Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
The moment we got home, I came straight here to see Tori, only to find her tucked into bed in the pool house. Her eyes are puffy, and her cheeks are stained pink like she’s been crying, but aside from saying she doesn’t feel good, she won’t tell me what’s wrong.
“Do you need medicine?” I ask.
“No,” she chokes out. “I need you to leave me alone and let me sleep, please.”
“Or I can lay with you while you sleep,” I say, refusing to give up. I climb into her bed and wrap my arms around her from behind. At first, she stiffens at my touch, but after a few moments, she sighs and lets me hold her until she falls asleep.
February
Senior Year
“I’d let you live here,” Tori says, “but Glen would never allow it.” Her words are slurred from the liquor she’s been consuming and the weed we’ve been smoking.
I turned eighteen a few days ago, and the people who foster me made it clear I need to move out sooner rather than later since the money is about to stop, and as long as I’m there, they can’t take in a younger kid, who will bring in more money. The state spouted some bullshit about helping me transition, but the last thing I want is any help from the same people who stuck me with that shitty-ass couple.
“It’s all good,” I tell her, kissing the corner of her mouth. “I’ll figure something out.”
“We could get our own place,” she says, perking up. “We could get jobs and find a small apartment…”
“While going to school and playing in the band?” I shake my head. “We’d never make enough money. Besides, you’re still seventeen, so there’s no way your parents will let you move out. They’d kill us both.”
Despite Tori trying to keep me away from her parents, I’ve been forced into several situations where we’re all together during the past few months. While they seem nice, I’ve learned they can’t stand me—especially her stepdad—and are hella strict. And not just like with a curfew, but about everything. Tori wants to go to school for dance, but her parents told her she’ll be going for business, or they’ll cut her off completely. They have no idea she’s a cheerleader or that I’m in a band. They’d probably lock her ass up and stop her from seeing me altogether if they knew.
“Yeah,” Tori mutters. “So what are you going to do?” She looks at me with glassy, sad eyes, and I pull her into my arms to kiss her soft lips. When we first started dating, Tori didn’t smoke or drink, but now, it seems like she’s high and drunk more than she’s not. But since I am too, I guess I don’t really have any room to judge.
“I just need to get through the next few months, and then, if all goes well, we’ll be heading to LA.” Tori’s made it clear that she has no desire to major in business, and since she turns eighteen at the end of July, I told her she should just follow us over to the West Coast once she’s legal and her parents can’t give her any shit.
“I wish we could go now,” she says softly. “I hate it here.”
“In your pool house that your maid cleans and stocks with fresh food?” I joke. “There could be worse living conditions…”
“Fuck you, Gage,” she snaps, sitting up and pushing me away. “You don’t know anything about my life, so before you talk shit, maybe you should know the facts.”
“Then tell me,” I say, not shocked by her attitude. Tori’s been lashing out at everyone in her life lately—especially me, since I’m the one around her the most—but she won’t tell me what’s going on. She just smokes and drinks, and once in a great while, she’ll fuck me.
“I need to go,” she says instead of answering. “My mom’s having a stupid dinner for her birthday, and if I’m not there…” She doesn’t finish her sentence. Instead, she stands and stumbles toward the bathroom. “You can see yourself out.”
I sigh, wishing she would speak to me but knowing she won’t. After getting dressed, I head over to Camden’s, where his mom tells me I can stay with them as long as I promise not to smoke or drink in the house. I respect Sophia and Easton too much to ever do that shit around them, so I have no problem agreeing.
May
Senior Year
“I’m worried about Tori.” I’m sitting in her parents’ living room. It’s the middle of the school day, but I took off so I could meet with them without Tori knowing. She’s spiraling out of control, and I’m worried about her. She’s stopped going to cheer, doesn’t hang with her friends as much, and barely speaks to me. I don’t know what’s going on or how to help her. I know her parents can’t stand me, but they love her, and I’m hoping they’ll listen.