Page 80 of Starstruck
Dylan looks at me confused. “You haven’t been writing?”
I shake my head, fidgeting with my hands.
“Lennon…I’m sorry.” Paige glances at Dylan before looking back to me. “We didn’t know you felt this way.”
I lift my shoulders. “I didn’t want you to.”
“You have changed these past few months. I thought it was just time healing.”
“Maybe time has helped some, but so has Baxter. And I’m sorry if you guys don’t approve, but I’m capable of making my own decisions.”
“We know you are, Lens.” Paige sighs in resignation. “I guess this was just the last thing we saw coming.”
“Trust me when I say that I didn’t see it coming either,” I mutter just loud enough for them to hear.
And it’s the truth. I didn’t see any of it coming.
Falling in love with him included.
“Anyway…can we eat now?”
[34 ]
REQUIEM
LENNON
“LIKE A MAN POSSESSED” BY THE GET UP KIDS
Akaleidoscope of red and blue flashing lights. The sound of sirens wailing in the distance. The distinct smell of gasoline wafting through the air.
My senses are in overdrive as I open my eyes, and my head is throbbing. Taking in my surroundings, I see a fire engine blocking an intersection on my left, while some police officers corral the crowd gathered to watch the show. People have their phones out recording the scene, looks of shock crossing everyone’s face.
What the hell happened?
I glance around, trying to clear the fog filling my mind.
That’s when I look to my right—finding my mother with a piece of glass sticking out of her chest and my father in the back, blood streaming down his head, unconscious.
My breath catches.
Car accident.
“Oh, my god,” I sob. I quickly move to grab something, anything, that I can use to hold pressure on my mom’s chest withone hand while scrambling to unbuckle my seatbelt with the other, wincing as I do. “No, no, no. Come on!”
There’s nothing in reach, my seatbelt is stuck, and based on the sharp pain that shoots up to my shoulder when I move, I’m guessing my arm is broken.
“Mom, wake up!” I shake her firmly, careful not to bother the glass.
She stirs slightly but doesn’t wake.
“Dad. Daddy, please,” I cry as I reach over my seat as far as I can to tap him, too, but nothing.
We’re going to die in here.
“Someone, please help me!” I scream, watching through tear-filled eyes as first responders begin to arrive on scene. I rush to open my door to get someone’s attention, but it won’t budge.
“Someone, please!” I bang on the door as hard as I can, hoping, praying, waiting for someone to hear me. “I need help!”
