True Colors (The Masks #1)(69)

Dropping the phone onto the bed, I sunk down beside my friend.

“He’s coming home.”

“Really?” She looked confused. “He never leaves a project.”

“Well, he’s leaving this one for you.” Her sweet smile was fractured and I knew she still had a long way to go, but at least she wasn’t alone anymore. “Want to call Micah?” She nodded and reached for the phone.

I quietly left her to it. Sneaking into the hallway, I leaned against the door. The girls were now in bed and I could hear Julia and Seth chatting in Seth’s old room down the hall.

And once again the loneliness rounded over me. Sliding down to my butt, I clutched my legs and rested my chin on my knees. My mind wandered to the homeless stranger. I couldn’t help wondering if he’d felt this way too. The sense of isolation was suffocating. The urge to get up and run was strong, but my legs were tired and my body was done for the day. I knew my only choice was to face this, accept the new reality this man had given me and try not to die in the process.

Leaning my head back against the wood, I felt the tears rise once more and wondered how I possibly had any left. This time they weren’t hiccuping sobs though. This time, they were soft and silent, my soul mourning for one more loss I knew awaited me.





Chapter 33




The next day at school was weird. People kept staring at me, no doubt checking out the shiner on my left cheek. Micah limped into school and a second wave of gossip surged through the student body. I saw faces, heard whispers. People knew something huge had gone down yesterday.

I gripped my books to my chest as I made my way to class. Indie had chosen to stay home with Julia for the day. Her belt wounds were still really tender and she was too fragile to face anyone. Micah had promised to go see her after school.

Julia had offered me the day off too, but I was restless and felt like school would be a good distraction. Man, was I an idiot. I still hadn’t heard from Eric and even though I despised looking at a blank phone screen, I couldn’t help bringing the device with me and checking it every two seconds. Another idiot move, because it remained blank. Eric was obviously still pissed.

I couldn’t concentrate through Algebra. My mind was a splintered mess. People kept looking at me, wondering. The whispers as I passed from Algebra to English Lit grew with intensity. Where was Liam? Why was Indie not at school? What had happened to the all-powerful Micah?

I sat with him in the back of class. We didn’t talk, just gave each other knowing looks that said it all. I could see he just wanted to get to Indie, and the only reason he came today was to convince his parents that he was well enough to do so.

The vibe in the school grew with intensity as the day progressed and it wasn’t until I walked into the cafeteria at lunchtime that it all came clear. I saw Libby sitting with her old friends. She looked worn and a little fragile, but her smile was genuine. She squeezed Andy’s forearm before waving me over to the table. I approached slowly, glancing over my shoulder to see my old group of friends glaring at me. Chase’s dark gaze was intense. I ripped off his mask and spotted the guilty fear, his regret. I whipped my eyes to Stella and saw the same thing.

Wait a sec.

Turning back to Libby, I scanned her friends, whipping off masks as I went and I saw it. Bright, sunny relief.

“No way.” I slid into the seat beside Libby.

She nodded with a grin. “I was there for two hours last night. We went through all the files with Mr. Van der Belt. Everyone’s name was on there. All the kids who were paying for work to be done...all the kids doing the work. The videos, the photos...they even had a target list.”

“A target list?”

“Yeah, people they were keeping a special eye on - either to recruit or sell to...or eliminate.” Her gaze fluttered to the table.

I sighed. “I was on the elimination list, wasn’t I?”

She nodded.

“What did Mr. Van say?”

“He was really good about it. Told me he was going to deal with it discreetly.”

I peeked over my shoulder at the defeated group around Stella. “Do you know how?”

Libby followed my gaze and shrugged. “Not sure exactly, but I’m guessing a bunch of those guys are going to be attending summer school.”

I don’t know what brought it on, but giggles rushed so quickly up my system, they burst from my mouth - loud and clear. I covered my lips, my shoulders quivering with mirth...and then Libby joined me. Within a minute the two of us were a laughing, crying mess. I wrapped my arms around her chubby frame and clung tight.

She squeezed me back and for the first time in forever, I felt like I was hugging a true friend. One that didn’t need me, one that didn’t want to use me...one that just wanted to hang out with me exactly as I was.





Chapter 34




Micah followed me home. I introduced him to Julia and Seth who eyed him up with surprise, obviously both jolted by his towering persona. As I watched Indie shuffle into the room, I guessed I understood their feelings. They were a contrast in so many ways, but when he spun to face her and her eyes lit with that smile, it felt so right. He gathered her in his arms, whispering something soft and delicate in her ear. I turned away, wanting to give them some privacy. Julia kept gazing at them with a mushy look on her face. I couldn’t help a grin.