“Back to L.A.?”
“My parents don’t actually live in L.A. but on the outskirts, and I’ve never called it my home. We have a house on the beach, it’s pretty cool, but it takes forever to get anywhere, so I normally hang out at home.”
“Except you’ll be going to rehab with the best therapist in the country.”
When Bob met Xander, his eyes bugged out. Bob went on and on about how amazing and sought after my uncle is. “Only because he’s my uncle.”
“Your dad would’ve paid for him.”
“Probably.”
Bob and I finish up and he takes me back to my room. He helps me get settled and promises to come by before his shift ends. This is when the depression settles in. It’s when I’m alone my thoughts run rampant about what Noah’s doing right now. Part of me is happy we haven’t spoken, but the emotional part is hurt and pissed off. He owes me an explanation, yet I don’t want to hear what he has to say. I think if he were to tell me he chose Dessie, I’d lose it. He’s right to be with her if she’s having his baby.
But, feeling this way doesn’t help the darkness stay away, and this is the only time I can let my emotions out. The tears come easily, hot streams down my face. I don’t bother to wipe them away until I’ve had a good cry. This is a daily occurrence for me. I hate it, but I can’t stop it. I don’t know what I’m going to do when I move in with my parents and can’t hide from them.
“Knock, kn
ock.”
“Just a sec.” I scramble to wipe my face, knowing it’ll be no use. I turn over, onto my back, surprised to see Ben standing in my doorway. “Ben! Hey, what’re you doing here?”
“Well, I’m the lucky one who gets to deliver you some news.” Ben chooses to sit on the edge of my bed as opposed to the chair. Not that I blame him. I’ve heard enough about that stupid hard plastic chair to last me a lifetime.
“What’s that?”
“Tomorrow, you’re out of here!” He throws his hands up in the air.
“No way… wait, why are you telling me?”
“Well, it seems your mom and sister are packing up your room, and your dad is making the necessary arrangements to fly us back to California.”
“Well, this is great.” I try to smile, but by the look on his face, I’m not fooling anyone.
“Wanna tell me what’s wrong?”
“I’m in love with someone who doesn’t or can’t love me back,” I blurt out, only to feel a bit of relief. Maybe talking about Noah is the right thing to do.
“Noah?”
I nod. “He told me he loves me but he’s with Dessie and I don’t understand, except I do because she’s pregnant, but if you love someone…”
“You’re supposed to set them free or whatever. I know how you feel, Peyton. Believe me, I really do.”
“Because you love my sister?”
His eyes go wide, nodding slowly. It’s not like any of us haven’t figured it out, except for Elle. She seems to be blind or completely obtuse when it comes to Ben. It stinks because we love Ben, and we want them together.
I scoot over and invite Ben to sit next to me. He does, stretching his long legs out in front of him. Even sitting like this, I feel like a shrimp next to him. “Your sister is seeing someone. I don’t know who because she won’t tell me.”
“How do you know?”
“When I’m here, visiting you, she’ll leave me for a bit, upwards to an hour or so. At first, I thought she was visiting you, but that wasn’t the case. She’s hiding her phone too, being secretive.”
“Elle hasn’t really visited much since I’ve been awake. Quinn says she’s nervous around me, that the accident freaked her out.”
“You guys have that weird twin thing going on, she probably felt some of your pain.”
I hadn’t thought about of it that way, but he’s probably right, but it’s not an excuse to avoid me. I’m her sister. I need her.