My ankle almost gives out, and I clutch the metal frame of the swing set, standing there to let the dizziness subside.
When it does, I make my way to the willow tree. We used to treat this thing like a jungle gym when we were younger, and it was the first place I retreated to when my dad forced me to make friends with all the new kids.
The friendship alliance I made with Rex bloomed within these weeping branches, along with Indie, Regina and Jenna. Other than that, it’s the perfect hiding spot.
My hands wrap around the watery bark, clambering up to get into the centre crook and ride this out until he simmers.
“Saint, what the hell are you doing?”
Before I can answer her, the motion of me turning my head causes a wave of nausea, and my grip slips as I drop ten feet, landing flat on my back.
My groan mixes in with my pathetic laugh. I think that collision in the car knocked every bit of fucking sense out of me.
“Jesus Christ!” Indie shrieks, dropping to her knees to look over me.
She’s so pretty. Like, really too fucking pretty.
She looks like she was carved by angels, so innocent and pure. Too good for a piece of shit like me, especially the way my life’s panned out.
She’d probably run for the fucking hills if she knew the things I’ve been training for, and I’m only sixteen. Imagine what I’ll be like in ten years’ time.
“I’m fine,” I mumble, forcing myself to sit, and I tilt forward a bit too much. Small, fragile hands press against my chest to stop me.
I glance up at her; that angelic face is etched in concern. “I’ll call an ambulance.”
My hand whips out, wrapping around her wrist, which engulfs it due to the size difference. “No fucking way,” I say, shaking my head, and the motion makes me feel sick.
“Saint, your head’s bleeding…you’ve also just fallen out of the God damn tree.” Her big doe-like eyes search my face, and I catch her shoulders rising as she drags in a breath. “Did you commit a crime?”
I want to laugh; technically I have, but it’s minuscule to the shit I’ve truly got buried deep within me. “Crashed my dad’s new car, and he’s about to kick my ass,” I admit, watching her eyes widen.
Just when I think she’ll lose her shit, go all Miss High and Mighty on me.
She laughs.
And it’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.
“Not his new one? You’ll need to leave the country.” She brushes a strand of loose hair behind her ear, and a weird tinge of jealousy courses through me. “He was over here telling my dad just how much he’s in love with it.”
For the first time in my life, I’m fucking speechless.
There’s always been something about Indie, something I can’t put my finger on, and it keeps me fascinated with her from a distance. Right now, it’s like I truly see her.
An ache blooms in my chest, and a powerful urge courses through me to go crash my dad’s car again, just to see if it makes her laugh for me.
“I shouldn’t have come here,” I say, rising to my feet, but the moment I do I lose my balance, tripping into her. She stares upat me, clutching both my biceps, her gaze going from the red speckles, to my lips, and then my eyes.
She forces down a swallow, steeling her shoulders. “Uhm. I-I think you should come inside. You need your head looked at.”
I scoff. In more ways than one it seems.
She unclutches her fingers slowly from my arms, backing away as she turns. I follow behind her into her house, leaning my hands against the kitchen counter whilst she rummages through the cupboard.
Boxes clatter, some even falling past her as she acts like a racoon for whatever she’s looking for.
Minutes later, she’s walking over to me, watching me like she’s just let a wild animal into her house for shelter, and she isn’t really sure how it’s going to react to her kindness.
A first aid box slips from her shaky hands, and she pulls her phone out to rest on the countertop. She glances up at me through her lashes. “Sit down.”
