Page 27

T en minutes into class, and Malik still isn’t here.

Grabbing my phone from my backpack, I check for any texts or calls from him, but there’s nothing.

I open our messages and shoot him a quick text.

Me: Hey, are you feeling okay?

Setting my phone down on my desk, I do my best to pay attention to the professor, failing miserably every second that passes. My mind is stuck on him. I hope everything’s okay.

The rest of the hour is no different. I don’t hear a word coming out of the professor’s mouth, and all I can think about is Malik. He hasn’t answered my text either.

When we’re dismissed, I grab my things and stand, turning to Griffin. “Hey, can I talk to you?”

He nods, walking down his row and stepping to the ground level, striding over to Blair, Sunny, and me. “What’s up?”

Nervously, I ask, “Have you heard from Malik? He wasn’t here, and I haven’t heard back from him.”

Griffin looks away instantly, clearly knowing the reason for his absence. He rubs the back of his neck.

“What is it?”

Biting his lip nervously, he murmurs, “Today is really hard for him. This date holds a lot of bad memories. Just … give him some space today. He’ll reach out when he’s ready.”

My chest aches. I wish I had known. I could have done something to help distract him.

Nodding, I flash a smile. “Thanks for letting me know.”

He and Blair walk out. Sunny and I follow them out of Ivy Hall.

My phone rings, and I pull it out, hoping it’s Malik. But it’s not; it’s Flora.

“Hello?”

“Hi, dear! We are so excited to see you this week!” she cheers in my ear, and my heart sinks.

“You’re coming for the gala?” I ask, clearly left out of the conversation between my family members.

“Well, we certainly can’t leave you to deal with your father alone. Especially after the last stunt he pulled.”

My throat burns.

“And we need our Sunny fix. It’s quiet without her prancing around.”

“Wait, when are you getting in?” I ask eagerly, an idea popping into my mind.

“Thursday! Why? What’s up, sweetie?” Her bubbly energy sounds through her words.

“I … I might have someone I want you guys to meet.” I fidget with Sunny’s leash as we walk back home.

She gasps audibly, the shock lasting seconds. “Oh my goodness. Who is it?”

“A boy.” I smile as his face appears in my mind.

“Fauna is going to lose her mind. She went to a tarot reading the other day; the lady said that her Prince Charming would come in an unexpected form and that love would be entering her life in one way or another. Maybe she was talking about yours.”

I’ll never tire of the uniqueness of my aunts. They are wholly themselves, and no one will tell them differently.

Chatting with Flora for the next fifteen minutes about any little thing, I distract myself on the dreary walk home before saying goodbye.

I’m going to do my best to give Malik the space he needs today even if the only thing I want to do is show up at his door and throw my arms around him.

But instead, I’m going to spend the next few hours playing piano in my room. It’s been too long since I had a lengthy practice session, and on a rainy day, it just feels right.

Time drifts away as I force myself to stay occupied so as not to bother Malik. Before I know it, it’s nearly ten o’clock, and I still haven’t heard back from him.

Rain splatters on the sliding glass door, creating the best pitter-patters, which I could listen to for hours.

I know Griffin told me to give Malik space, and I am, but knowing Malik needs it doesn’t make it any easier to stay away.

I wish I knew what this day meant for him, the weight it holds. I just want to know more about him—the good, the bad, and the twisted.

Hopefully, he’ll trust me with his secrets one day. I’d be honored to keep them.

Maybe if he’s feeling up to it, he’ll want to come to the gala with me on Friday. At the very least, it may be a nice distraction from whatever’s on his mind.

I pull my focus back to the present and line my fingers up on the keys. I begin to play “La Campanella” by Franz Liszt, the volume on my piano turned way down.

The head of the music department told me that they would be reviewing every student who had been invited to participate at the showcase, given Rupert Von London’s incident .

It would be horrible to know that the only reason I qualified was because he liked me. I want my music to be cherished and loved solely because of the music, not because of who I am.

So, until I hear that I won’t be performing, I’ll keep practicing as if I am.

I get lost in the sound, transporting myself to a different world as I perform the piece in my room, the only audience member being Sunny. But she listens intently nonetheless.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

My hands freeze, and I inhale sharply as I’m yanked back to the present.

Who the hell would be knocking on my door this late?

Standing from my piano bench, I walk to the door and peek through the hole. The air thickens, and my hand fumbles for the doorknob.

Soaked head to toe, Malik stands there, his face pulled down and his eyes red and puffy.

When I throw the door open, he looks up at me, and I watch everything inside of him crumble to pieces.

Backing up, I make room for him, and he bounds through the threshold, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me tightly into his chest.

The water soaks through my clothes, but I don’t care. All I care about right now is him.

Brushing his hair back from his face, I look up at him as my eyes burn. I’ve never seen him like this … not even close.

But whatever he’s going through, he came to me, and I’ll do everything in my power to eliminate whatever or whoever is making him feel this way.

“Malik, talk to me. Please,” I whisper, wiping the tears and rain from beneath his eyes. “I’m right here.”

He cups my face and crashes his lips to mine, passionate and raw. He places his heart and soul in the palm of my hand. “I love you. No matter what comes next, I love you. Not the world, not your father—nothing will ever change that. If I can’t be by your side, then I don’t want to be here at all.”