Page 36 of We're At It Again

He locked the door behind me and slid into the driver’s seat. The tension was suffocating. We drove in silence. The only sound was the relentless drumming of rain against the truck. After what felt like an eternity, he broke the silence.

“How long are you going to ignore me?” He asked, his eyes fixed on the road. I ignored him, but he was relentless. “I was going to apologize.”

“Good.”

“I changed my mind.”

The agitation seeped through my veins.

“Hanging around with you has reminded me of what a jerk you are.”

His hands tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white with frustration.

“I’m not him.” He snapped, his tone sharp with anger. “And I don’t want to be.”

“What does Austin have to do with this?”

He glanced at me before returning his focus to the road.

“You want me to be like him, but I’m not.”

The words hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of our tumultuous situation. With a sigh, he glanced at me, his eyes tired and defeated.

“This fake dating thing was a bad idea.” He said. “We should end it now.”

I nodded in agreement, my resolve wavering.

“I think that’s a great idea.”

Climbing out of the truck, I slammed the door shut behind me; the sound echoed in the empty street as I stormed into my home.

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23

LUNA

IT WAS TOO EARLY as we found ourselves in the school parking lot. Families gathered to bid farewell to their children, embarking on a two-week trip to a ski resort. The senior trip. A place of memories and drama.

Hudson and I stood side by side as we said goodbye to our parents. We never broke the news of our breakup. It was the first time I’d seen him in three weeks. Our parents were unaware of the silent turmoil brewing between us. Avoiding each other’s gaze, we exchanged forced smiles and brief conversations with our parents. Mr. Wilder placed his hand on Hudson’s shoulder, his expression a mix of concern and resignation.

“Please try to behave.”

“I’ll try my best.”

His rebellious spirit was clear, even in this tender moment. He enveloped his father in a tight hug. I hugged my parents and waved as they left with Mr. Wilder. Once they had disappeared from our view, we went our separate ways, our paths diverging like two ships passing in the night. I climbed onto the bus and settled into the seat beside Maya.

“Are you ready for the trip we’ve been waiting four years for?”

Despite my annoyance at seeing Hudson, her enthusiasm was contagious. We’d heard all the wild stories of what happens on these trips, and now we’d finally experience it ourselves.

“We’re going to have the time of our lives.”

Hudson walked past us, his hands buried deep in his pockets, his eyes fixed on the ground. Without sparing a glance, he headed to the back of the bus. I looked over my shoulder, following his movements. With a swift motion, he pulled his hood over his head and leaned against the window. I didn’t stop looking until the bus lurched into motion.

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We stepped off the bus and into the warm reception area of the resort. My cheeks were rosy from the crisp mountain air. Our teachers bustled around, handing out room assignments and organizing the logistics of our stay.

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