Page 21 of Collided

“If someone doesn’t hang out with you, thenthey’rethe ones missing out. You’re an amazing girl, Mare. The absolute best.” He consoles her as he further pulls her to him. If he could, he’d fuse her into his body to protect her and never let her feel alone like she once did.

Those days are gone now. She has a boyfriend and a best friend. She isn’t on her own anymore.

“I know that. It’s just hard to believe when no one wants to be my friend and invite me to parties or sleepovers.”

Sebastian bends down his head and murmurs something into her ear that makes her body relax and grows a smile on her face.

It’s interesting to watch these two interact. They share a bond I’ve never seen before. They’re in love but they’re also best friends.

“When Hope said she doesn’t have any friends, it made me so sad. I know what that feels like.” Facing him, she says, “CanI invite her to our next hang out? Please!” Marie pleads with Sebastian who smiles at her.

“Of course you can. Right Heath?” He pinsmewith a hard stare.

The dickhead had to throw me under the bus.

“Sure,” I mutter and eat the fifth slice of pizza.

“I can’t wait,” Marie chirps.

Sebastian kisses her. He truly loves that girl, even though she’s too bright for him. Well, she’s too bright for anyone.

Taking the remote, I put on Lucifer season two episode one. Last weekend the three of us were hanging out—much like now—and started the show. Whenever we’re at my place we pick a show and watch it together. Before it’d be Sebastian and I, but when Marie joined she shifted our taste, but we don’t mind. I mean, I wouldn’t watch One Tree Hill and Friends on my own, but together it becomes bearable.

Marie hurries to the switchboard and turns off the lights. I shake my head as she walks past me grinning like she won a lottery.

Like always, she cuddles up next to Sebastian, while I sit at the other end of the sofa like a loner. Not that I mind. I like being alone. But I don’t like being lonely. My best friends don’t make me feel lonely.

The family dynamic on the show makes me think about the relationship with my parents.Nonexistent. One word that perfectly sums up my current status with them.

After my sister’s death, my parents left me in this mansion and ran off to Canada to take care of their businesses. Sweeping away the huge loss and pain like dust pushed under the rug. The one week they stayed here, after the funeral, was filled with fights and arguments. I was a walking volcano bursting and firing at anyone or anything, that included my parents, especially my father. He and I argued over everything. I know we were bothmourning, but it all wouldn’t have happened if he were here with us and played the parental role for once in his goddamn life.

Now that Emery, my sister, is gone Dad is reminded of his duties. Every day he calls me, and every day I ignore his call. It’s a cycle that starts and ends the same each day. My mother and I haven’t talked for months. To be honest, I don’t want to talk to her. She abandoned me in a huge mansion with money and staff as if anything could suffice for the care or attention a child needs from a mother.

I’ve grown up in this mansion on my own. My parents left me here when I was one and my sister was a few months old. In this maze of ten bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and plenty more rooms, I’ve lived my entire life. From childhood to teenage years. My sister and I have spent more than a decade here. While this place has everything a person could wish for, I resent it. If it weren’t for Emery, I would’ve moved out. I would live in a dump, anywhere but here. Her room and our memories here are the only two things she left me with. I want to be as close to them as I can be.

“Heath, you okay?” Sebastian asks me as he rubs Marie’s arm who’s dozing off on his chest. It’s past ten. We’ve been watching the show for the past two hours.

“I’m fine.” My throat grows thick with my lie. I refuse to burden him with my issues. He can’t or won’t understand what it feels like to lose a sibling who is—or was—your best friend.

Never in my wildest dreams, I’d wish anyone to go through what I did.

Every single day is a battle, every memory is a weapon, and guilt is the enemy.

“Sir, dinner is ready,” Derek announces. He’s the butler of the mansion. He enters the room dressed in a black suit that he never takes off. Since I was a kid, I’ve never seen him in informal clothes.

“For fuck’s sake, it’s Heath. I’ve told you a thousand times.” I narrow my eyes on him.

Derek shakes his head. “Sorry, sir. It’s a habit.”

“Dinner’s ready?” Marie mumbles, rubbing her eyes and looking at Derek. “Oh hey, Derek. How are you? What’s for dinner?”

“Good evening ma’am. I’m well. Miss Kelly made chicken casserole and meatloaf.”

“Not again,” I mutter.

“If you want something else, sir, we can make it,” Derek suggests quickly.

“It’s fine.” I nod, feeling like dick for saying that out loud.

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