Page 109 of Soul So Dark

“Um,” I clench my jaw as the feeling of impending doom returns.

“Apparently, she missed her ride and her phone is dead,” Mrs. G continues.

The fuck it is.

“I’d do it myself, but I’m about to go into a committee meeting and I can’t have a student stranded here. You’re good friends with her, right?”

I glance over Mrs. G’s shoulder and catch sight of Jordy’s familiar silhouette lingering near the front doors.

If I’m such a good friend, why didn’t she ask me herself?

Apparently, that doesn’t seem odd to anyone else, but I don’t say that part out loud. There are only a few days left until graduation and I should tell both of them to fuck off, but I can’t do that. Mrs. G’s always had my back and if I decide to sound like a prick and say no even though I just told her I’m not doing jack shit right now, I’ll have to tell her why.

Keep it together for four more days.

“Yeah,” I clip, “it’s fine.” But I’m about to internally combust.

Mrs. G breathes a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Alex, I really appreciate it,” she says, giving my arm a squeeze.

Not waiting, I turn and continue toward the doors, listening as the new set of footsteps get closer and closer. I shove the doors open, still not turning around as they follow me outside and across the paved lot.

Get in, shut the fuck up, and don’t even look at me, I mumble to myself like a prayer.

I climb in my SUV and shove the key in the ignition, my jaw tightening as Jordy’s legs appear right where Dallas’s were just an hour ago. Throwing my SUV into reverse, I whip out of the parking space and gun the engine to the exit.

As if this wasn’t bad enough, Jordy’s house is on the opposite end of town. Granted, it’s a small town, but having to go out of my way to do this only intensifies my irritation. I try to focus on my breathing and the road ahead, crossing Main Street, passing the theatre, and turning down the next county road toward the older section of neighborhoods.

“Alex?”

I ignore her, surprised she waited this long to say something.

“Alex.”

Silence.

“Alex.”

Silence.

Suddenly, the wheel jerks to the right and I swerve off the road into the gravel, throwing a cloud of dust into the air. Jordy's black lacquered fingernails curl around the wheel, gripping it with white knuckles.

“YO, WHAT THE FUCK?” I roar, grabbing the wheel and swerving back over the center line as I overcorrect.

I finally straighten out, but pull off the road again, skidding to a stop on a level section of grass next to a post and rail fence. I throw the vehicle into park and spin around with a loathsome glare.

“What thefuckis your problem?” I yell across the console. “Are you trying to kill me now?”

“I'm trying to talk to you, Alex!” Jordy shouts back, her jaw trembling with anger. “Like I have been for the entire year!”

“What?” I bark. “What do you want from me?”

Jordy takes a breath and turns in her seat. “For you to listen, for just one minute.”

I shouldn’t have said yes. This was a mistake. A giant fucking mistake.

“You have 10 seconds to say what you need to say.”

I shouldn’t even give her that, but I also want her to leave me the hell alone. And, clearly, avoiding her for the better part of a year hasn’t done the trick.