“I’m fine,” I said, looking back to him and then to Preston. “Please, go.” Someone might see you here with me.
Preston and Cole both opened their mouths simultaneously but Mrs. Stephens cut in, “I’m going to insist that you go actually, because I need Annalia to remove her clothing so we can get her completely checked out. Now go on back to class, boys.”
They both stared at me for a moment, but I looked away and finally, Preston stood up, rubbing his hands down his hips. “I’ll wait outside for you.”
“Please don’t,” I said without looking at him. He stood there for a few beats longer, and I felt his stare on me, but then he turned and left the room.
“Do you want me—?” Cole asked.
“No.”
I didn’t hear him leave and knew he was lingering, so I looked up to meet his gaze. He looked so troubled and I just wanted him to go. “It’s okay, Cole. Soon this will all be a distant memory. I’m not going to be here forever.” I mustered a half-hearted smile.
His grin was immediate, his head tilted in interest. “Yeah? Where are you gonna be?”
“On the North Shore of Hawaii giving surf lessons to tourists. I just need to learn to surf first.”
He laughed softly. “Sounds perfect.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “It does.” I looked back down and a second later I heard his footsteps echoing down the empty hall.
CHAPTER FOUR
Lia – Fifteen Years Old
I didn’t go back to school for the rest of that year. I took my finals and never returned. What was the point? I’d done what I needed to do to pass my freshman year. I couldn’t bear sitting in classes and feeling the humiliation of the kids who were surely laughing behind my back and calling me ugly names, or even worse, feeling disgust and pity. I’d go back next year once Alicia Bardua had gone to college. And I prayed no one would remember that awful, awful day.
I had elaborate fantasies about slipping amnesia-inducing drugs into the town water supply, but couldn’t work out a real-life plan in which I could actually make that happen.
As much as I hated my house, it was a sort of sanctuary because no one ever came by—how could they when they didn’t know where we lived—and we didn’t have a telephone.
Loath as I was to go back to the motel where my mama worked, I did it anyway because she needed my help, and we both needed to eat and keep a roof over our heads.
On the night of the senior prom, though, I felt antsy and cooped up and needed something to do to take my mind off what I knew was happening right across Linmoor.
Doing laundry in town where I could sit in a brightly lit Laundromat by myself reading might not sound very exciting to anyone else, but I took pleasure in it and decided it was a good night to wash clothes.
I loved the whirling sounds filling the space, the fresh smell of detergent and fabric softener, and even the piped-in eighties music the owner played—the same repeating playlist he’d been using for years. Sometimes I’d hear one of those songs somewhere else and I’d be momentarily confused when a different song than the one on the Laundromat playlist came on next.
I hefted our laundry bag onto my back and left the house, asking my mama if she wanted to go with me but knowing she’d say no.
When I stepped outside, sundown was painting the sky in wide, vivid brush strokes of mauve and purple and small splashes of white gold. I halted for a moment just to breathe in the loveliness of it, thinking about all the girls in town getting ready for tonight’s dance and wondering if they, too, were looking out their windows and remarking on what a magical sky it was, how it must certainly mean it was going to be a magical night.
I wondered what Alicia Bardua would be wearing and I pictured her dancing with Preston, swirling around the floor. What a beautiful couple they’d make: her in a prom dress—turquoise, I thought, no, deep blue—and him in a tux.
I picked up my feet, beginning the walk, trying to tell myself I didn’t care at all what they’d look like together, but the vision in my imagination caused a sharp ache of hurt and I closed my eyes on a groan.
I wondered who Cole was taking. Shouldn’t I have felt that strange ache thinking of Cole with someone else? I didn’t. Couldn’t.
Before now, I’d never allowed myself to picture Preston with other girls. Although I knew he must date. Preston and Cole were among the most popular boys in school and I assumed he must have girls throwing themselves at him. But now I knew specifically who it was, I couldn’t help the picture that formed in my mind.
A feeling of desperation filled me and I picked up my pace, walking through the tall grass of our yard, and turning onto the dirt road in front of our house.
The walk to the Laundromat on the edge of town wasn’t too far, but under the weight of the laundry, it took me almost thirty minutes when I could usually do it in fifteen.
The familiar fragrant mugginess of the space brought a smile to my lips and I hefted my laundry bag onto the counter, separating the clothes into two loads. I’d have liked to separate it into three, but I only had enough money for two cycles and one box of Tide from the vending machine.
I stuffed the washers full and slid the quarters into the slots, adding detergent and starting the machines.
As my clothes began washing, I took a seat in one of the light blue, plastic bucket chairs by the window and opened my book, switching my clothes over to dry when the washers stopped.
A little later, I was snapped out of my novel by the buzzing from the dryers indicating my loads were dry.
There was a folding table near the back and I unloaded my clothes into a laundry cart and rolled it there to begin folding, humming softly to “Time After Time” as I worked.
Awareness suddenly made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I paused, bringing my head up in mild alarm.
When I heard the soft sound of footsteps on the linoleum floor behind me, I dropped the shirt in my hands, whirling around and letting out a startled squeak at the sight of a man standing near the door.
Preston.
A loud whoosh of breath escaped my mouth. “Oh my God. You scared me,” I said, putting my hand over my heart.
He gazed at me steadily, taking a few steps forward. “Sorry.”
I furrowed my brows, shaking my head slightly. “You’re supposed to be at the prom.”
“No, I’m not.”
“What? Why?”
“I broke the date with Alicia after the way she treated you.”
I gaped stupidly at him, dread sliding down my spine. “Why would you do that?”
“Because I don’t want to hang out with someone who’s that much of a bitch.”