Page 37 of Crash into me

And so, in my floor-length dress, I climb out of my window. Warren holds my arms at the top, and Foster stands beneath me, ready to catch me if I fall. “Be careful,” Warren says as I grip the lattice.

“I will,” I promise, but my hands are sweaty and shaking. It’s difficult to maneuver with a dress that’s so long, but I take my time.

What am I doing? Scaling my house to talk to Foster, with my parents here? And a party going on?

This is madness, and it will only end in madness.

But as I glance down to find Foster’s dimpled grin looking up to me, I descend faster until I’m next to him.

He grabs my hand, and we walk.

We walk far off, to the edge of the wood line.

All of this without one word as we step further into the forest. My heels dig into the mossy ground.

He starts off quietly, trying to not scare me away. “I can’t do this anymore, Skyler. I know you don’t remember, but I know how they treat you.” He takes my hands in his, and I don’t pull away. “I love you so much. I can’t sleep or eat knowing you’re in this fucking hell hole.” He runs his hand through his hair. “I can’t believe there was a time I thought your life was perfect. Look at you, covered in diamonds and a fake smile.”

He leans his forehead against mine, and I don’t pull away.

“I know you, Freckles. I know you.”

I take in a breath, and back away. “I have to get back to the party.” I hate being so cold, and he’s making this so much more difficult. Why can’t he find someone else? Be happy and let me ruin everything on my own?

I don’t know why I came out here. Maybe it was Warren’s speech that made me feel better and for a moment as I scaled that window, I thought I would never have to return, but here and now, tucked away in the woods with Foster … I can’t keep him on a string.

“Remember me!” he screams.

“You don’t understand.” A tear threatens to gloss my eyes, but I don’t look away, “I don’t want to remember you.”

I look around the forest as he backs away from me, the crisp leaves changing their color and floating to blanket the damp earth. It would be a beautiful site if they weren’t dying.

I crunch over the crisp death with my heels, getting stuck in the mud ever so often as I step a little closer to him to emphasize my point.

He casually leans against a moss-covered tree. He’s looking forward, but I know he’s nervous by the way his chest heaves. “You’re having a baby,” I whisper. “My friends told me. You have a family now.” I try not to frown.

“Is that why you won’t give us a chance?” He laughs. “If you remembered me, you wouldn’t want me with Envy. You would know co-parenting is the only way.”

“Are you happy?” I ask him.

“I’m not, no.” He looks down. “But I’m so excited for the baby. At first I was terrified, but I know I’ll be a fucking wonderful father.” Tears brim his eyes. “I’ll be the best dad to that little girl.”

“A girl.” My voice softens. I’m so happy for him, but he can’t know that.

He nods. “I hope she grows up to be like you.”

I back away. “She has a mother,” I nearly snarl, but I’m not supposed to remember Envy.

“We’re going to raise her in separate houses. I want no part with Envy besides co-parenting our daughter.”

I shake my head, not responding.

“But I want you, to complete my life.”

“You can’t have me.” Save me, Foster.

“I can, though, Skyler! What’s here for you?”

“My life is here! I don’t know who you are, Ghost.”

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