He turns and walks away from me and doesn’t look back, the icy retreat punching me in the guts.
Feeling guilty, I leave the locker-room and make my way across campus, trying to focus on my plans for Blesk today. The song she wrote when she was eight, ‘One Day,’ gave me an idea.
A very hopeful idea, really.
By the time the sun drops behind the horizon tonight, Blesk will remember why she loved Deakon, and she’ll be just as committed to thisthingbetween us as I am.
I know she’s scared. I know she’s put this behind her. I heardher. I did. I’m the living embodiment of that tragedy and memory, and with my presence comes pain. I’m happy that she moved on, but— But fuck. I haven’t. I couldn’t. I believe we’re worth any pain or fucking soul-searching involved, worth the struggle, worth the fighting. This is fate—us presented on a silver platter. It’s worth everything,dammit!
That little girl loved me, as much as I loved her, and Blesk is pulling away from that. I won’t let her. Ican’tlet her. She needs to remember us. How it can be simple and fun. How we found joy in the dark that kept us.
I reach into my pocket and retrieve my phone, wanting to know where she is right now.
Konnor: Duchess, where are you at the moment?
Blesk: At home.
I tense up. At her childhood home? At Erik’s fucking home? What, which?—
Konnor: Define home?
Blesk: You aren’t my English teacher, Mr Slater.
Konnor: Lol, your dorm or home-home?
Blesk: My dorm.
Phew.
Konnor: Can I come by?
Blesk: I need a few days… I think. Is that okay? I need to sleep and think and… I don’t know.
Fuck.
Konnor: One day? Give me one day?
I wait…
Double fuck.
Blesk: Okay.
Thank fuck.
Feeding my fingers through my still-damp hair with one hand, I approach the gargoyle-manned steps to her dormitory block. Several girls skip down them.
“Konnor!” one of them calls out. I look around and my eyes land on a pretty, blue-eyed girl who I feel I should recognise, but don't.
“Hey?” I search my memory for her name, clicking my fingers as if it’s on the tip of my tongue.
Which it isn’t.
“Faith. I'm a friend of Cassidy's.” She gestures to herself with a sweet smile. “Remember me?”
Nope.“Right. Faith, hey.” My little sister Cassidy only has a handful of friends, still I don't recognise this chick. I shove my hands into my pockets. “What’s up?”
She turns to her girlfriends who have halted a few steps below us and says, "Go ahead, guys. I’ll meet you there."