Ever After (East Raven Academy Book 1)(53)

“I’m excited too. It’s going to be fun,” I say. “I’ve never been to The Hamptons before.”

“You’ll love it.”

“She’s not going,” Uncle Matty says, as he walks into the living room.

“Why not?” I ask. “That’s not fair.”

“It’s not a matter of being fair. It’s a matter of safety,” he says. “Right now, there is too much at risk and your life is not something I’m willing to risk.”

I want to be mad.

I want to yell at him.

But I understand. So, I can’t.

It’s still frustrating though.

“I’ll stay on campus,” I say, letting out a sigh. “I guess I’ll be here by myself, because everybody else is going off campus.”

“I will stay with you,” Estaine says.

“No,” I say. “Don’t. That would just make me feel bad for ruining your plans.”

“Seriously, I don’t mind,” he says. “I’d honestly rather spend the weekend with you, anyway.”

Staying on campus could spare me some potentially awkward moments with Brooks.

Brooks... what am I going to tell him? I can’t explain to him that I’m not really dating Estaine. I can’t explain to him everything that’s going on. I can’t even think of a lie that could convince him.

He is going to hate me and I can’t even blame him for it.

“Are you sure?” I ask Estaine, hating that I’m taking away the time he usually spends at the beach.

“Absolutely,” he says.

“It’ll be boring on campus.”

“I’m never bored with you.”

Uncle Matty stands up. “I think that is my cue to leave the two of you alone.”

I ignore him and turn towards Estaine.

“What about your party?” I ask.

He shrugs. “I wasn’t really in the mood to do it this year anyway. It was always my sister’s thing.”

My heart aches for him at the mention of his sister.

“What do you usually do for Labor Day?” he asks.

“Well, my school didn’t start until after Labor Day. Last year, Charlie and I were at Rick’s house in Hawaii,” I answer. “But we don’t always do that. I think the year before, the whole family went to Tahiti. Or maybe that was two years ago. I think we went to Greece one year.”

“And Rick is your stepdad, right?”

I nod. “Charlie’s dad.”

“You get along with him?”

“Yeah. I love Rick. I love my stepmom, Nora, too,” I say.

“Was it weird to get used to having a parent who isn’t your biological parent?” he asks.

“Nora was easy to get used to. I was fourteen when my dad married her. But I lived with my mom, so it wasn’t like I had to get used to living with her,” I say. “I had a harder time with Rick. I was ten. And I was used to it just being Mom and me. We moved into their house after the wedding, and getting used to living with two boys was hard. I hated it for about three months, but then one day I woke up and realized that somehow, Charlie and Rick had become family.”

“My parents are getting divorced,” Estaine says. “I haven’t told anybody because I don’t want to believe it, yet.”

I scoot closer to him, putting my arm around him. “Divorce sucks. I was four when my parents split up, but I remember it.”

“They used to be really happy. Before... River... I always looked up to their marriage. I wanted a love like that,” he says. “I just really wish she was alive. I don’t think they’d be getting divorced if she was, but even if they were, I could get through this with her here.”

My chest tightens.

I feel so bad for Estaine.

And I have no idea what to say to him. What do you say to somebody who is still mourning the loss of his sister, and is now about to lose the only stability in his life?

“I’m sorry. This probably all seems too trivial compared to what you’re going through,” he says.

“No. Seriously, nobody I love has died,” I say.

He’s quiet for a moment before he finally relaxes.

“You’re a good person, Phoenix,” Estaine says.

His words make me feel good, because I haven’t felt like a good person lately.

“I don’t feel good,” I admit. “I’m lying to everybody.”

“Not everybody,” he says. “You’re not lying to me. Not anymore.”

I nod, feeling a little better. “What about everybody else? Not only that, but now you have to lie for me. I’ve brought you into my crazy, dangerous life.”

“I basically forced my way in,” he says.

“True,” I say. “It’s mainly you’re fault that you have to pretend to be my boyfriend now.”

He grins. “Trust me, it’s not that much of a hardship.”

Estaine doesn’t say anything else, which leaves me wondering... what did he mean by that?





Wednesday, August 30

Scared?





By Wednesday, Estaine and I are bored out of our minds, being locked in this stupid house. I never thought I’d actually be excited about going back to school, but I am. I miss all my friends.