Page 111 of Searching for Nova

An old lady with white hair wearing a dark green dress and a printed scarf answers. “Can I help you?” She gives me a tight smile, like she’s annoyed I’m interrupting her day.

“Um, yeah, I need to talk to Easton.”

“I’m sorry, dear, but today is for family. You’ll need to come back another day.”

She goes to shut the door, but I hold it open. “I need to talk to him now. It’s important.”

She looks me up and down, seeming to not approve of my ripped jeans and torn sneakers. “And who are you?”

“Nova. Easton’s girlfriend.”

“Easton’sgirlfriend?” she says, laughing a little. “Dear, I believe you have the wrong house. Perhaps check the address next time.”

“Mother, what is taking so long?” a man yells. “Who’s at the door?”

“A girl,” she says, walking toward whoever is talking. “She says she’s Easton’s girlfriend, but obviously she’s mistaken.”

I go in the house and see a large living room just beyond the entry. I immediately recognize Easton’s parents. His dad has gray hair now, but his mom looks almost the same. There’s an older man sitting next to Easton’s dad, maybe his grandfather? And there’s a teenage girl sitting beside Easton’s mom.

“Who’sshe?” the girl says, pointing at me as I stand behind the old lady.

Easton’s mom is staring at me like she’s seeing a ghost.

The old lady turns back and sees me. “I didn’t invite you in,” she says in a scolding tone. “You need to leave.”

“Mother, why don’t you go check on the food?” Easton’s dad says. He, too, looks like he’s seeing a ghost.

“What is going on here?” the old lady says. “Does anyone know this girl?”

Nobody answers. The room is silent as everyone stares at me.

Easton’s mom looks over at his dad. “Stephen.” She sounds panicked. Why is she reacting like this? Does she not recognize me? Does she think I’m some stranger who just walked into their house?

Easton’s dad glances at her, then back at me.

“What’s going on?” I hear Easton say. “Why is everyone so quiet?” He comes in the room, stopping suddenly when he sees me. “Nova. What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to you,” I say, hoping he’ll hear the urgency in my tone.

“Easton, would you like to explain this?” his dad says.

“Hey!” the teenage girl says. “She’s wearing my coat! How’d she get my coat?”

“You didn’t need it,” Easton says, keeping his eyes on mine as he comes over to me. “What’s going on?”

“She claims to be your girlfriend,” the old lady says, like I made it up. “But I can’t imagine you dating this girl.”

I stare back at Easton. “You didn’t tell them about me?”

“What happened?” Jace walks into the room, looking around at Easton’s family. “Why isn’t anyone talking?”

What is Jace doing here? Shouldn’t he be with his family?

“Easton, you’re supposed to be helping me in the kitchen,” a girl says. I look behind Easton and see Paris coming in the living room, wearing Easton’s sweatshirt, the same one he let me wear the night we went to the park.

What is going on here? Why is Paris here, wearing Easton’s sweatshirt? And why is everyone looking at me like they have no idea who I am?

“Is someone going to explain who this girl is?” the old lady says, sounding annoyed.

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