Page 55 of Unspoken Truths

“I’m ready,” I say breathlessly. God, these stairs are going to take me out one day.

“Maybe you should take up running with me,” Liliana teases me as I wrinkle my nose at her. “It’s a good stress reliever!”

“Mmhmm, maybe,” I grumble, waving goodbye to my mom as I head out with my girlfriend. “I hate running.”

“I know, but I want to know that if you need to you can,” she says as we get into her car. “There are times to stand your ground, but as far as I know, you don’t have any defensive skills, right?”

“None,” I agree. “A jolt of electricity to the nuts is the best I’ve got.”

Liliana snorts, shrugging as she turns on the car and shifts it into drive. “It’s effective, baby,” she agrees.

“I’m going to sound like a wounded animal running next to you,” I sigh.

This time, Liliana can’t hold back her laughter, holding her side as she drives.

“Not for long, though,” she wheezes. “Everyone sounds like that when they start running. I run a few times a week, so I can come over earlier to run with you.”

“Ugh, I’m going to regret this, but yes. Let’s do it,” I agree. “You may get roped into family breakfast, though.”

“It looked cozy,”she teases me.

“Emil welcomed my mother to the parents of bisexual children’s club,” I hiss. “It was a very bizarre conversation.”

“I think queer is a better term, gives more leeway,” Liliana muses as I drop my head back in the headrest, wondering how this conversation turned so quickly. “It’s adorable how open Mr. Emil is about this. I really didn’t think he would be.”

“He said that at least this way no one ends up pregnant,” I mutter. “Mom just went with it.”

“Can I just say that I’m very excited to get you all to myself?” she asks, grinning.

“I am too,” I admit. “It’ll be fun.”

If I’m honest with myself, I can’t wait. Do I have to go to school today?

* * *

THEO

A part of me wants to burst this little bubble of happiness that Liliana and Rachelle are wrapped up in. They don’t deserve it.

“If you frown any harder, you’re going to have premature wrinkles,” Jared grunts as he leans against the lockers next to me.

“We aren’t working hard enough to break them up,” I mutter.

“I think they’re going to Elijah’s birthday party,” he murmurs. “Lili loves a good party, after all.”

My lips twitch as I remember the way she and Natalie got hot and heavy at a party once. The girl ghosted her afterward, only interested in seeing what it was like to fuck around with a girl. Lili got the raw end of that deal, but I don’t care enough to allow her to have the little mouse.

“Good. Let’s pop their delusion then,” I sigh.

“You’re so grumpy,” Jared says. “Is there anything else bothering you?”

“My parents won’t let my sisters come home for the summer,” I grunt. “I haven’t seen them in almost two years. Video messaging them isn’t cutting it anymore. They’re going to forget about me.”

“I don’t know how your parents are able to just ship them off,” he says. “They aren’t great at the whole parenting thing, though.”

“No. Nacio is the only one who lucked out there, and the little mouse is fucking even that up,” I remind him. “She’s like a glitch in the matrix. Rachelle Thomas doesn’t belong here.”

“You’re such a nerd,” he sighs. “A hot nerd, but still. We’ll get rid of her soon enough. Even if we need to kill her to do it.”

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