“I’m running late—can we check back in about this?” I ask, hooking my thumbs under my backpack straps.
He folds his arms over his chest, scowling.
“Can I ask a favor, at least?”
“Anything.”
“Lewis and Don are busy with basketball, obviously—I could do with some help picking up drinks and decorations next week.”
I like Adam. I like him a lot. Right from the start, he always made me feel at ease. I don’t have the heart to say no.
“You can count on me.”
“Amazing. Thanks, Lois. I’ll give you a call and we can figure it out.”
He makes to walk by me, and just as I turn, he scoops me up in his arms and hugs me goodbye.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
He can feel me tense up, and with good reason.
Standing there behind him is Lane. It’s been days since I last saw him, and it’s like a punch to the gut. He’s chatting to a girl I don’t recognize, and when he turns to glance at me, tears prick behind my eyes. He stares at me for a moment, before blinking and turning away, as if I were a passing shadow. It reminds me of how Kirk acted—except this is ten times more painful.
“See you later,” I mumble to Adam.
I make a dash for the classroom, changing my mind on the way, dipping into the restroom instead. I lock myself in a cubicle and fall back onto the toilet seat, dropping my head between my knees as I gasp for air. Somewhere buried deep within all that hurt, a flicker of rage is sparking. I’m still good old Lois who nobody takes seriously—and that needs to stop. Everyone else is busy living their lives, and here I am, shaking on a toilet seat.
That’s it. Lean into the anger.
I get up, flush the toilet, and watch the water swirl down the bowl.
Time to woman the fuck up.
29LANE
I glance at my phone, checking the clock for the hundredth time. I’m waiting for Adam to swing by, and I’m already regretting saying yes to us taking just the one car. I could have been on the road already, instead of pacing around my apartment waiting for my ride. My eyes keep drifting back to the corner where her stuff used to be—I still can’t believe the disappearing act Lois pulled.
It’s been two weeks since she left. When I woke up and noticed her bags were gone, it just made me even madder at her. She came crashing into my life, turned it all upside down, and then just vanished overnight. Who does that?
My phone beeps—Adam. I grab my jacket and stop in my tracks when I realize the spare key is still right where Lois left it. I take a deep breath in, and hit the stairs.
Adam needs me to help him out, and I’ve been distant with my friends the past few weeks: today I’m going to make sure I don’t project my negative energy onto him. I haven’t told the guys what happened with Lois, but they definitely know something’s up. I bet they all heard she’s staying at Becca’s. I know that’s where she is, because the moment I realized she was gone, I did the only thing I could thinkof—I called Carter. When he asked me what had happened, I hung up on him.
I recognize the sound of Adam’s engine running, and stride down the sidewalk, slipping in beside him and leaning the passenger seat back a little so I can stretch out.
“Good to see you, man!” He pulls out into the street. “What’s up?”
“Nothing much.”
“Thanks for helping me out. Don and Lewis have so many practices and games right now, it’s a lot.”
I don’t know how those two have the energy, and I’m pretty jealous they have something so all-consuming to keep themselves distracted.
I brush my hair back. “This is like their Super Bowl.”
“Facts.”
“So—what’s first on the list?”
