Page 42 of The Second Kiss
“No,” she sighs like I’m being slow. “Lexie is gone.”
“Gone?”
“Gone. Moved. Left school. Permanently.”
“Gone? Why?”
“No one knows for sure, but the rumors are flying. Some people say that she and Brad got in a fight, and she ran away. Someone else said she’s pregnant, that she went to her aunt’s house either to have the baby or get an abortion. Whatever it is, she’s gone. Her mom withdrew her from school today. I saw her leaving with the stuff from Lexie’s locker. The rumors about you are old news. Congratulations.”
“I guess that’s good,” I say, but an uneasy weight settles on my chest.
“Good?” Jasmine laughs. “It’s the best. Ding dong, the witch is dead.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
“Try to muster some enthusiasm by tomorrow. I want to celebrate.”
“I’ll work on that. Right now I’d better go. If Dad catches me on the phone this late, he’ll freak.”
“Got it, bye. Ding, dong the witch is dead...” She’s still singing when she hangs up the phone.
Lexie has tortured me since middle school. Her leaving should make me happy, but the news that she's gone with no explanation leaves a pit in my stomach I can’t explain.
I dodge puddles as I run down the rain-streaked trail. The light rain I started my run with has morphed into a full-fledged downpour, and I'm still a couple miles from my car. My arm feels light, but weak. This is my first long run since I got my cast off. I felt so good when I started out that I went farther than I should have, leaving my car at the far end of the trail.
I head for the shelter of a bridge built across the trail so cars can pass over. I jerk my earbuds out and pull my phone from my pocket. I need a rescue, but Mom has a meeting and I'm not sure what it will take to bribe Matt to come get me. I type in J-A, thinking Jasmine is my best option. Jacob's name comes up. I rub the raindrops off the screen, wishing I could call him. He's still gone. Not that I'd have the courage to call him if he were here.
"I told you the last time we met here that it wasn't safe for a girl to go running alone."
I freeze. My heart stops as the figure moves out from the shadows of the overpass. It races again as I recognize first the large frame, then the sweatshirt, and then the face that grins back at me from under the hood.
I take a breath to steady my voice. "Brad, you scared me." I grip my phone.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to." He lifts his palm to catch the rain. "Beautiful day for a run."
"It was," I keep my distance. I'm not sure where I stand with Brad now, only that I can't trust him. He hasn't tried to talk to me again. Actually, Brad has kept a low profile at school since Lexie left. There have been so many rumors about what happened between them I don't know what the truth is.
"Yeah. It’s been a tough couple of weeks. I thought it would be good to go for a run to clear my head. I didn't expect a monsoon."
"Me neither," I answer.
"Luckily, I didn't get very far. I left my truck in the parking lot at the trailhead. I was going to go for a long run, but now I think I'll turn around and head back before I drown." Brad looks back like he can see across the distance through the rain. "What about you? I didn't see your car in the parking lot. How far away is it?"
I hesitate. I don't want him to know how far away my car is. "Not too far."
He nods, "That's good. Looks like you've got the Mustang running. Your Army friend fix it up for you?"
"Yeah," I answer. The rain picks up, pounding against the bridge above us. I'm trying to decide whether I should brave the rain and continue my run, or brave a continued conversation with Brad.
"That's good. I never liked the idea of your having to walk everywhere."
I don't know how to respond to his false chivalry, so I stay silent.
He reaches above him and fingers a patch of graffiti on the side of the bridge—two sets of initials in faded red spray paint. "Ironic that we'd meet here, don't you think?"
I take a second to understand what he means. Then it hits me. We're standing where we had our first kiss. That time we’d ducked under the overpass to get out of the sun while we took a water break. His kiss was salty and sweet. I thought it was the most romantic moment of my life. Well, maybe the second most.
"Yeah, ironic." It comes out cold—the rain-soaked chill seeping into my heart as I remember how thoroughly he destroyed my trust and relationship.
