then why do you have her phone?" I asked as I pulled away from the curb and started driving down the road.
"Oh, Mav. Haven't you learned anything of what I can do? I have ways to get what I want," she said coyly.
"Wh—" I begin, unable to continue. My mind is reeling with disbelief at what I'm hearing, and what a psychotic bitch she is.
"It was the only way I could get through to you since you won't return my calls or messages," Skylar whines as if that justifies her actions.
She lost her goddamn mind!
"There's a reason for that, Skylar," I say through gritted teeth. "I don'twantto talk to you because I havenothingto say." When I pull up to a stop light, I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and feel the urge to scream.
"Don't you think you had enough of your little vacation in your old hometown? You need to come back to LA, where you belong."
I let out an exasperated sigh. "Skylar, what I do with my life is none of your business."
Skylar's tone turned icy. "Oh, but it is my business, Maverick. You should know by now that Ialwaysget what I want. And if you think you can just run off like this without consequences, you're sorely mistaken."
"Do you even hear yourself?" I ask her, trying to keep my voice steady. "You talk like we're together."
But when she responds with, "We are," I feel my blood boil. How could she be so delusional? We were never together. It was one horrible mistake I will regret for the rest of my life.
Skylar abruptly ended the call before I could respond. As I tried to process the ridiculous conversation with Skylar, a car behind me honked its horn impatiently, disrupting my thoughts. I waved apologetically and refocused on the road ahead, feeling my frustration simmering beneath the surface.
My phone began to ring, and my heart caught in my throat. The caller ID showed Mom's name, but what if it wasn't her? What if it was Skylar? The thought left me anxious and uneasy, wondering if I would now have to constantly be on guard. Her obsession with me seemed to be spiraling out of control.
The ringing continued, piercing my thoughts, and I answered the call. "Skylar, you better stop playing these games!" I barked over the phone.
"Maverick?" Mom's concerned voice echoed through the speaker. "Is everything alright?"
"Sorry, Mom. Yeah, I thought you were someone else." I said, trying to sound calm but still feeling a bit flustered.
"Oh, okay. Is Skylar giving you problems?" she asked.
"Nothing I can't handle. What's up, Mom?" I didn't want to worry her, so I tried to sound confident.
"Well, um, Olivia has been trying to call Scar but hasn't gotten through, and Gem isn't answering her phone either. Scar’s mom can’t leave the hospital, and your father and I are at the doctor's office."
"What do you need from me?” My senses were heightened as soon as I heard the words "unable to get a hold of Scar" from my mother.
“Could you pick up Shaun from school?”
"Sure. What's the address?" I ask without hesitation.
"I’ll text it to you with the details, and I'll also call the center to let them know you'll be picking him up."
Mom takes a moment to collect her thoughts before speaking once more. "It's not like her to forget to pick him up," she says with a heavy sigh, her tone tinged with sadness and worry.
My heart races with concern. A surge of anxiety tightens my stomach as the mere thought of anything happening to Scar fills me with dread.
As soon as I hang up with Mom, I type in the address on my GPS and start driving toward the school. It takes me around ten minutes to reach my destination. Upon arriving, I park on the side of the building. As I walk toward the front door, I can’t help but notice the bustling surroundings. The bright, colorful walls, the sound of children's laughter, and the lively atmosphere all add to the charm of the place.
As I approach the front desk, I notice a petite brunette engrossed in a phone conversation. She smiles warmly at me and gestures with her finger, indicating that she will be with me shortly. While waiting for her to finish her call, I take a moment to admire the walls painted in bright colors and adorned with murals of various zoo animals.
I’m momentarily lost in my thoughts when the receptionist’s sweet voice breaks my trance. "Welcome, how may I assist you?" she asks with a smile. Her eyes widen, and her jaw drops as she looks at me with a mix of shock and excitement. "Oh, my freaking God, you're Jace! I’m, like, your biggest fan!" she exclaims. "I can't believe I'm standing face-to-face with Jace." She adds.
