Read Online The Arrival by CM Doporto - Free Book Online

to tell her but my stubborn
pride kept me from opening up to her. Although she was a great friend, she wasn’t
my BFF. But did I still have a BFF? It had been nearly two months since I heard
from Carlie. Part of me wished I would suffocate and die.
    After several attempts, Kate finally
gave up and reclined next to me. It was exactly what I needed. Knowing that I
had her friendship helped bring some level of comfort even though I needed
Bryce’s more than anything.
    A few hours later I woke up, all cried
out with Kate still lying next to me. A part of me didn’t care if I lived or
died. But if I didn’t care, no one else would. I had to get past the misery,
and lying in bed feeling sorry for myself wasn’t going to help. I was my only
hope if I wanted to try and get out of Nidus. Besides, if I did manage to get
out for good, then maybe I could get Bryce back.
    I tried to move but Kate had me pinned
between her and the wall.
    “Shiloh, what time is it?” I asked in a
hushed voice.
    “The time is sixteen-forty-five hours,”
she responded in the same low tone.
    We had slept through lunch and were
about to be late to dinner. “Kate, we need to get up. Dinner’s in fifteen
minutes.” I gently nudged her.
    She turned around, mumbling a few
indistinct words. Then she blurted, “What? I think you should…” before
returning to a rhythm of deep breathing.
    “Kate, wake up.” I shook her harder that
time.
    “What?” Her eyes popped open, and she gazed
in a dazed manner. “Did I fall asleep?”
    “Yeah, I guess we both did.” I crossed
over her, getting off the bed. I walked to my wardrobe and pulled out the
required dining outfit, although it resembled all the others.
    She moved to the edge of the bed,
looking at me with me heavy eyes. “Are you okay? Why were you so upset?”
    I hesitated to answer, but I at least
owed her an explanation. Silently, I took a deep breath and quickly said,
“Bryce broke up with me.” I pulled the drab, scrub-like dress over my head,
avoiding any eye contact with her.
    She gasped audibly. “What? How come?” There
was no sympathy or understanding in her response—only seething anger.
    “I don’t know.” I turned away.
Otherwise, I would’ve surrendered to another crying spell. Even if I didn’t
have a drop left in me. I slipped on my shoes and swallowed the huge lump in my
throat. “Come on, Kate. We’re going to be late, and besides we both have work
to do.”
    “That asshole!” She punched one of the
bed pillows with her fist. “You’re stuck in here and he dumps you?” She stumbled
out of bed, tripping on the cover. With one quick tug, she yanked the
comforter.
    I took a step back. “Shouldn’t I be the
one going psycho? I mean, I was the girlfriend, not you.”
    She brushed her hair from her face.
“Sorry, it’s just…ewww, it makes me so mad. It’s not fair!”
    “Thank you,” I said with a smile.
Despite wanting to tell her that maybe I deserved it because of what really happened in Dimas’ room.
    “You don’t need this shit.”
    “I know.” I shrugged. “And I can’t worry
about him right now. We have about twenty-four hours before we leave, and
there’s a lot to do. Go change, and do what you need to do,” I said, trying to
brush the knots out of my hair.
    “You’re right. The hell with him. Give
me a second,” she said, darting to the bathroom.
    After a few minutes, she returned,
looking freshly made up with glossy lips and blushing cheeks. “Are you going to
be all right?”
    “Yes, I’ll be fine.” I pressed the open
button for the door, and we stepped into the busy hallway. Everyone wore the
same scrub dress, and walked in the same direction to the elevators, for
dinner. The dining room happened to be the one place I didn’t mind going. Maybe
because it wasn’t the typical lunchroom, and I happened to enjoy the food. It
felt more like an upscale restaurant with leather chairs and wooden tables,
instead of the classic folding