Page 20 of Collided

Every day, I feel like I’m one second away from drowning. That darkness that awaits me deep in the ocean scares me, but someday, I’ll have to meet it.

The laughter pouring out of the living room draws me away from my dark thoughts—each one consists of me blaming myself and rolling in guilt.

Closing the door, I lean my head against it and take a long breath.

Fuck. I miss her. I miss her so fucking much.

I join the two people who live more at my house than theirs. They even have a room here.

Sebastian sees me first. “Glad you’re finally here. Tell Marie Fortnite is the greatest game of all time.”

Before I can say a word, Marie jumps in. “Wait until you play Elden Ring or GTA five. Those are pretty great.”

I sit with them on the sofa and take a slice of pizza that I didn’t order, but I’m sure they paid for it using my card. “I agree with Blondie. Those games are something else.”

Marie beams since I sided with her. “See? Heath is versatile. You can’t just play one game and say it’s the greatest of all time. You have to try a lot of something to pick one top favorite. Also, open-world games are difficult. I once spent a week doing a GTA mission because I kept getting killed. Elden Ring is ugh! Don’t get me started on it. It’s on another level. That game is thecomplicated complicate of complicating.” She hums. “That was a tongue twister, but you get the point. It is—”

“We get it. Now shut up, Blondie,” I grumble at Marie.

With a sigh, she says, “All right.”

“I need to buy a PlayStation.” Sebastian pipes up.

“I can get you one,” Marie replies excitedly.

Marie’s father is a successful businessman, and her mother is a brilliant lawyer. Both of them have made enough money to live off of it for years.

Marie comes from money. So, Sebastian felt uneasy around her at the start, but now he’s gotten used to the fact. Besides, she never lets him feel little. She’s always trying to help him. If it were up to her he’d be living in one of the houses uptown, the residence area of the affluent families where she and I live.

“Don’t you dare! You know I hate when you surprise me with things I want,” Sebastian warns her softly.

“Isn’t that the point of the surprise?” She kisses his cheek and my best friend sighs.

“Just don’t. Get me a T-shirt butnota five-hundred-dollar PlayStation.”

“Okay.” The way she agrees quickly is a dead giveaway that she’s going to get it for him.

Before Sebastian can argue with her, she directs her attention to me. “I met Hope today. She’s so nice. And you were right. She’s pretty. Likereallypretty.”

My heart drops right into my stomach. “You met her?” I croak out.

She nods excitedly. “Remember Mr. Carlie told me to get help from someone named Hope? Turns out she was that Hope.YourHope.”

“She’s not mine. What is fucking wrong with you two?” I scowl at both of them.

Marie shrugs. “Nothing. You’re the one getting antsy—which you shouldn’t, Ijustmentioned her.”

“Then don’t fucking mention her. She’s no one.”

Her expression turns fierce. “She’smyfriendnow and she’ssomeone. So, you better be good to her. I don’t want—”

“What do you mean friend?” I’m so fucking confused.

“—want you to drive her away. She’s my friend. Like you and I.”

“I’mnotyour friend. I tolerate you, Blondie.” I tell her but we both know it’s not true. She’s my best friend. I don’t want to feed into that because she’ll make a great deal out of it. Like, bring out balloons and cake to celebrate friend anniversaries.

Marie ignores my remark and continues, “Hope will be hanging out with us now. It’ll be so cool. Now, I can have sleepovers and girl’s nights doing girl stuff. I’ve never had one of those before.” She slumps against Sebastian who wraps his arms around her and kisses her neck.

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