Fuck.
Me.
“You’re staring,” she said, her voice trembling and quiet.
“I just can’t believe it.”
Her shoulders drew up to her ears as she curled in—like she was bracing for impact.
“Please don’t,” she barely breathed.
“I never thought I’d see you again. I mean, I’d hoped, but?—”
Her head snapped up, eyes wide, hands hiding in the pocket of the hoodie, but I was almost certain she had them clasped together, holding on for dear life. The sun was almost fully set behind the mountains, and the lampposts were coming to life, and the twinkling lights strung up through all the trees would be coming on any minute.
“I mean, I’ve been following you for years, and then running into you at the qualifiers—that was terrible, and now here?”
Warning, shut up now, Lukas.
There was clearly a disconnect between my brain and my mouth because words just kept pouring out. Vaguely, I was aware of the silence coming from both my sister and Aimee’s best friend, but my mouth kept moving.
“Like, there are so many posters of you in my house. I traveled all over the country to watch you. The facts I know—kind of creepy, but damn do I know a lot.”
I spluttered as hot chocolate splashed me in the face, snapping me out of whatever word vomit fugue state I’d been in.
“Dude, what the fuck?” Eloise asked, looking at me like I was a creep.
She was standing between me and Aimee who looked both scared and creeped out. I wiped at the hot chocolate dripping down my face. Eloise still had the cup out in front of her, and Zara was looking at me like I’d just ruined her entire life—and well, maybe I just had.
“I just want to specify that I’m not like…a…stalker or anything.”
“Are you sure about that?” Eloise demanded.
“Nope, I’m just in love with Aimee,” I blurt out.
Well, fuck me twice.
The other cup of hot chocolate splashed me.
“Zar, a little help here.”
“Absolutely not. Dig yourself out of this weird hole you’ve put yourself in. This is embarrassing.”
“Gee, thanks.” I snarked.
Aimee looked a little less creeped out, but still incredibly uneasy.
I fucking hate that I put that look on her face. I ran my hands down my face, and flicked them out to the side—hot chocolate flying off my fingers.
“All of that came outreallybadly. I can explain.”
Eloise shook her head, and I watched as Aimee tugged at her friend, urging her away, tension lining her shoulders. Eloise wasn’t moving though.
And that’s when it dawned on me. I’d seen all the posts and videos and breakdown segments. I’d seen the interviews and speculations and talk shows that had ripped her apart. It would have come to a shock to no one that she’d disappeared off social media, probably hadn’t been going out much. For as cruel as people could be online, I’m sure she got her fair share in person as well. And here I was, recognizing her, coming off as an utterly creepy stalker—probably making a bunch of her worst fears come to life. I tilted my head back and stared at the darkening sky.
“You know, I’ve never seen you fumble that hard before,” Zara quipped.
The hot chocolate was starting to dry on my skin, and I groaned at my sister’s sass.
