Read Online 4 Waxing & Waning by Amanda M. Lee - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Amanda M. Lee
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because?”
“Because I’m antsy,” I said. “I need to think.”
“And I suppose you want to think alone?” Rafael pressed.
“That’s when I do my best thinking.”
Rafael nodded, his shoulders lowering in resignation. “Then I guess I’ll let you think.”
“Thank you.”
I DIDN’T believe him. His intentions were good, but his follow-through wasn’t historically stellar. I think he actually meant what he said, but meaning something and actually doing something were two totally different things.
I decided to test him.
It took me almost a half hour to walk across campus and, when I found myself in a familiar parking lot, I stood and waited. He didn’t appear. If he was following me, he kept far enough away that I couldn’t sense him.
I glanced up at the apartment building in front of me and sighed. I’d spent so many nights here last year, it felt like a second home. It was his home, of course. Aric’s apartment was on the second floor, and I could see the doorway that led to the stairwell from where I was standing.
I told myself that I’d come here to test Rafael. If he thought I was going to approach Aric, he would try to stop me. In truth, though, I came for me. Happiness was a hard emotion to wrap my mind around these days, so I’d come to the spot I last remembered being truly happy.
Death is a funny thing. After the events of my freshman year at Covenant College, I’d joked that death followed me. Now, I felt it was true. Death and destruction really did follow me, even when I was hiding and fleeing. There was no escape.
I was just about to turn and leave when I heard a door open. Instinct took over, and I ducked behind a car to camouflage myself. Voices followed the door – and one of them was Aric’s. The other belonged to a woman. A woman was walking out of Aric’s apartment – and the realization hit me like a fist.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay? We could spend some time together. You could tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing is wrong,” Aric said. “I have some stuff I need to get done.”
“You’re a senior, and your father is a senator,” the woman scoffed. “They’ll pass you just because of who you are.”
“Maybe I don’t want to pass that way,” Aric replied. “Maybe I would rather do the work and accomplish it on my own.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“I know,” Aric said. “I just have some stuff to do.”
“And you don’t want to tell me what happened tonight?”
“Nothing happened,” Aric said. “It was just a fraternity meeting.”
“I thought those were supposed to be fun.”
“Then you heard wrong.”
Even from here, I could hear the aggravation in Aric’s voice. She was pressing him – and he didn’t want to be pressed.
“Well, okay,” she said.
I tipped my head around the edge of the car so I could get a look at the woman, curiosity getting the better of me. She was tall and willowy, long auburn hair cascading down her back. Her toned legs were on display in tight black leggings, and she had her hand on Aric’s arm.
I wanted to punch her.
She leaned in, like she was going to kiss him, but Aric pulled his head back to thwart her attempt.
“I’ll see you later,” he said, running a hand through his shaggy hair before turning on his heel and walking back into the building. He didn’t look back.
The woman wrinkled her nose, her disappointment evident. I remained hidden until she climbed into her car and drove away. When she was gone, I straightened. For a second – just one – I considered going to him.
I went home instead.
Ten
I woke up in a foul mood the next morning, my dreams plagued by images of Aric sharing his bed with the auburn-haired devil. Rationally, I knew I had no reason to be angry. I’d ended it with him. We’d been apart for five months. Thinking he wouldn’t move on was naïve.
It still hurt.
I decided to take out my aggression on today’s sparring partner. His
“Because I’m antsy,” I said. “I need to think.”
“And I suppose you want to think alone?” Rafael pressed.
“That’s when I do my best thinking.”
Rafael nodded, his shoulders lowering in resignation. “Then I guess I’ll let you think.”
“Thank you.”
I DIDN’T believe him. His intentions were good, but his follow-through wasn’t historically stellar. I think he actually meant what he said, but meaning something and actually doing something were two totally different things.
I decided to test him.
It took me almost a half hour to walk across campus and, when I found myself in a familiar parking lot, I stood and waited. He didn’t appear. If he was following me, he kept far enough away that I couldn’t sense him.
I glanced up at the apartment building in front of me and sighed. I’d spent so many nights here last year, it felt like a second home. It was his home, of course. Aric’s apartment was on the second floor, and I could see the doorway that led to the stairwell from where I was standing.
I told myself that I’d come here to test Rafael. If he thought I was going to approach Aric, he would try to stop me. In truth, though, I came for me. Happiness was a hard emotion to wrap my mind around these days, so I’d come to the spot I last remembered being truly happy.
Death is a funny thing. After the events of my freshman year at Covenant College, I’d joked that death followed me. Now, I felt it was true. Death and destruction really did follow me, even when I was hiding and fleeing. There was no escape.
I was just about to turn and leave when I heard a door open. Instinct took over, and I ducked behind a car to camouflage myself. Voices followed the door – and one of them was Aric’s. The other belonged to a woman. A woman was walking out of Aric’s apartment – and the realization hit me like a fist.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay? We could spend some time together. You could tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing is wrong,” Aric said. “I have some stuff I need to get done.”
“You’re a senior, and your father is a senator,” the woman scoffed. “They’ll pass you just because of who you are.”
“Maybe I don’t want to pass that way,” Aric replied. “Maybe I would rather do the work and accomplish it on my own.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“I know,” Aric said. “I just have some stuff to do.”
“And you don’t want to tell me what happened tonight?”
“Nothing happened,” Aric said. “It was just a fraternity meeting.”
“I thought those were supposed to be fun.”
“Then you heard wrong.”
Even from here, I could hear the aggravation in Aric’s voice. She was pressing him – and he didn’t want to be pressed.
“Well, okay,” she said.
I tipped my head around the edge of the car so I could get a look at the woman, curiosity getting the better of me. She was tall and willowy, long auburn hair cascading down her back. Her toned legs were on display in tight black leggings, and she had her hand on Aric’s arm.
I wanted to punch her.
She leaned in, like she was going to kiss him, but Aric pulled his head back to thwart her attempt.
“I’ll see you later,” he said, running a hand through his shaggy hair before turning on his heel and walking back into the building. He didn’t look back.
The woman wrinkled her nose, her disappointment evident. I remained hidden until she climbed into her car and drove away. When she was gone, I straightened. For a second – just one – I considered going to him.
I went home instead.
Ten
I woke up in a foul mood the next morning, my dreams plagued by images of Aric sharing his bed with the auburn-haired devil. Rationally, I knew I had no reason to be angry. I’d ended it with him. We’d been apart for five months. Thinking he wouldn’t move on was naïve.
It still hurt.
I decided to take out my aggression on today’s sparring partner. His
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