Read Online The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller by L. B. Simmons - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: L. B. Simmons
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we lock eyes, the mood tangibly shifting from its previous lightheartedness. He takes a small step forward and closely surveys my reaction.
Instinctively, I lift my own hand as his drops away, his eyes still glued to my chin. “What?” I ask, rubbing the area he just touched. Just as my finger skims along the small indentation, I know. I know exactly what he’s looking at.
“How did you get that scar?” His voice is gentle, almost timid as he redirects his eyes to mine.
Blood warms my face. “This? Uhhhhh…” I stall, and then lie. “Tripped last year, hit my chin on the corner of a fireplace. Why?”
Our stares remain locked as I plaster my face with a look of contrived innocence, my mind trying to skirt the memory of how I actually busted my chin wide open. The fact is, I remember quite well. We were six. He was trying to teach me how to skate and I slipped, falling approximately 1.2 seconds after my wheels hit the pavement. Haven’t touched a pair since.
Eyes narrowing, he holds my stare before taking a step back from me. “Wow. Looks like it hurt. I had a friend who fell on her chin like that once and it was pretty nasty. Blood everywhere.” My eyes widen a tad at his reminiscence as a mischievous smile crosses his face. “Yeah, she pretty much ate the curb. Skating accident. She was freaking out, crying and stuff. I had to carry her back to my house because she couldn’t skate back, obviously.”
At that, my blackened brows rise toward the sky. He totally did not carry me back—we were six!— and I sure as hell didn’t “freak out” or “cry”. He chuckles under his breath and shakes his head. “Man, I miss her.”
A breath catches in my throat as it constricts with his sentiment. And although I want to say, “I miss you too,” what passes through my lips is, “Quinn.”
His head jerks back in surprise. “Not Quinn. Her name was—”
“No,” I cut him off, throwing my thumb over my shoulder, “I mean, I should probably go talk to Quinn. You know, make sure she’s okay.”
Nodding slightly, Kaeleb’s expression saddens. “Yeah, probably. Don’t you have class though?”
“Yeah, but so does she. I have a feeling we’ll be skipping today.”
“Near-assault and truancy all in one day.” He tsks. “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you, Raven .”
He has no idea.
After giving Kaeleb a lengthy look, I hoist my backpack onto my shoulder and pivot on my heel, heading toward the dorms to console Quinn and escape the slew of emotions I’ve experienced today.
Emotions which are seemingly impossible to avoid, yet surprisingly welcome.
“You okay?” Shutting the door behind me, I cautiously set my backpack on the floor of our now darkened room. Quinn is sprawled out on the bed in front of me, her face hidden in her pillow as her muffled cries escape into the down feathers. Not really experienced with how to handle sobbing people, or people in general for that matter, I move to sit quietly on the edge of her bed, giving her plenty of room to just let her cry. I remain there for a very long time, silently hoping my presence is comforting for her and not freaking her out.
Eventually, her shoulders stop trembling and she rolls over, hooking her arm over her eyes. Tears still stream along the sides of her face, but she seems more composed.
“I’m just…so embarrassed, Raven,” she whimpers softly. “I hate her. I really do. She said all of that shit in front of Josh because she knows…she knows I like him, and obviously, so does she .”
“She’s a fucking asshole, Quinn. Seriously, don’t waste your tears on her.” Anger once again resurfaces, but I manage to keep it contained safely inside my chest. Glancing over at the swear jar still sitting on the table between our beds, I thank God that we’ve finally retired it. That thing was bleeding us dry. It now serves only as a reminder of our first day here, together, when the friendships were formed between
Instinctively, I lift my own hand as his drops away, his eyes still glued to my chin. “What?” I ask, rubbing the area he just touched. Just as my finger skims along the small indentation, I know. I know exactly what he’s looking at.
“How did you get that scar?” His voice is gentle, almost timid as he redirects his eyes to mine.
Blood warms my face. “This? Uhhhhh…” I stall, and then lie. “Tripped last year, hit my chin on the corner of a fireplace. Why?”
Our stares remain locked as I plaster my face with a look of contrived innocence, my mind trying to skirt the memory of how I actually busted my chin wide open. The fact is, I remember quite well. We were six. He was trying to teach me how to skate and I slipped, falling approximately 1.2 seconds after my wheels hit the pavement. Haven’t touched a pair since.
Eyes narrowing, he holds my stare before taking a step back from me. “Wow. Looks like it hurt. I had a friend who fell on her chin like that once and it was pretty nasty. Blood everywhere.” My eyes widen a tad at his reminiscence as a mischievous smile crosses his face. “Yeah, she pretty much ate the curb. Skating accident. She was freaking out, crying and stuff. I had to carry her back to my house because she couldn’t skate back, obviously.”
At that, my blackened brows rise toward the sky. He totally did not carry me back—we were six!— and I sure as hell didn’t “freak out” or “cry”. He chuckles under his breath and shakes his head. “Man, I miss her.”
A breath catches in my throat as it constricts with his sentiment. And although I want to say, “I miss you too,” what passes through my lips is, “Quinn.”
His head jerks back in surprise. “Not Quinn. Her name was—”
“No,” I cut him off, throwing my thumb over my shoulder, “I mean, I should probably go talk to Quinn. You know, make sure she’s okay.”
Nodding slightly, Kaeleb’s expression saddens. “Yeah, probably. Don’t you have class though?”
“Yeah, but so does she. I have a feeling we’ll be skipping today.”
“Near-assault and truancy all in one day.” He tsks. “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you, Raven .”
He has no idea.
After giving Kaeleb a lengthy look, I hoist my backpack onto my shoulder and pivot on my heel, heading toward the dorms to console Quinn and escape the slew of emotions I’ve experienced today.
Emotions which are seemingly impossible to avoid, yet surprisingly welcome.
“You okay?” Shutting the door behind me, I cautiously set my backpack on the floor of our now darkened room. Quinn is sprawled out on the bed in front of me, her face hidden in her pillow as her muffled cries escape into the down feathers. Not really experienced with how to handle sobbing people, or people in general for that matter, I move to sit quietly on the edge of her bed, giving her plenty of room to just let her cry. I remain there for a very long time, silently hoping my presence is comforting for her and not freaking her out.
Eventually, her shoulders stop trembling and she rolls over, hooking her arm over her eyes. Tears still stream along the sides of her face, but she seems more composed.
“I’m just…so embarrassed, Raven,” she whimpers softly. “I hate her. I really do. She said all of that shit in front of Josh because she knows…she knows I like him, and obviously, so does she .”
“She’s a fucking asshole, Quinn. Seriously, don’t waste your tears on her.” Anger once again resurfaces, but I manage to keep it contained safely inside my chest. Glancing over at the swear jar still sitting on the table between our beds, I thank God that we’ve finally retired it. That thing was bleeding us dry. It now serves only as a reminder of our first day here, together, when the friendships were formed between
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