Page 3

“Come inside for some snacks.” Mrs. Hart said. “We’ll help you unpack later.”

“I won’t argue with that.” My mom said.

Giggling like college students, they interlocked arms and whispered to each other. Joshua and Noah fell into conversation, leaving me trailing behind everyone into the home.

The smell of cinnamon and cocoa invaded my nostrils the second we walked in. It smelt like my mom’s homemade cookies. It was like an aroma of nostalgia. I stepped further into the home, only to collide with a figure turning the corner. I groaned at the impact. It felt like I’d walked into the wall.

“My bad.”

I glanced at the figure towering over me from underneath my lashes. Asher. He kept his eyes on the book, which was still held against my chest.

“Where are you going, Asher?” His mom asked.

“Out.”

His eyes moved to set on my face. He smirked as if he was a predator spotting his prey.

“See you around, Ms. Bennet.”

I froze as he brushed past me, slamming the door behind him. The wall paintings jiggled before settling again.

Mrs. Hart’s shoulders slumped in defeat before she resumed her conversation with my mom. I looked out the window, watching him strut toward a beat-up Chevy truck. He seemed furious and, in a rush, he reversed so fast the tires squealed.

“Sawyer.” I turned at the sound of my name. Joshua stood there, hand behind his head. “You want to join us?”

Before I could ask what he was talking about, Noah interjected.

“She’s fine here.”

I nodded my head, not wanting to argue, but Joshua beat me to it.

“No way. She can chill with us.”

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and I could feel my cheeks burning. It was rare for guys to give me the time of day, especially guys as attractive as Joshua. He might just be nice because our moms are friends, but the delusional side of me was imagining it was because he likes me.

I think every guy likes me, only to be disappointed and humbled.

I let him lure me outside to find a makeshift field hockey setup. Joshua handed me a stick, but I declined. He shrugged and got ready to test out my brother’s abilities. I slouched into the seat behind me and spent the rest of the afternoon watching them play.

??

2

“Oh, my life is changing every day.”

Dreams, The Cranberries

Asher

I was sick of the happy family facade. My mom hadn’t seen her college friend in years and suddenly they’re best friends again? And to top it all off, we had to act like The Brady Bunch. I scoffed while taking a sharp right down the familiar street.

The infamous Marshtown Creek. This postcard-worthy view inspired the town’s name. It was the only good thing the town offered.

I parked my truck just outside the clearing. The moment I stepped out, the vengeful wind greeted me. I pulled my coat tighter around my body and strutted through the man-made opening to the creek. It was an archway made of vines and flowers.

A jewel-blue stream babbled and burbled through the forest. It sprung over the chalk rocks. A galaxy of dragonflies swarmed around everyone, not at all disturbed by the noise of screaming teenagers. They looked as if the stars had fallen, called by the siren songs. However, I was too angered to appreciate the mesmerizing scene. I needed a distraction.

“Asher!”