Page 19 of We're At It Again

“Can we not do this here?”

Her hands shook as if she was trying to control her anger.

“I am so sick of you always fighting my battles for me, Luna!” He said. “I cannot take it anymore!”

She glanced down at the ground, wiping her nose with the sleeve of her sweater before gazing up at him like a lost gazelle.

“What are you trying to say?”

“I think we should break up.”

His words were so blunt, that even I winced at the emotionless reply. As he turned to walk away, he muttered something cruel under his breath, his words sliced through the air like a knife. It rhymed with stitch. My eyes narrowed with anger as I heard the insult. My protective instincts kicked into overdrive.

“Hey, watch your mouth, Chambers,” I said, stepping forward to confront him. “You don’t talk to her like that.”

His eyes widened in surprise before anger overtook him.

“You’re getting on my nerves, Wilder.”

“Ditto.”

He lunged for me, but I dodged it before he stumbled. This was pathetic. Maya grasped Luna’s arms before approaching me.

“Please take us home.”

She had a firm grip on an emotionless Luna. I nodded before leading them out of the dense house, towards my dad’s truck. A blanket of ominous silence enveloped us as I gazed ahead at the dimly lit road. Nobody wanted to be the first to speak, nobody wanted to be the first to address the situation that took place minutes ago. What does one even say? Sorry, your boyfriend is a jerk and you’re his doorstep? Sometimes it was best to withhold the truth because nothing hurt more than hearing it.

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11

LUNA

I HAVE WATCHED ENDLESS SHOWS AND READ ETERNAL BOOKS, yet none prepared me for that moment. We would hear the tragic stories of heartbreak, scoffing at the antagonistic girl as she wept for the lost love and her unmendable heart. We looked down and scrutinized her until we became that girl. That’s when it all made sense.

However, we need love. We want it. But not the potential heartbreak that comes with it. Everyone overlooked the conditions written in fine print. Relationships are like warranties. No eternal promises. And it seems mine and Austin’s warranty has expired.

The school hallways buzzed with whispered conversations and stolen glances. My footsteps were heavy, each echoing the weight of devastation in my heart. Every glance felt like a dagger to my heart. I expected the gossip. The hushed tones and pointed stares shadowed me.

Lost in my thoughts, I moved through the hallways as my legs carried me. I rounded the corner and froze in my tracks. Austin stood amid the crowd. With his arm around Cynthia’s shoulder. He whispered into her ear, and she giggled in response.

My breath caught in my throat as I watched the scene unfold. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision as I struggled to comprehend the betrayal. It hadn’t even been seventy-two hours.

Unable to bear the sight any longer, I turned on my heel and fled. My footsteps thumped through the hallways as I raced to the nearest bathroom. Pushing through the door, I collapsed against the wall, fighting back tears. My breath came in ragged gasps as I buried my face in my hands.

“Snow.”

I glanced up, but the tears blocked my vision. I blinked until they washed away. Hudson stood a few feet away with an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips.

“What are you doing in the girl’s room?” I asked, rubbing my eyes, not wanting to cry in front of him.

“I’m not.” He said. “You’re in the men’s room.”

My eyes darted around the room, taking in my surroundings with a sinking feeling in my stomach. He was right.

“You have got to be kidding me.” I said, shoving my head in my hands. “Could this day get any worse?”

“Your ex could walk in.” He said with a smile as if my heartbreak was comedic material.

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