“So, you can’t come up with anything?”
I finish one half of my sandwich and sip my water. “You’ve never respected me. You told all your friends I’m an easy lay.”
“What? I never said that about you. I’ve barely talked to you.”
“Let’s see, in elementary school, you constantly made fun of me. Asked me out after a few days before you decided to tell me it was all a joke knowing I had a crush on you. You and your little friend Hunter wouldn’t let me participate in a group project because I came from a so-called poor family. You’ve called me names. You always act like you’re better than everyone else because you have money. Oh, and more recently, you told Matt that I cheated on him. Is that enough for you or you want me list some more?”
He is taken-aback. “Most of that was when we were younger. I wasn’t exactly mature as a kid. And I never told Matt that. Why would you even think that?” He’s offended, but I don’t care. How can I possibly feel sorry for him?
“Because all you are is a liar.”
I scarf down the second half of the sandwich as we sit in silence. I grab my bag and the ticket and walk up to the counter. I feel him standing behind me and I have to restrain myself from touching him. Ugh. What is wrong with me? I pull out my wallet, but he already gives the waitress money and tells her to keep the change. Annoyed, I shove my money back into my bag and leave the restaurant.
The rain has stopped, but my hair is already disarrayed. I can feel it.
“Where are you going?” he calls after me.
“Away from you.” I shiver and my breath comes out in little white clouds.
“Don’t you need a ride?”
“I know my way home.”
“Yeah but I thought you didn’t want your parents knowing you ditched work.”
“So, I won’t go home until it’s time.”
“Fine.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see him throw his hands up. He stops walking, but I keep going. I can go to the library. Or the park. As I cross the train tracks into the old part of town, I pass the busy Whistle Stop Café and keep walking. The wind picks up and I hug myself tighter. The temperature keeps dropping. It’s dark and it’s so cold outside.
My cheek burns and throbs. I check my phone and it isn’t even seven yet. The temperature says thirty-three. I can’t stay out much longer. What am I going to do for three more hours? I start typing a text to Cherry, telling her what happened. I know she won’t look at her phone until her break, but I’m so pissed off, I need this outlet.
There is a shuffling sound nearby that makes me snap my head up. My pulse quickens. I gasp and look around, but I see nothing. I usually don’t mind being alone, but the creepy feeling like I’m being watched settles over me. I hug myself tighter and try not to focus on a branch snapping nearby or the howling of the wind. I feel like I’m in my dream. Something or someone’s after me. Fear grips me and I’m not afraid to admit what a scaredy cat I am. I turn back into the direction of the diner and run.
I’m always running. Or wanting to escape. Run from my dreams. Escaping reality. Escaping my parents. Running from some creep who is trying to kill me.
I’m shaking all over and I want out of these woods. The dreams. I want out of my parent’s strict rules. Away from the psycho people at school. I glance behind me, and my foot catches on a root and I crash to the cold, wet ground.
“Megan, are you okay?” Casper asks. My heart skips and heat floods my body. When I sit up, I’m face-to-face with him. Our eyes meet and for a second, I feel like the girl in my dreams. Then reality hits me and I scramble to my feet.
He holds his hands up. “I didn’t come to make you mad. But I can’t leave you here by yourself.”
“How chivalrous.”
He rolls his eyes. “It’s really cold outside, come on.” He offers his hand, but I don’t take it.
I climb into the yellow boat and close the door. He already has the heat blasting, which feels great. I hold my icy hands close to the vents. He gets in and starts driving.
“Look, I can’t have a civil conversation with you until I get answers,” I say. “Why did you lie about me to Matt?”
“Megan, I swear I didn’t tell Matt that.”
“He said it was you.”
Casper sighs. “Matt wanted out of the relationship. I told him it was a dumb thing to tell you and that he should tell you the truth. He made it up so he could get the sympathy from Erica.”
Tears well in my eyes and I shake my head. “That’s not true.” Except he started dating Erica right after me.
“I’m sorry.”
“How do I know you’re telling me the truth?”
“You don’t. You have my word and have to trust me. I have no reason to lie to you.”
“I’m sorry, but it might take a long time for you to gain my trust.”
“If I can get Matt to admit what he did, would that help?”
“What are you going to do? Beat him up until he admits to something you did?”
“Megan,” he says my name like a warning. I don’t know what to think about him. “In case you freak out tomorrow, I had your car towed so they could fix it.”
I look at his profile, stunned. “You did what? Why?”
“Because I feel
