I stilled. “Like it was fate.”
Seren’s eyebrows shot up. “Fate?”
“Yeah,” I cleared my throat. “If you believe in that kind of thing. I don’t.”
“Sure,” she said slowly. She hesitated, clearly wanting to say more, then let it go. “Anyway, I came here for details, and so far you’ve given me nothing.”
“Don’t you have girlfriends for this?” I asked.
She laughed. “Cassidy’s been with O since they both had braces. There is zero drama there.” She paused. “Zane knows her.”
“Zane knows Yellow?” I said too fast. “I mean, Blair.”
Seren’s grin said everything. “Same year at Hawking. Similar circles.”
“Small world,” I muttered, waiting.
“I’m not going to tell you until I hear you say it,” she smiled as she spoke, the amusement clear in her eyes. She was thoroughly enjoying this.
“Seren,” I said flatly. “Tell me, or I’ll change the locks.”
“You would never,” she laughed. “Who else would you watch Grey’s with?”
“I hate that show,” I told her, forcing a scowl onto my lips. I was lying. It was my favorite show. I’d never tell her that, though. “Fine,” I huffed when her lips stayed pressed together. “Can you tell me about her? Please?”
“Well, damn, A. All you had to do was ask,” she joked, tossing her long hair over her shoulder. “Okay, so I grilled Zane about her. And then I grilled Cassidy, and then Gavin… and then O. It was weird, like they were not thrilled about being woken up in the middle of the night to answer my questions.”
I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face as she spoke. She was so different from the girl I’d met. In the best way. She had changed completely. She was growing so beautifully. She had been lost when we met. Now she was thriving. She had been wilted then. Now she stood in a field of other flowers, her petals blooming more every day.
“She just graduated, so she’s the same age as us. Her name’s Blair Evanston, which you probably already knew. Super cute, which you also know,” she paused to wink. “Here’s where it gets a little dicey. Her brother’s an addict. Pills. Which is just fucking awful. I honestly can’t believe there are scumbags who sell thatshit to kids. Zane said he got addicted his second year of high school. I mean, what kind of person does that?”
My stomach sank like a ship with a gaping hole torn through it. I forced my expression to stay neutral, fighting the guilt rushing through me. Pills would always be personal to Seren. They had almost taken her life. She thought I was done with that world. She thought it was behind me. She believed her almost dying had been enough to make me swear off anything to do with pills forever. She was right. But she didn’t understand. It wasn’t my choice. And I could never let her know otherwise. The second she saw who I really was, she would never look at me with light in her eyes again.
“But Zane said she’s not a wreck from it,” Seren continued. “Surprisingly. They all said she’s the opposite, actually. She’s happy. Bright.”
“Yellow?” I said, knowing she’d understand immediately.
She sighed. “I get it. No wonder you never fell for me. She’s the complete opposite in every way.”
I exhaled slowly. I couldn’t deny it. She was right. I’d told Seren the same thing the first time we ever spoke. Seren had never been my type. When we met, Seren was the gray that already covered me, only darker. I’ve never wanted more darkness. Never wanted more storms. Seren was never yellow. She would never be yellow. She isn’t gray anymore, though. She’s red now. A red that changes. Some days she’s dark, like blood spilling from a wound. It’s hard to look at, but at least you know it comes from something alive. And when she’s happy, she’s bright red. Like a rose.
“She’s different, Seren,” I said quietly. “She makes me… I don’t know. She’s like hope. And I know I don’t know her that well,but from what I’ve seen, from what I’ve felt… she’s different from anyone I’ve ever met. In the best way.”
Seren let out a breath, leaning back against the stone-cold table. “Well, shit. I guess there’s only one thing we can do, then.”
“What?” I asked.
“Show her the same thing you showed me,” she said with a shrug, like it was simple. “Show her how good you are.”
And even though I knew she was wrong in every way, I agreed with her anyway.
5
Though the Pitt was busier than usual, even for a Saturday night, I kept one eye glued to Cherry.
I was overreacting. I knew that by now. After our three-hour nap, followed by a plate of hangover food, as Cherry called it, she seemed almost back to normal. Still, I couldn’t help myself. I worried she wouldn’t be able to handle the fast-paced environment that came with waitressing here. The Pitt was split between a bar and a family-friendly restaurant. TVs were mounted in every corner, surrounded by every kind of sports memorabilia imaginable. No one was looking at the memorabilia tonight, though. Whatever basketball game was playing had clearly captured everyone’s attention, which meant The Pitt was packed with the most annoying type of customer there was. Men.
Men, boys, guys. That particular game had drawn them all into the wood-paneled, mismatched restaurant. I plastered on a smile for my current table, a group of four men who looked to be in their early thirties. I ignored the way they eyed me, like I was prey and they’d come here to hunt. It didn’t help that Greg insisted our uniforms be two sizes too small. The red shirts left very little to the imagination, and the black shorts weren’t much better.
