I walk down our street at ten til five.
I’m not sure what to do. Do I go over to Langston’s? Or do I just go to my own house and try to forget about the boy?
“I didn’t think you’d show,” Langston says from his house’s doorstep, making my decision for me.
“I’m sorry, I did everything I could to get back. Mom needed me to help her clean houses—”
“Liar.”
I frown.
“Your mother got home at noon. Want to try another lie, or do you want to tell me why you didn’t spend my last day here with me?” He stands up and starts to approach me.
A vein is popping in his forehead, but he’s wearing a T-shirt and shorts, and I don’t spot any visible bruises.
I exhale a sigh of relief. I saved him from a beating. I would give up my last day with him over and over again if it meant I could spare him pain.
“I’m waiting. What lie are you going to tell me, Liesel?”
Liesel? He’s pissed. He never calls me Liesel.
“Hugh, down the street, invited me over. I couldn’t say no. He’s going to be my only friend once you’re gone.”
“You’re going to replace me, just like that? Like I mean nothing to you?”
I don’t answer. How he can think that I lied about being with my mother but not about being with a friend is unbelievable. Why wouldn’t I want to be here for my last hours with him?
He shakes his head. “I can’t believe we were ever friends.”
His words hurt worse than my cracked ribs.
I feel the burning of a tear in my eyes, but I don’t let it out.
I swipe my hair to one side, revealing the bruise, revealing the truth.
But Langston won’t even look at me. He’s so irate.
“Langston! Time to go,” Mr. Pearce says as a new Mercedes sedan pulls up.
Mr. Pearce walks to the front passenger side. A beautiful woman sits in the driver’s seat—his new wife.
Langston still doesn’t look at me. He just starts walking to the car.
“Langston,” I whisper, hoping he’ll look at me.
He’ll give me a hug.
He’ll say we are still best friends.
That he’ll call.
Take care of me.
That this changes nothing.
Instead, he climbs into the back of the car without a word, without a glance back.
I watch in horror as the woman drives off with my best friend. I’m left stunned.