Wait.My brain replays everything up to the present moment, finally catching up.
What the hell did I just say?
And to a substitute at my school.
ToBrie.
I shut my eyes from the sight of her. She’s always been able to burrow her way under my skin, infecting me like a bad rash, itching until I have no choice but to scratch.
But we aren’t kids anymore.
For the first time, I realize how fucked up it is on a professional level that I’m even here, talking to her this way. She wants nothing to do with me, and I’m herboss.
She opens her mouth to respond, but I cut her off.
“Goodnight,” I say, and shove through the back exit.
CHAPTER 9
TWELFTH GRADE
BRIE
I almost always walkedhome after working at The Square, the ancient diner located,that’s right, on the town square.
As I was counting my tips, making sure I could cover the overdue electric bill, I kept glancing out the windows. Rain was coming down in sheets. The rumble of thunder was getting closer, occasional lightning splitting the sky as the night wore on.
Temperatures were hovering just above freezing—too warm for snow, but absolutely cold enough to dread walking home.
The streets were already flooded.
All shift, I hoped Gia would stop in near closing. Why anyone would choose to live in Blue Ridge after college was beyond me. Hell, if it weren’t for Mara, I wouldn’t live herenow.
I wasn’t complaining, though. Gia picked me up sometimes after I clocked out.
But tonight, when I turned theOpensign toClosed, my heart sank. I stood inside the door of the diner, peering outat the empty street. The pouring rain still hadn’t let up. No Gia.
I steeled myself for the cold and did my best to pull my hood over my head.
Five months.
The familiar mantra was pavlovian at this point. Something doesn’t go my way? Repeat the mantra.
Only five months until I graduated. Then I could be out of Blue Ridge forever.
I felt guilty leaving Mara behind, but Gia promised she’d have a two-bedroom by then. Mara wouldn’t have to live with our dad, and I knew she already was doing alright at school because there was no Sawyer in her class. She’d be alright.
My feet were already soaked by the time I walked the half block to Main Street. A gust of wind blew my hood off, freezing rain pelting my face. I swiped the hair out of my eyes as lightning flashed over head, cracking so loud it rattled my jaw.
All I could do was walk a little faster, water squelching in my shoes as I squinted to see past the next street lamp.
Headlights appeared behind me, illuminating my miserable path. I braced myself for a splash of water from its tires, but it didn’t come.
As the car slowed, a rock sank in the pit of my stomach.
Shit shit shit. Nothing good could come of a car slowing down for me in the middle of the night. I kept my head straight ahead.
“Hey!”
