Page 15

When I glance around the lot, ignoring the stares of other students as they pass?most likely thinking I’m insane?I notice Banner leaning against a tree and talking on the phone.
He can’t see me like this. With one look, he’ll know something is wrong, and right now, I need to process what happened, then figure out what I’m going to do about the letter in my bag.
Since he hasn’t noticed me, I move to the side, taking the long way around the building.
When I look back, he’s still on the phone, and I pray he doesn’t wait around for me to finish.
CHAPTER FIVE
After no sleep the night before, I’m wondering if it’s worth cancelling with Jordan today. I just don’t want to fall back into old habits; ones where I make plans and cancel them. If I cancel on her today, tomorrow it could be Banner, and after what happened in class yesterday, I need to be surrounded by people who make me feel safe. Banner is one of them.
Mark comes barging into my room just as my attention turns to the television, watching in horror as they announce a young girl has gone missing.
“Oh, my God, that’s here in Whithall,” I tell Mark, pointing to the TV.
He slowly sits down on the edge of the bed, his eyes never leaving the television. “Holy shit! What the fuck is happening around here? I swear this place is cursed sometimes.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “You told me it was safe.”
He flinches, turning to face me. “Nowhere is really safe, Em. But no one will mess with you with me around.”
I sigh, my gaze still fixed on the screen as I murmur, “I know.” I look away from the television, facing my cousin. “Was there something you needed?”
He faces me, too, watching me curiously. “Are you okay? You look tired.”
“I was up all night, working,” I lie.
He mumbles something under his breath but doesn’t argue with me. “I wanted to know if you wanted a lift to Nero.”
I glance at my phone, noticing it’s half twelve already, and I have to meet Jordan at the coffee shop soon.
“Shit!” I look over at him, smiling. “You don’t mind?”
“Nah. Me and Levi are going to check out the new fitness shop that opened up. It’s just a few shops down.”
“Thank you,” I tell him. Then remember the letter. “Um, Mark, I got a letter yesterday…”
He raises his eyebrow. “I know, you had a pile of them.”
I shake my head at him, leaning over the bed to grab my bag. Sitting up, I pull the letter out and hand it to him.
He scans it over, his face scrunching up in confusion before it dawns on him. He glances up in horror, waving the letter in the air. “Is this from who I think it’s from?”
Still shocked over it myself, I nod. “Yeah. What do you think it says?”
“Well, it can’t be anything bad. They wouldn’t let him send it if it was. Isn’t he out soon?”
I’ve not wanted to think about his impending release. I avoid anything Darren related, just I like I avoid the subject of my parents. It’s my way of coping.
“They called my parents a while ago to inform them he was being released in a few months. The date on the front of the letter says it was sent a month ago. Do you think my parents hid it from me?”
He eyes it again, grimacing. “Yeah, most likely. Or it got misplaced and they just found it. What I don’t understand is why they allowed him to send it you. They’re supposed to have a list of victims he can’t write to.”
“What do I do? I can’t deal with that right now.” I point to the letter, feeling my gut twist. “Why would he even be writing to me?”
“Do you want me to read it?”
I shake my head, and it isn’t until this moment that I realise I don’t want to know what it says. “No. I don’t need to know. Whatever he has to say, I can’t hear it.”