Page 37 of Stages

Me

You two are terrible

Zayne

And then I ran over his childhood cat while learning how to drive

Me

YOU WHAT?!?!?

Zayne

It was an accident

Like I would kill a cat on purpose

Me

ZAYNE

Zayne

And what were the odds that the cat ended up being his

Me

I CAN NEVER LOOK AT YOU THE SAME WAY AGAIN

Zayne

Oh come on. It was an accident.

Me

I think he may be warranted in hating you after all.

Zayne

I said sorry

Me

There is no apology good enough for such a thing.

Zayne?

Okay fine. It was an accident.

You there?

Great, Dot. You offended him.I bite my lip and sit up in bed. Reaching for my nightstand, I tap my gold, stiletto-shaped nightlight, adjusting it with my touch until my room is basked in a dim, warm glow.

I reread our messages to make sure I wasn’t too mean when he finally responds a few minutes later.

Zayne

Sorry, Lenny just came in here asking me to silence my phone. He said the sound was carrying over to his room and influencing his dreams