Page 53 of Truth Or Dare
My bones are shaking, and I blow out a deep breath, desperately trying to calm down. My heart is racing, pounding against my chest.
Fuck.
I slap a hand on my chest, feeling like I can’t breathe. My throat’s tight, pulse is going nuts. My eyes burn as tears threaten to spill, and my stomach’s doing somersaults. I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping it’ll all juststop.
I’m so fucking sick of feeling like this.
I just want it to stop.
I lift my head, looking up at the window I sneak into way too often. The soft light of her lamp is on.She’s still awake.
I take a deep breath, feeling my pulse start to calm itself down.
I shouldn’t go there. I shouldn’t bother her with all my problems. Even if she makes them all go away.
She just lost hermomfor fucks sake.
A little over a week ago, her mom passed, and Gabi’s been off since then. Quiet, sad, like the light went out in her eyes. Her dad’s been worse than ever before. Considering the asshole abused his wife until the day she died, you would have thought he’d be happy she’s no longer around. But he’s not. I’m terrified one day he’ll start taking his anger out on Gabi instead. She promised me he hasn’t laid a hand on her, but the fear still lives in my mind.
Since Gabi’s sister is away at college, she’s all alone in that house, and even though going up there won’t help her, I feel a need in my bones to justbewith her.
I reach for the flask tucked in my pocket, taking a swig, craving the familiar burn that scorches my throat. My head’s a jumble, voices shouting like a crowded room, and there’sno way out. I screw my eyes shut, wishing it’d just shut up.
My hand throbs where the cut stings, and I wince as I pour some alcohol over it, feeling the pain intensify. “Fuck,” I groan,biting down on my bottom lip as the fiery sting shoots through my body. I focus on the burn, wanting the pain,needingit, and I shake off the excess liquid pouring onto the cut as all the noise just leaves my brain.
I make my way to Gabi’s front lawn, hands tucked tight in my pockets, eyes fixed on her window above. I run a hand through my hair, then close my eyes briefly.
I should probably go.
She doesn’t need me.
But I need her. And my heart pounds against my chest at the thought of leaving. I don’t want to. I want to be with her. Being near her makes everything else fade away, all the noise in my head just stops.
I glance to the side, spotting her dad’s car parked nearby. He’s probably inside. If he catches me here, he’ll be pissed. He can’t stand the sight of me, and the feeling’s definitely mutual. He doesn’t want me hanging out with Gabi, thinks I’m some kind of bad influence or whatever.
I almost laugh.
More like the other way around.
I take another sip, my gaze fixed on her window.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
The seconds pass by, each one dragging on like an eternity. I blow out a breath, slipping the flask back into my pocket.
Fuck it.
I can’t stay away from her, no matter how much I probably should.
I grab onto the drain pipe, jumping up, trying not to make too much noise. If her dad ever catches me sneaking into his house...I don’t even want to imagine it.
Pulling myself up, I wince as my hand grazes the pipe, biting down on my lip to stifle any sounds of pain. I manage to haul myself up and grab onto her window latch with one hand.
With a quiet creak, I lift the window, and slip inside. My hand reaches out to open her curtains, before I hop down to the ground, relieved to be inside her room.
I quickly scan the room, my eyes darting around, searching for any sign of Gabi. Shadows flicker across the walls in the dim light.
“Gabi,” I whisper, trying to keep my voice low. “You in here?”
