Page 90 of Until the Ribbon Breaks

I look across the room where Max is sitting alone and nibbling an apple. “I think she misses Wes.”

“Who?”

“Max.”

“He was kind of cool,” he mutters before taking a bite.

After I finish my snack, I get up and toss my bag in the garbage, and when I return, Jeremy comes walking over to us. I watch as he leans down to whisper something into Sebastian’s ear. They fist bump, and after he walks away, Sebastian smiles at me.

“What was that all about?”

“He put my number on your call list.”

“What?”

With a devious smirk, he nods. “I wanted to make sure we could still talk after I leave. So, if you want to call me, tell them to dial your cousin, Ryan.”

My mouth drops open, and I would give him the biggest hug ever if I thought I could get away with it.

“How did Jeremy do that?”

“No one really pays attention to him pacing around all over the place. I figured he’d be the perfect one to sneak behind the desk.”

I smile at him, a real, genuine smile that causes his to grow too. It’s the kindest thing he could’ve ever done for me, and the fact that he did it all on his own soothes my worry about him still being around for me when we’re both out of here.

“Thank you.”

“I’m going to miss you.”

My smile fades as the sense of loneliness begins to settle over me like a led blanket. “I’m going to miss you too.”

SEBASTIAN

Freedom grants no freedom at all.

At least not in my world.

Last Monday I got discharged from the Hopewell Recovery Center. I had a pit in my stomach the whole day as I waited for my mother to come pick me up. A part of me hoped she wouldn’t, but, eventually, she did. Harlow cried when she hugged me goodbye, and hell if it didn’t make me consider doing something stupid just to extend my stay. But I’m confident that it won’t be long until she’s out of there too.

Still, it hurt to leave her behind.

My mother seemed happy to see me when she picked me up, but as we drove home, her mood slowly soured. Kurt’s car was parked out front, and when I stepped inside, I was greeted with a drunken, “Welcome back, you little fuck-up.”

I would’ve left right then, but my license is suspended, and I need to stay on the straight and narrow until my next court date. The hope is to show the judge that I’ve gone through treatment and am taking my recovery seriously so that I won’t have to do a stint in juvie.

This week has been rough. It was one thing to be sober when I was locked up, but to stay dry when I live with two alcoholics is a whole new battle, and I’m not convinced it’s worth it.

“Dude, if you aren’t going to talk to her, just turn your phone off,” Brent complains when my cell chimes, yet again, while we play video games. “Shit’s annoying.”

“It’s your fault. I told you not to tell her I was back, but then you go and gab it to Emily like a little bitch.”

“I told her not to tell Kassi.”

“That’s weak, man. You knew she would be the first person Emily would tell.”

“I don’t know why you coming back to town is such a secret.” He pops a round of bullets into my avatar and kills me, jumping up and throwing his fist into the air when he does. “Hell, yeah!”

I shake my head before he flops back into his chair as we start another round.

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