Page 85 of Diem

∞∞∞

On Monday, I try to pin down Matt but he’s having none of it and by the end of the day, I’m in a horrible mood.

I can’t countenance the Matt I saw with the boy I’ve known for years but he’s still my friend and if he’s struggling, I want to be there for him.

Since he won’t give me the time of day though, I guess I’m out of luck or so I thought until I find him waiting by my car.

“Matt,” I say, approaching with a wobbly smile. His forlorn expression tugs at my heart strings.

“Mae,” he says, pulling me into his embrace and whispering, “My mom died.”

“What? Oh, Matt,” I say, wrapping him up tight.

How horrible. He shoves his head into the crook of my neck, and I rock him as best I can considering the differences in our height.

All the while, tears spill from my eyes for his pain while he sobs against me.

Eventually, he pulls back, wiping his eyes and I search his expression. “What happened?”

Sniffling he says, “Heart attack. She died in her sleep.”

“I’m so sorry.”

Nodding, he takes my hand. “I don't know what to do, how to feel…”

“What you feel is how it’s supposed to be,” I say simply, tugging him toward my car. “C’mon, let’s get out of here.”

We end up at the lake where we walk along the sand lost to our thoughts. Matt is subdued and I give him space to process the loss while hoping my presence gives him a small amount of comfort.

When the sun is setting in the sky, he turns to me and says, “Thank Mae. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“You’ll never have to know. You’re my friend,” I say simply, ignoring the way his brows furrow and he looks away.

Chapter Nineteen

Maeve

April fades into May and I avoid Diem like the plague. With each day that passes, the specter of Dixie’s death becomes less feral and more a subdued ache I cannot shed.

Jaxon finally got a clue and didn’t accept Hailey back, leaving her without a prom date and it’s so fucking amusing, that I laughed out loud when Harriet whispered it to me during assembly.

Matt has been quieter than ever, and I haven't pushed it, knowing he’s grieving in a way that I can’t understand.

Bone hasn’t mentioned the fight with Matt, and they seem to be back on speaking terms. He asked Harriet to prom, and she accepted, seemingly uncaring about my plan with Matt to my relief.

Harriet and I shop for dresses, and I find a pretty little silver gown that hugs my curves, bares my shoulders and ends at my knees. Curling my hair, so it sways around my hips, I paint my eyes in a pretty dusky rose and forgo lipstick for my natural pink hue.

Matt picks me up right on time, and we enter the venue to the sound of bass music pumping in my ears before finding seats away from the crowd.My heart pulses at another memory Dixie doesn’t get to have, especially because prom was put off in the wake of her death.

Harriet appears with Bone and joins us with a smile. Bone pulls out a flask of alcohol with a devilish grin and spikes the drinks, to which I smile politely but pass, amused when Harriet drinks hers down and holds out her hand for another.

“You look hot, Mae,” Bone says with a grin, leaning in to shout in my ear.

Although my cheeks heat, I’m flattered by the compliment and agree when he asks me to dance, laughing when he pulls me playfully onto the floor. Matt looks on with a small frown, but I ignore the gesture because tonight, I want to have fun with my friends.

Surprisingly, Bone’s a pretty good dancer, and we bump and grind to the music until I’m flushed from the movement, and pleasantly relaxed.

I’m actually enjoying myself, that is until I catch sight of Diem leaning against the far wall with a brooding look on his face, dressed in a pair of slacks and button-down shirt.

---