Page 67 of Her Alien Neighbor

“Ugh,” I groan. “We have to go back in there?” My heart starts beating rapidly again, and I lean against the wall, pressing my hand against my chest, willing it to slow down. “I don’t know if I can.”

She nods, understanding. “I’ll run back in and grab our stuff, okay?”

“No,” I reply immediately. “I don’t want you to have to face them alone.”

She looks around the bathroom as if realizing how bad that would be. “Let’s just stay in here for a bit.” Sam comes to stand beside me against the wall, and we slide down it together until our butts hit the cold floor.

Sam sighs, leaning her head on my shoulder. “Too many memories in this place.”

“Indeed,” I agree, wishing Axil were here. At the very least, he’d serve as a giant shield, so we wouldn’t even have to look at Trevor. His massive body would just block him out. But I suppose this is rock bottom. I had a public meltdown when Trevor asked me to dance. All my fears about coming back to Sudbury have been realized. There’s nothing left to fear. That’s something.

Several minutes later, Beth storms into the bathroom, and I’m back to rock bottom. Caitlyn trots in on her heels. Beth crosses her arms as she juts out a hip. “Well, that was fucking embarrassing.”

I struggle to get to my feet with the heels and tight dress restricting my movement. When I do, I ask, “What was? Your trash bag of a boyfriend asking me to dance in front of everyone? So sorry I didn’t consider your feelings, Beth. I really should work on my priorities.”

Sam laughs.

Beth scoffs. “You couldn’t just dance with him? For even a minute? You made everyone uncomfortable with that little scene.”

Sam and I exchange a glance that saysIs she for real?

“You embarrassed Trevor,” Beth adds.

I can’t believe there was a time when I felt guilty about the way my friendship with Beth ended. And how I was eager to talk it out with her, to figure out what I did wrong.

“Oh, what an absolute tragedy that Trevor felt a moment of discomfort,” I bark out, my tone dripping with disdain. “Believe me, that was nothing compared to what I went through the last month of high school. He’ll be fine.”

“What should embarrass you is how you both smell like a couple of musty towels,” Sam add with a snarky touch. “Though I suppose it is kind of on-brand for your whole,” Sam gestures in a wide circle toward Beth, “deeply vile, scummy couple vibe.”

Beth rolls her eyes. “Always a pleasure to see you, Sam. Tell your mom I said hi, if she can remember me.” Then she laughs. “Does she even remember you at this point?”

Sam grits her teeth so hard; I swear they’re about to break, but before she can launch herself on top of Beth and rip her hair out, the bathroom door swings open, and Jenna and Emily step inside, holding our purses. The moment they see Beth, the two of them grimace and plant themselves between us and Beth and Caitlyn.

“Hey, Beth. Your boyfriend just left the party. Pretty sure he’s about to score his third DUI,” Jenna spits out in an ominously sweet tone. “Might wanna go check on that.”

Beth’s cheeks turn beet red, and I hear her mumble something about me under her breath as she turns on her heel and leaves, Caitlyn following.

Jenna turns, letting out a relieved sigh once they’re gone, and hands over our bags. “You guys okay?” she asks.

“Oh, you know,” I reply, exhaustion setting in. “Just another day in paradise.”

Emily steps forward, reaching her hand toward me, then pulling it back at the last second. “I, um, I’m sorry about everything.”

“It’s fine,” I say, waving a dismissive hand as I take my bag from her. It’s certainly not Emily’s fault Beth and Trevor are assholes.

“No, I mean, about back then,” she clarifies in a quiet voice. “I believed you, and I should’ve told you that.”

“Yeah,” Jenna adds. “Me too. I believed you.”

Sam and I look at each other, stunned by the support. It doesn’t matter how late it is.

“We were kids, you know? We didn’t know what to do, or what to say,” Emily says with a shrug.

Jenna nods. “But that’s no excuse for saying nothing. Our silence was part of the problem. Henry agrees, and he would tell you himself if we weren’t in the ladies’ room.”

I’ve spent so much time wondering if going to the police was the right decision. It felt like it wasn’t, given how I was treated, how Trevor didn’t face any consequences, and how the entire school found out about it anyway. It seemed like a complete waste of time that only hurt me. But I don’t know, maybe it was the right choice.

The four of us share a loaded, nervous chuckle.

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