He came back a few days later to pay me back. Then, he began showing up weekly to buy a loaf of bread, or some more ramen noodles, or a pack of gum. He always came to my checkout lane. At some point, Logan and I began to talk during transactions. We learned that his half-brother was dating my sister, and they had been together for what felt like forever. At some point, he almost smiled. Then once, I swore he even laughed. We kind of became friends, starting with small exchanges of words and building up to bigger conversations.
When I’d leave work, he’d be sitting on the parking lot curb, waiting for me, and we’d talk even more.
Our skin tanned together under the burning sun. We left each night beneath the flaming stars.
I met my best friend in the checkout lane of a grocery store.
And my life was never the same again.
Part One
His soul was set in flames,
and he scorched anyone who stood too close.
She stepped closer,
unafraid of the ashes they were destined to become.
Chapter One
Logan
*
Two years, seven girlfriends, two boyfriends, nine breakups, and a stronger friendship later.
*
I’d watched a documentary on pie.
Two hours of my life were spent sitting in front of a tiny television, watching a library DVD on the history of pie. It turned out pie had been around since the ancient Egyptians. The first documented pie was created by the Romans; they made a rye-crusted goat cheese and honey pie. It sounded completely disgusting, but somehow, at the end of the documentary, all I wanted was that freaking pie.
I wasn’t much of a pie eater, more into cake, but at that moment, all that flew through my mind was the thought of a flaky crust.
I had all the things needed to go upstairs to our apartment to make the pie, too. All that stood in my way was Shay, my now ex-girlfriend, I’d spent the past few hours sending mixed signals.
I was crappy at breaking up with girls. Most of the time, I’d text them a simple, ‘Not working, sorry’ or have a five-second phone call to cut it off, but I couldn’t with this one, because Alyssa told me breaking up with someone over the phone was the worst thing a person could ever do.
So I’d met up with Shay in person. Terrible idea.
Shay, Shay, Shay. I wished I hadn’t found the need to have sex with her that night—which we had. Three times. After I broke up with her. But now it was past one in the morning, and…
She. Wouldn’t. Leave.
She wouldn’t stop talking either.
The cold rain whistled as we stood in front of my apartment building. All I wanted to do was go to my bedroom and relax for a bit. Was that too much to ask? Smoke a bit of pot, start a new documentary, and make a pie or five.
I wanted to be alone. No one liked being alone more than I did.
My cell phone dinged, and I saw Alyssa’s name appear on the screen with a text message.
Alyssa: Is the good deed done?
I smirked to myself, knowing she meant me breaking up with Shay.
Me: Yeah.
I watched the three ellipses appear on my phone, waiting to see Alyssa’s reply.
Alyssa: You didn’t sleep with her though, did you?
More ellipses.
Alyssa: Oh God, you slept with her, didn’t you?
Even more ellipses.
Alyssa: MIXED SIGNALS!
I couldn’t help but chuckle, because she knew me better than anyone else. Alyssa and I had been best friends for the past two years, and we were the complete opposite of one another. Her older sister was dating my brother Kellan, and at first, Alyssa and I were convinced we had nothing in common. She happily sat in church, while I smoked pot around the corner. She believed in God while I danced with demons. She had a future while I somehow seemed trapped in the past.
But we had certain things in common that somehow made us make sense. Her mom barely tolerated her; my mom hated me. Her dad was a jerk; my dad was Satan.
When we realized the small things we did have in common, we spent more time together, growing closer each day.
She was my best friend, the highlight to my shitty days.
Me: I slept with her once.
Alyssa: Twice.
Me: Yeah, twice.
Alyssa: THREE TIMES, LOGAN?! OH MY GOSH!
“Who are you talking to?” Shay whined, breaking my stare from my phone. “Who could possibly be more important than having this conversation right now?”
“Alyssa,” I said flatly.
“Oh my gosh. Seriously? She just can’t get enough of you, can she?” Shay complained. It wasn’t new though; every girl I’d dated in the past two years had a way of being extremely jealous of Alyssa’s and my relationship. “I bet you’re screwing her.”
“Yeah, I am,” I said. That was the first lie. Alyssa wasn’t easy, and if she was, she wouldn’t be easy with me. She had standards—standards I didn’t meet. Also, I had standards for Alyssa’s relationships—standards no guy could ever meet. She deserved the world, and most people in True Falls, Wisconsin only had crumbs to offer.
“I bet she’s the reason you’re breaking up with me.”
“Yeah, she is.” That was the second lie. I made my own choices, but Alyssa always backed me, no matter what. She always gave me her input though, and let me know when I was in the wrong in all of my relationships. She was painfully blunt sometimes.
“She wouldn’t ever really get with you though. She’s a good girl, and you—you’re a piece of shit!” Shay cried.