Her Destiny (Reverie #2)(17)
Another angry honk blares and I hit the gas, my tires screeching as I burn rubber across the wet asphalt. I still follow the bus, it’s like I can’t stop now. Anger pulses through me, settling low in my gut, fueling me, driving me on. There’s no way I’m going to let her end this with a mouthed sorry and that’s it. We need to talk. I need to tell her what happened. Hell, she needs to tell me what happened.
I track the bus, hanging back when it makes stops, keeping pace when it drives through the quiet city streets. When it stops in front of an apartment building and Reverie emerges, the relief that surges through me is almost overwhelming. Finally she’s out of that trap. Maybe now I can talk to her.
I park quickly and practically fly out of the truck, following after her through the buildings, calling her name as I chase after her. It’s like she hears my voice and hurries her steps, glancing over her shoulder furtively before she launches herself into a full out run.
Not deterred, I do the same, catching up with her fast, thank God. I grab hold of her arm, stopping her in her tracks and forcing her to look at me.
“What the hell are you doing?” I ask her, out of breath. Furious at her reaction, at the crappy weather, at the circumstances we’re in now. I wish we could go back to the past. Return to last summer, when everything was new and tentative and exciting. When I could sneak a kiss with her in the stables and no one was the wiser beyond the horses.
“Go away, Nick,” she says, her voice stern, her expression blank. She jerks out of my hold, glaring at me as she rubs her arm like I hurt her or something. “There’s nothing between us anymore so just…stop.”
“Stop what? Stop trying to talk to you? That’s all I want, Reverie. To talk to you.” I refuse to beg. There’s just no way I can do that. But I won’t back down without a fight either.
I’m tired of rolling over and letting shit happen to me. I need to man up and take control of my life.
“There’s nothing to say. We’re finished, Nick.” Her eyes look like they’re glistening, like she’s about to cry, but then she blinks and the tears are gone. Like they were never really there and I wonder if I’m seeing things. “It was nice, what we shared this summer, but that’s over. We’re over.”
My blood runs cold at the sound of her voice, at the finality of her words. “Is that how you really feel?” I ask, my voice so low I almost don’t hear my own damn self.
She nods jerkily, her lips pressed together so tight they nearly disappear. “Yes,” she whispers. “I’m a mess. You don’t want to be with me. Not really.”
The chill in my veins warms the slightest bit. “You’re not a mess, baby. I’m the one who’s a mess because I don’t have you in my life.”
Her expression wavers, her gaze softening, but otherwise she remains stoic. “You don’t mean that. I’ve changed. I’m not the same person I was before when you first met me.”
How could she have changed that much when it’s only been a few months since we met? Though I feel like a different person since the beginning of the summer so I guess it’s possible.
“I don’t care. I know things have changed in your life but it doesn’t matter. Things have changed for me too.” I mean every word I say. I know life hasn’t been fair to her lately and I want to help her. Take care of her. Make her life easier. It’s hard without her, but together?
Together I think the two of us could conquer our demons and rule the world.
“Oh, Nick.” She shakes her head, her eyes closing for the briefest moment as she glances up at the sky, as if she’s searching for the right words to say. Searching for strength. “Too much has happened. You’ve hurt me. I’ve hurt you. I’m not the same person anymore. Not at all.”
She sounds so grown up, so sure of everything, and I’m more confused than ever. How did I hurt her? All I ever wanted was to protect her. “So you don’t want to give us another chance.” My voice is flat, my emotions the same. I feel defeated. A feeling I’m used to. One I wanted to fight against only moments ago.
But why fight against someone who’s not willing to try?
“It wouldn’t be the same and you know it. I’m a different girl. One you probably wouldn’t like.”
I stare at her, drinking in her familiar features, her familiar smell. She doesn’t look different though she’s acting different, more sure of herself yet also so weary with the world. The innocent sheen is gone. Destroyed completely.
“Think about it,” I say, refusing to give up. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Reverie.”
Before she can say a word I turn on my heel and walk away from her, not once looking back. I head straight to my truck, my footsteps determined, my mind churning with the possibilities. She may think it’s over but it’s not.
Not by a long shot.
Chapter Fourteen
November 13th
“Do you work tonight?”
Nodding, I take a drink of my soda, glancing around the quad as Vanessa, Valerie and I stand outside. School let out almost an hour ago but we remained behind, working on an English project together in the library. We hit up the soda machine outside of the cafeteria and I grabbed a Coke, needing the caffeine rush before I go on to Seville’s. I’m exhausted and tonight is guaranteed to be a busy one. “My shift starts at five-thirty.”