HER Young Mate (Completed)

Part Nineteen: In My Heart. In My Bones. In My Soul.

Yesterday I had planned a whole list of adventures for today. Planned to ditch school for the beach and stay out there all weekend to avoid the bonfire, planned to hangout with Wyatt, go the mall with Winny... None of that happened, not after last night. I still felt him in my heart, in my bones, in my soul. And it was haunting. I woke up feeling empty and hollow. I told my dad I had driven home last night, that I had been sick, lying again. I had really gotten too good at it. I had even conceived Wyatt I was actually feeling sick, blaming it on a headache, which can't be disproven.

I was hollow and a liar.

Great.

Wyatt dropped off a joint for me to smoke for my head, and I had already puffed half of it by afternoon, and slept through my brother and Frea getting home, my dad grabbing some things for the party from the garage, and Owen and Frea then leaving. When I woke up it was six at night.

I stumbled down stairs and to the kitchen, having over slept so much that I felt dizzy. I checked my phone, which I had left on the counter.

Wyatt: Hey babe you okay? Just checking on you, hope you feel better soon<3

Wyatt: hey babe is everything okay? You never texted back.

Wyatt: Hey baby, you must be really sick, probably sleeping, so I just hope you're feeling better and getting all the rest you need, I care about you so much baby, good night <3

I shut my phone off after texting him that I was fine, but I had slept all day, and was just going to take a bath and sleep again. And I did try. I took a bath, tried to lay in my bed, but none of it worked. I was too excited and anxiously nervous to ask Owen how the bonfire went. I paced on the front porch with my joint puffing away as I went from one side of the porch to another. I quickly put it out as I saw headlights in the distance. Owen and Frea pulled up, and I sighed from my spot on the porch. I was so relieved it wasn't my dad.

"Hey Owen..." I said as I grew anxious again.

"Hey Cora..." He smiled and took a seat with Frea on the porch. "Hey you got any of that left..." He smiled when I walked across the porch and handed him the roach.

"Go for it." I said. I tossed him my lighter. "What are you two doing back so early?" I asked. Frea blushed. "Oh-"

"Hey- I got a few hours and then I got to go scout, so me and Frea came back for a nap." He said, but he smiled as he lit the roach. He passed it back and I hit it, and then handed it to Frea.

"Th-thanks Cora..." She said quietly. She still didn't speak to me much. She was always a person who felt guilt so strongly. Too strongly to admit anything. And really I wasn't angry at her anymore for disowning me, it was probably Owen's fault.

"So how..." I couldn't find the words.

"The second he saw me he ran up to me to ask about the bike... He seemed so... Happy. I was expecting him to be sad or angry that you had stopped by his house and never woke him up... But he was so excited-"

"Really?" I asked, unable to contain my smile.

"Really! He just looked so proud and happy all night, like he had won some sort of honor..."

"What did he say?"

"He said to thank you, and that it was a sign that you still cared, and that's all he needed to know you still love him." He shrugged, he handed me the joint again. I took a long drag, and held it as I passed it back. I didn't know how to take that. Part of me was glad he knew I still cared, but part of me felt miserable for leading him on.

"Well as long as he's happy." I settled on. Owen gave me a long look.

"Why don't you just come back to the pack..." Owen said finally, after he sat in silence.

"You know I can't-"

"Yes you can-"

"Owen..." Frea looked at him with a worried expression. She may not be my best friend anymore, in fact I don't think I really have one anymore unless you count Winny, but Frea knew me like only a best friend does. I smiled at her in gratitude for trying to shut Owen up. Maybe she knew how hard this was on me, maybe she didn't, but I felt she did know somehow; after all she had to hide liking Owen for so long. Someday I would get her back for gushing him up so quickly.

"Owen I don't know if I'll ever come back..."