AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Did you call someone?”
“My phone died.”
“You live around here?”
“No. My friend does. She lives in this building. I thought she was here. I forgot that everyone had to move out after the fire. She’s staying somewhere else now.”
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his wallet. He takes out a $20 bill. “Here.” He hands me the money. “That should be enough to get you home.” He eyes the car. “Or maybe not in this thing. What’s this get for mileage? Five miles per gallon?”
“Ten, but you don’t have to—”
“Here.” He hands me another $20 bill. “That should do it.”
“Thanks,” I say, wondering if miracles really do happen. This guy showing up and giving me money definitely seems like one.
“Have a good day!” He backs away, still giving me that friendly smile, then turns and walks back to his truck. Another truck pulls up next to him, followed by a truck pulling a trailer with equipment on it.
I leave the parking lot and head to the gas station down the street. After the car’s filled up, I get on the freeway, having no idea where I’m going or what time it is. It’s Friday, so I assume most people are at work by now, or school. I could go to my school and try to find Rielle, but I’d risk a teacher seeing me. I’ll wait until classes are out and try to catch her when she’s leaving.
Just up ahead is the park where Easton took me. The place where we had our first kiss, a kiss I’ll never forget.
I get off at the exit and head to the park. I don’t know what I’m going to do there or why I’m even going. Maybe I just want to relive that brief moment in time when I was happy, when I stupidly believed my life could be better, and that Easton was still Sean and cared about me like he did when we were kids.
There’s nobody in the parking lot so I take a spot in the front row, closest to the playground. Getting out of the car, I smile when I see the swings, remembering how much I used to love them, and how Easton would push me so hard I thought I’d go over the top. I knew I wouldn’t, but I still screamed when he did it because it made him laugh.
Walking over there, I hesitate before getting on the swing, afraid I’ll feel sad if I do. But I’m already sad, so what the hell? I brush the snow off the black rubber seat and sit down, shivering from how cold it feels through my jeans. I grab the metal chain, then quickly let go before it freezes to my hands. I move back and forth, gazing out at the cars going by in the distance, listening to them roar on the freeway.
Reaching inside my coat sleeve, I yank my sweatshirt down to cover my hands and do the same on the other side. With my hands now covered, I grip the metal chain and lean my head back, staring up at the blue sky as I slowly rock back and forth.
What am I going to do? Where should I go? I feel so lost right now, and confused. I don’t know how to fix this. How do I get my life back? Do I start a new one? I don’t even know where to begin.
“I thought we were too old for that,” someone says.
I freeze, then slowly turn back.
Holy shit, it’s him. But how? How did he find me? How did he know I was here?
Tears are stinging my eyes and my throat burns as I try to hold them back.
Easton stops in front of me, holding his hands out. “Come here.”
I take his hands, the tears breaking loose, streaming down my face.
He pulls me against him, his arms wrapping around me.
“It’s going to be okay,” he says, holding me tighter. “I promise you, it’s gonna be okay.”
I don’t know why, but for some reason, I believe him.
10
Easton
When I left this morning,I had no idea I’d end up at this park. I just wanted to get out of the house. There wasn’t school today because of a teacher conference, and there was no way I was spending the whole day at home. My parents have been fighting ever since we had that talk about Nova, and by fighting I mean giving each other the silent treatment. It makes the whole house feel tense. Even when my dad’s at work, the house still feels off because of how my mom’s acting. She’s smiling more than usual and putting on this fake act like everything’s okay, but then I’ll walk by her room and hear her crying, or talking really quietly on the phone to one of her friends.
I don’t know what’s going on with her and my dad. I just know I don’t want to be around them. I told my mom I needed to run some errands this morning, but I really just planned to take a drive. I was going to go through town but then decided to get on the freeway. When I saw the exit for the park, I had this strong urge to get off. I didn’t think anybody would be there since it’s cold out and there’s several inches of snow on the ground. I thought I’d just walk a little on the trail, then leave.
When I saw Ted’s car, my heart nearly stopped. At first, I didn’t believe it was her. I thought maybe she sold Ted’s car and someone else was driving it. But then I got out and saw someone on the swings and instantly knew it was her.
