Page 119 of Wherever You Are

Lily smiles, knowing about him since he frequents the shop so much.

“And he asked me to prom,” I explain. “I saidyes.” Declan is nice. I met him at the comic book store. He was looking for classicStar Trekcomics. We carry moreStar Wars, so I had to go in the back to hunt for the issues.

He talks more than me. I just kind of listen.

“You don’t seem excited about it,” Rose notices.

“I am,” I nod. “It’s just…I’m nervous because we only really hang out at Superheroes & Scones. I don’t have any classes with him at Dalton.”

I’ve never actually been around Declanatschool. I guess he could try to find me in the halls, but he never has before. I don’t know what that means. “It’s also the first time any boy has ever asked me out,” I tell them. “I’ve never even been on a coffee date, so there are more nerves than excitement. That’s all.”

“It’ll be spectacular,” Daisy tells me assuredly. “And we’ll help you get ready.”

“Of course,” Rose says like that’s a known quantity in my prom prep.

Lily is still frowning. “Does Garrison know about Declan?”

“Yep,” I say. “I told him. He said that Declan sounded like a starship trooper nerd.”

Star Trek, I corrected him.

Aren’t those the same thing?He feigned confusion. He’s been working at Superheroes & Scones too long to get them mixed up.

All the Calloway sisters exchange a look that I can’t decipher. Maybe they’re thinking Garrison is jealous or that he’s flirting. I’ve questioned it before, but I know the truth—we’rejustfriends.

28BACK THEN – May

Whatever Nowhere-ville

GARRISON ABBEY

Age 18

Guilt has been hammering me ever since Willow left the room. No…it’s been that way since the lamp crash. No, since I was born. Maybe I came out of the womb with this sour, bitter feeling rumbling around inside me. Shame swims through my bloodstream, and it’s going to stay that way until I bleed out.

Ryke sweeps up the broken glass, Loren lights candles around the bedroom, and Connor sits next to me with a first-aid kit.

“I can do that,” I say when I see the tweezers in Connor’s hand.

He passes them over. “You need stitches, and the nearest hospital is more than two hours away.”

Let me bleed out,is my first thought.

The second: I’m not going to the hospital. I can’t. There’s no way I’m making this worse for Willow. The hospital will blow up this situation to catastrophic levels. I’ve already obliterated enough.

Ryke sweeps harder, pissed off. I’m not an idiot. He’s angry at me for scaring his girlfriend. The one with PTSD.

I can’t breathe.

I just grind my teeth back and forth, eyes clouding and burning. Connor’s gaze sears every inch of me. “Can you stop watching me?” I snap.

“I could, but I’m waiting for you to answer me.”

I inspect my foot, tweezers hovering above the glass. Under my breath, I mutter, “I’m not going to the hospital.”

“What was that?” Connor’s tone is calm, almost easy-going.

My nose flares, emotions bubbling to the surface. Unable to swallow them down, I shout, “I’m not going to the hospital!” I jab the tweezers towards the door. “I promised her I wouldn’t ruin the relationships she’s made withanyof you—and if I go to the hospital, people will see you, take stupid pictures, and everyone will know whatever nowhere-ville state we’re in. Sono, I’m not going.” I suck in a strained breath and focus back on my foot, jaw tight.