My lips still carry a faint taste of him.
Then why is he ignoring me? Why not come and see me?
“I’m running late, Sandy. Can we finish this when I get back?”
Ignoring me, she continues. “They’re so proud of you, know you’re taking care of Lily better than anyone could expect, but stop for a minute. Be a teenager again.”
It’s hard, but I hold in the snort that wants to escape. Teenager, she says. That part of me died when my parents and sister did.
“After this semester is done, we’ll take a vacation. What do you think about hitting Disney for a few days? It should be fun.” That earns me a glare I ignore. “Besides...” putting my hair up in a high ponytail, I check myself in the hallway mirror “...I’m too new to ask for time off. I’m lucky the owner hasn’t realized I’m nineteen, bought a fake I.D., and lied to land the job.”
“And when he does? Because it’s not illegal to work there.”
“Then I’ll beg for forgiveness.” Admit that I lied because I didn’t want him to see me as just some kid, but more like an equal.
It’s the best I can do. My fear of Jet finding out the truth is killing me slowly. Every night I pray no one mentions I’m a freshman or that I’m too young for him.
Younger than he thinks.
He’s the first person to make me feel anything other than pain after my family died. The first to truly make me smile.
I don’t want to lose that. Him.
Can’t. I need him for far more than he can ever know.
Need his affection. Love.
Someone to share my ups and downs with. A firm hand to guide me, not hinder my growth.
And no one else will do.