Page 79 of I Don't Need Your Protection

Chapter Twenty-Four

Addie

“Are you sure you’re okay with it?” I ask Caleb as I add pajamas to my backpack.

“Didn’t we already discuss that you’re free to hang out with whoever you want?” Caleb leans on the wall of my room with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Yeah, but…”

“But what?” He pushes off the wall and moves closer to me. “Addilyn, I want you to make friends. I want you to live your life and have fun.”

“How will you keep an eye on me when I’m in Clarissa’s house?”

“That’s for me to figure out. You just focus on having fun at the sleepover.”

I sit on my bed and stash some more items into my backpack, trying to ignore the way my stomach twists arounditself. Caleb is being really sweet and kind about the sleepover. I thought he would for sure convince me not to go.

“Are you nervous about going?” he asks me.

“No.”

“Are you sure? After what happened the other night…”

I slowly turn around to face him. “You think I’m worried I’ll have another nightmare?”

He keeps his eyes on me for a few seconds, then says in a soft tone, “Are you?”

I twist back around and focus on putting an extra pair of clothes in my backpack, just in case. “I’m not worried I’ll have another nightmare.”

“Okay. Good.”

We’re both quiet.

Then he says, “If you are worried, no one would hold it against you if you don’t go.”

I shake my head. “I want to go.”

“Okay.”

I grab some last-minute things and stand, throwing my backpack over my shoulder. Caleb and I stand before each other for a few moments. It looks like he wants to say something, but he moves aside so I can get to the door. I give him a curt nod before moving to the door and reaching for the knob.

“Addilyn?”

I turn around.

“I want you to have fun at the sleepover, but be vigilant, okay? Always trust yourinstincts.”

I nod and walk out of my room.

Clarissa told me to meet her in her room. Once I get there, I knock on the door and it opens a few seconds later to reveal Luna. Her beautiful blonde hair is pulled into a high ponytail. She smiles and widens the door. “Hey, Addie. Jemma is here, too. We’re just about ready to leave.”

I say hello to Jemma and Clarissa, trying to shove away the nerves building inside me. I really want to have fun at this sleepover and not act like a total freak. Mainly because I want to feel comfortable with Warner’s friends, but also because I want to have an enjoyable time at this school.

“I can’t believe this zit popped up out of nowhere,” Clarissa complains as she studies her reflection in the vanity mirror and touches her forehead. “Who invented zits, anyway? They should be banned.”

“You can barely see it,” Luna assures her.

“I used to have like crazy zits a few years ago,” I inform them with a nervous laugh. “I was really insecure about them, too.”