In which I fall in love with my brother's best friend.
*****
"Don't pretend like you don't feel anything." His voice is low, sending shivers down my spine.
"What do you mean?"
"You know damn well what I mean."
"I don't know what you're talking about...
AN: I just want to say it once again that I love you guys for reading, voting and commenting on this book as well as supporting me as a writer.
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Today is my second day in Texas. It's early morning, and I'm setting up my new cellphone when Jake emerges in my doorway.
He's talking to someone on the phone before handing it to me, making me wonder who it is.
"It's your friend, Stacey," he says. "She got my number from Vaughn."
The mentioning of such name still makes my heart drop. I sigh and take the phone from Jake. "Hello?"
Stacey's cries fill my ear as soon as I speak, and she goes frantic. "Oh my God, Mel. Are you okay? How are you doing over there?"
A soft smile tugs at my lips. I miss her. It feels like ages since the last time I heard from her. This girl is worrying about me like I'm dying. "I'm okay. Don't worry."
"God, I never thought that--" she stops talking and starts sobbing. "If only I'd figured it out earlier." She's speaking about Derek. There's a guilt in her voice, and I want to tell her that none of this is her fault.
Before, neither of us realized that Derek was such a psychopath. We thought that he was a misunderstood nerd who just didn't like to socialize with people.
"It's over now. I'm far away from that bastard," I say. "I kinda miss you, though."
"Damn, girl, I miss you more!" she says it so loudly, almost like a scream, and I laugh.
"Well, then, why don't you come over?" I tease her. "I basically am free like a bird here, I wonder how I'm going to survive a day without anything to do. But you better be prepared for what we have in store here in Texas, and I can't guarantee that you can have the time to think about Professor Adams' assignments," I joke.
"I'm so fucking coming over there. Can't wait for another weekend," she says, making me laugh again. I've never heard her curse before.
"Anyway, can you do something for me?" I ask.
"Anything..." she says like she's desperate to do it, to help me, whatever it is that I'm going to ask for.
"Can you not tell Vaughn that I'm here?" I ask, my voice small. He might not even care anymore, but I can't help but say this for precaution, since he's been trying to contact Jake but fails.
"Of course," Stacey says, her voice soft. "Anything for you, if that can make you feel better." She sighs. "To be honest, I feel like he was expecting me to update him about you when he gave me Jake's number. He still couldn't reach Jake, so he thought that I would be able to do so."
