Page 135 of More To Us

Chapter Twenty-Five

Kira

"Okay, enough crying," Amber says, barging into my room and yanking the covers back.

I've been in this bed since Friday night, alternating between crying and sleeping. Amber's left me alone. She's been in her own room, sick with a cold. I could hear her coughing and sneezing.

"Just let me sleep," I mumble, yanking the covers back over me. "I'm tired."

"You're not tired. You've been in bed for two days."

I roll over. "What day is it?"

"You don't even know what day it is?" She steals my covers again, pulling them back so far I can't reach them. "It's Sunday night. And you're not tired. You're depressed and it's time to get up. You need to eat. When's the last time you ate?"

"I don't know. Friday, sometime? But I don't feel like eating. I'm not hungry."

"You're eating. And you need a shower. You stink. Now get up." She sounds like a drill sergeant. She looks like one too, standing over my bed with her hands on her hips.

"I thought you were sick."

"I got some medicine. I'm starting to feel better. I'm just tired."

I sit up, bringing my legs over to the side of the bed. "Why are you talking to me? Aren't you mad at me?"

"Yes." She hands me my crutches. "But I'm also your friend, and friends help each other out after a break-up."

I pull myself up on the crutches. "I texted him and told him I'm sorry. But he didn't text back. I thought at least he'd text me to ask how my leg is doing. But I guess he doesn't care."

She sighs. "I shouldn't tell you this, but I talked to him."

I perk up. "You did? When?"

"Yesterday. He called me. And he called again just now."

"And? What did he say?"

"He just wanted to know if you're okay."

"But he didn't want to talk to me?"

She pauses, like she doesn't want to answer, but then quietly says, "No."

I nod, tears starting to form. I blink a few times, trying to hold them back.

"Kira, I'm sorry."

"It's okay. It's not your fault. It's mine. I'm going to take a shower." I go around her to leave, but then stop and look back at her. "Amber, I'm sorry I lied to you. I only hid what I was doing because I knew you wouldn't approve. And I knew you'd tell my parents."

"Because I care about you. I didn't want you getting hurt."

"I know, but you need to stop worrying about me. I can handle this. I promise, I won't let this happen again."

I know she doesn't believe me but she doesn't say anything so I leave and go in the bathroom. I take a long, hot shower, my mind consumed with Austin. Amber said he didn't want to talk to me, so I guess that means it's over. For good.

In the morning I go to the gym, not to work out, but to see Austin. I need to tell him I'm sorry in person. But when I get to the gym, he's not there. I go there again the next day, and he's still not there.

Before I leave, I go up to his friend who works at the front desk. "Have you seen Austin?"

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