“Yes.”
“Then continue, or start, I should say.”
So, I do.
I present our project, the one we’ve been working on since last August, by myself. It doesn’t feel right. We worked on this together; we should’ve finished it together.
I finish right as class ends, and everyone shuffles out of the room. I go and gather my things.
“Mr. Sanderson.” I look up at Mr. Randsen, who’s standing in front of his desk, his eyes down at his laptop. He looks up at me and motions me toward him with his finger.
“Yes, sir?” I wonder, meeting him down by his desk.
“You did a great job on your project.”
“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Ember, sir. She was the brains.”
He laughs.
“Sir, there’s a really good reason why Ember isn’t here, um, her dad got in a terrible car accident and—”
“Declan,” he cuts me off, “you don’t have to make excuses for her.”
“They aren’t excuses. I just think that Ember deserves the same grade that I get. Unless you fail me, then I think she shouldn’t fail because—”
“Declan,” he cuts me off… again, “you’ll both pass. I see how much work you put into this project. And you sticking around even though it could’ve been for nothing says everything. You stayed, you presented, and it’s because you care.”
“Sir.”
“I underestimated you, Mr. Sanderson. And I’m sorry.” He pats me on the back. “You guys had the best project in class, and I’ll make sure your grade reflects that.”
He shoves his laptop into his bag and leaves me alone in his classroom.
We passed. Which I should be happy about, but at least having to repeat the class meant seeing Ember again. If she doesn’t come back to class before the end of the year—
I might never see her again.
forty-three
Ember
Imissed our presentation. After two semesters of hard work and dedication, I threw it all away because of Declan. Because facing him after what happened would be too hard. Because I wasn’t sure I’d be able to focus on anything other than how he hurt me, and in doing that, I probably bought myself two more semesters of seeing him in class twice a week. Mr. Randsen was clear at the beginning of this year that no excuse is good enough to miss class, and I didn’t even bother to think one up-- I just didn’t show.
In a span of a few weeks, I lost everything.
A group of friends that were becoming like family… my brother… and the guy I loved more than anything.
I turn over, pull the covers up to my chin and watch my door. Like at any minute, Declan will burst through it and tell me he shouldn’t have let me walk away. Tell me that things didn’t happen the way Mollie made it sound. But I wonder if I’d even hear him out. I couldn’t even go to class today because the thought of seeing him made me physically ill.
A shadow hovers under my door, and I sit up as there’s a light tap. I don’t know if I would’ve heard it if I wasn't staring right at the door. But what I don’t remember hearing is the front door, which could only mean--
“Cam.” I exhale as I jump out of bed and swing open my door. All I really need right now is one of his hugs. The one that lets me know everything will be okay… but it isn’t Cam. “Oh, it’s you.”
“Sorry to disappoint.” Zeke brushes by me and to my bed without me giving him permission. He sits near the base and stares at me.
“What are you doing here?” I ask as I start to shut the door. As I do, I see Cam leaving the kitchen and going to his room on the opposite side of the apartment. When his eyes meet mine, they still carry that same look they did over a month ago-- disappointment.
I shut my door.
