Then there’s me. Sloane. The girl who was never supposed to be born, and the one who will never amount to anything.
I moved to Georgia to go to Raymor University, with a small wad of cash and no idea what I wanted to do with my life. It’s been almost three years since I last saw my parents, and I haven’t talked to them since spring break a few months ago.
Raymor University has been the best thing to ever happen to me. Once I got out from under the influence of my parents, I was able to take a look in the mirror and decide to make a change.
I’m no longer the girl who left Timberline. I found that I actually really enjoy going to the gym. My new environment made me want to besomething. I still don't know what thatsomethingis yet, but I know that I'm destined for more. It just took getting out of my small town and away from my toxic parents to realize it.
I stare at my phone for a long time before finally tapping the phone icon next to Briar’s contact.
I’m actually very surprised that he even picks up at all.
“Sloane?”
“Hi, Dad.”
There’s a long pause, and for a moment, I’m afraid that he’s just going to hang up on me. He doesn’t.
“Haven’t heard from you in a while.”
Yeah, well, the phone goes both ways.I have to take a slow, deep breath before I answer. “Yeah, you know how it is. Finals are always crazy, and all that other end-of-year stuff.”
“Uh huh. So what’s the occasion? You’re not pregnant, are you?” he asks, his voice unconcerned.
The statement takes me off guard. I open my mouth to respond, but no words come out. I blink a few times before I’m able to find any kind of logic in my brain.
Is he joking?Am I really so out of touch that the only possible reason that I’d be calling him is to tell him that I'mpregnant?Because I know for a fact that he wouldn’t make the list of top five people I’d call if, for some crazy reason, being pregnant was the problem.
“No, not that.”
“Then what? Do you need money?”
“No, I don’t need money.”
“Then what do you need?” He sounds bored, like my mere existence is a bother to him.If you shut up for five seconds, I would fucking tell you. I don’t want to talk to you any more than you want to talk to me.I let out another breath, so I don’t accidentally say the inside thoughts that are floating around my head.
“My apartment building is being renovated for the summer, and I was wondering if Chanel has any properties that I could rent from you guys for a few months.”
Chanel is my step-mom. She’s actually pretty nice, but since I ran away as soon as I graduated, I never really got to properly form any kind of relationship with her. She also owns a few apartments and homes that she leases out as rentals, and has started doing Airbnb’s. At least that’s what Kaden told me.
“I have no idea. Let me talk to her and get back to you.”
“Ok, I have to be out by Friday, so if you could let me know sooner rather than later, that would be appreciated.”
“Will do. Bye.” He hangs up without another word.
I let out a sigh, deciding that it doesn’t really matter where I end up. I still have to be out of here by Friday, and this apartment isn’t going to pack itself. I hit shuffle on a random playlist and pack up what little items I actually call my own, setting them by the front door.
As I pack up the rest of my stuff, I look around at my empty apartment as a feeling of sadness settles over me.
I still haven’t heard from anyone about whether I have a place to go for the summer or not.
Timberline is a twenty-two-hour drive, if I go the whole way at once, which I will not be doing.
I stare at my phone, hoping for some kind of sign, anything that tells me I’m not all alone.
The hurt in my chest is enough to make me hate myself for even reaching out to Briar in the first place. I knew that I shouldn’t have. I knew that he’d let me down.I’m no good to him, so why would he ever try to help me out?
This is what I get for trying to be vulnerable. The tears sting the back of my eyes as I climb into the driver’s seat. I'm not sure where I’m going to go; maybe I'll just drive until I run out of fuel, and live there for the summer. I’m putting on my seat belt when I get a call from the last person I’m expecting to hear from.
