Page 102 of Collided

I turn on the AC so she’s not sweating in her fucking turtleneck.

Pressing hard on the accelerator, I go over sixty on the speedometer to keep my promise.

Hope is quiet beside me, gazing out of the window and rubbing her arms.

Stay with me.The words sit on the tip of my tongue, but I don’t possess the courage to say them.

In a matter of weeks, she’s become someone who knows which strings to pull to make me feel something. I’ve been distant and unemotional for the past year. To the point it feels like I’ve become heartless. Now here she is, making my heart go above the usual number of heartbeats in a minute.

I can’t describe what I feel toward her. With one look in her eyes, I feel like she understands me. She seesme,not the reputation that’s built about me.

Slowly and quietly this girl is getting under my skin, I can’t do anything about it. Or maybe I don’t want to.

Much to my dismay, I pull up into her neighborhood and switch off the headlights.

“Just park here.” Hope points to the curb.

“That’s ten houses down from your house.” I stare at the long stretch of deserted road.

“I know.”

Before I can argue, she’s out of the car and running down the street.

I follow her and watch her go inside her house.

I wait for a few minutes, but nothing happens. However, my gut twists and turns like something bad is supposed to happen. I try to shake off the feeling, but it grows.

“Fuck it!” I switch off my car and get out.

Stealthily, I go around the side of the house and look up at the window to her room. There’s no light or shadows, which is fucking odd.

Concern scratches my insides like barbed wire and my curiosity spikes high.Go check on her.

Looking around, I search for a trash can. Putting it under her windowsill, I climb up and peek inside. I find her lying on her side. Her back is toward me and she’s reading a book under the little light of the lamp.She’s okay.

23

Hope

This is a bad idea,my mind complains as I stare at the gym building.

I tightly hold the bags and try to muster up the courage to go inside.

Open the door. You’ve come this far, might as well go a little beyond.

I repeat for the millionth time, but hesitation holds me back. How do people justdothings?

A man steps out. He pauses when he sees me standing like a fool in the parking lot. Tall, lean, and sharp-looking, he approaches me, causing my pulse to drop.

Oh my God.

How do I go invisible?

I need the invisibility cloak. NOW!

“Hey. What are you doing here?” He rubs the little stubble covering his jaw.

“Hi.” I heave a breath.Here it goes. Don’t stop.“I’m looking for Heath. His best friend dropped me off saying he’ll be here. I need to see him if that’s okay. But I can come back later if he’s busy.” I look anywhere but his eyes.

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