The world is crashing around me, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I have to do something, I can’t just sit on the curb sobbing until the sun comes up. Maybe if I claim I got scheduled for an early shift at the movie theatre, I can sneak into one of the empty showrooms and hide out there as long as possible.
Then I remember Rob, and the little stunt he just pulled. I’d nearly forgotten, just for a moment, in all the awfulness. I can’t go back there.
But I certainly can’t stay here.
I hold my breath until the tears stop coming, but before I can figure out what the hell I’m supposed to do next, I’m half-blinded by a vehicle turning down the street towards me.
It’s a single light, accompanied by the high energy roar of a small engine, much like the one that startled Rob into letting go of me earlier. I squint my eyes and frown slightly as the motorcycle comes into view and slows down, stopping right in front of me. I know even before he removes his helmet who it is, even though I can’t believe it.
It’s Blair.
My mouth falls open. I haven’t seen him since school got out, and he was as cold as ice to me the entirety of the last semester, ever since the day that my lie came to light. Just the sight of him here brings all the old feelings rushing back, and with it, all the pain.
The outline of his silver hair glows in the dark, illuminating him in all his guardian-angel glory.
My heart nearly leaps right out of my chest.
Of all the things I expected tonight, this is at the very bottom of my list. I can’t believe it. I really can’t believe it.
“What … what are you doing here?” I ask in astonishment.
He grins, but there’s a sadness behind those eyes as he looks down at me in my pathetic state. “Good to see you too, Bunny.”
He reaches a hand down to me, and I have to stare at it for a minute. I’m afraid that if I reach out to touch it, I’ll only find out I’m making it all up. But I look up into Blair’s beautiful face, and there’s only one way to find out.
I forgot how warm his touch is.
He pulls me up from the ground and into an embrace. I’m past resistance. I melt right into him as he wraps me tightly in his arms and I start crying all over again. I can’t help it; the tidal wave of emotion that’s crashing through me right now has to go somewhere.
He nuzzles his face into my neck and hair. “God, I missed you,” he murmurs. He just holds me for a long minute, letting me cry. The feel of him is even better than I remember. He holds me tight until the sobs slow, and then finally he loosens his grip just a little and looks into my face. With a tender touch, he reaches up and wipes my tears away.
“Blair … what are you doing here? How did you even know where I was?” I go on, each question trailing into the next. I have a billion questions for him, and I want them all answered at once.
“I’ve kind of been wondering the same thing,” he says. “That boy earlier … at the theatre …”
I stop him.
“Wait, that was you?”
He looks sheepish. “I called around. No one was giving me any answers, but then one of the kids inside answered tonight and said I could find you there. I didn’t expect to find you out with someone, but then, why wouldn’t you?”
I’m still struggling to understand. “Rob? No—you saved me. I didn’t want that. We’re not … like that.”
Blair Rashnikov hasn’t even been back in my life for two minutes, and already, he’s rescued me twice.
“I’ll admit, I’m a little relieved,” Blair says. He sighs and searches my face with his eyes, pushing a loose strand of my hair out of the way. “I’ve been calling you all summer. Why didn’t you ever call back?”
My jaw goes slack. “You … you were what?”
He looks away. “I wanted to apologize … but I thought you didn’t want to talk to me. I’m a fool. I should’ve followed you down here the day school let out.”
“You thought I didn’t want to talk to you anymore?” I can’t believe it. “You’re the one who’s refused to acknowledge my existence for the last six months. Sorry, make that eight. As far as I knew, you were the one who was never going to talk to me again.”
“Abandon my Bunny? Never.” He shakes his head and wipes another tear off of my cheek. “I overacted, and I’m ashamed … but you know Astor.”
I look at him in confusion. “What do you mean?”
Blair sighs. “Nothing. Listen, I’m not here to shift blame. Let me make up for lost time.”