Page 94 of Jerk

That can’t be in my thoughts.Shecan’t be in my thoughts. Not anymore.

I haven’t had sex since that night, and the guys might be right. Any girl inside would kill to spend the night with me. So, I’ll do what the Crowns do best: drown our darkness in sin.

Just as I’m about to turn inside for more gin and a pill or two, my pocket vibrates.

My feet stop, Ember's words resurfacing.

Pulling out my phone, I’m greeted with an unknown number.

My eyes narrow on the area code. It looks familiar, but I can’t place it. I watch it ring, the timer in my head getting louder and louder.

Fuck it.

I answer, bringing the phone to my ear. “Who is this?”

I wait for a response, distortion coming from the other end. Moving away from the house, I raise the volume. I can hear two voices. They're faint. Familiar.

“Ryung?” A voice crackles through, a jolt firing through me.

“Krystal?” Something fumbles in the background, and I bring my finger to my free ear, listening closer.

“Rye, are you there?”

The voice changes to another familiar one. One that makes my entire body stiff.

“Hannah?”

THIRTY-TWO

RYE

“I need your help,”Hannah says, the line clearing to her hushed voice.

Pulling the phone from my ear, silence sits between us as I stare at the big red button.

Ember’s words swirl through my head.

Since she left. She hasn’t called or texted. Nothing. It’s been days.

I push through the tightness in my chest, my eyes on the moon. “Why?” I shouldn’t care. I know I shouldn’t care. “Where are you?”

If she called, you’d answer. Stop kidding yourself.

“See!” Another voice comes through the receiver. Krystal’s. “I told you! Didn’t I tell you?”

“In hell,” Hannah answers, ignoring my sister. “I’m sorry for showing your mom the video I?—”

“Where are you?” I repeat, this time slower, my voice low. “Are you okay?”

“Hey, Rye,” Krystal’s voice comes through clearer. “She called because I bet her the bottle of wine we stole that you’d talk to her if she did.”

“Don’t let her use you, Krystal,” I warn her. Why are they even together?

“I’m not.” Krystal laughs. “I’m actually the one using her.”

“We’re alot more alike than I thought,” Hannah says. “For better or worse.”

“Also, Hannah loves you,” Krystal adds.