Page 49 of Styx & Stones

“It’s a little different.”

“How?”

“Because I have you,” I whisper. A sad smile flits across his face, but it’s chased away as quickly as it came. “Styx?”

“Yeah?”

“Promise me you’re not going anywhere.”

His eyes dart from the road again back to me, but he doesn’t say a word. We both know he can’t. We both know it’s a promise neither of us can keep. Seems like such a simple thing: don’t die, but at seventeen, it’s never been more complicated.

CHAPTER TWENTY

STYX

Alaska is quiet fora lot of the trip. We sing along to old Faith No More, Foo Fighters, and Panic! At The Disco songs. Shit everyone knows, but I suspect most people don’t actually like. When I put on a Mazzy Star playlist, I can tell she’s listening intently.

“Okay.” Alaska shakes her head. “This just won’t do.”

“What?”

She turns down the volume. “This dreary music.”

“I thought you were enjoying it.”

“I was, but now I’m not, so I get to choose something else.”

“Okay, but I can’t promise I won’t die a little inside if you put on that song fromMoana.”

Alaska laughs. “It’s like you don’t even know me.”

“Then enlighten me, Stones. What’s your favorite song?”

“Right now?”

I shake my head. “Of all time.”