Page 8 of The Monster I Am
I should have followed her.
After she sauntered off, making that damn comment about not wearing any underwear, it took everything in my willpower not to chase after her through the sea of bodies.
Tai had begged me for the first dance on the way to the academy, so begrudgingly, I watched her leave, knowing he’d be close by waiting.
It was a simple miscommunication. I ran into him outside, the two of us laughing about being on the same wavelength when we crossed paths on the football field, thinking we were doing the other one a solid.
When we finally decided to head back inside, it took way too long for me to check my phone when I couldn’t find her. It never occurred to me that something could go down and she would take off to Cedar Heights. I assumed she was hiding somewhere with her friends, enjoying the dance.
And it still haunts me.
Bex: Dickhead Lannister and I are on our way to Cedar. We suspect someone might be trying to start arson attempt 2.0.
When Hunter didn’t answer my call, I wasn’t worried at first. Well, it did cross my mind for a brief moment that perhaps I’d walk in and find them both on the verge of a mutual homicide attempt but that’s just a normal Friday. Easy peasy.
But then Hunter called and said they were trapped inside the burning building.
Even still, I was somewhat calm. After all, there’s nothing we can’t fix or sort out. We’re the Kings of Willowbrook. It’s my job to deal with situations like that. I immediately started directing Tai, making calls, and working on a plan. Everything would be fine.
The severity and seriousness didn’t quite register until Bexley said those final words to us.
“Look after yourselves. Tell everyone we love them.”
She was saying goodbye. She was telling me she was about to die.
Fuck.
We were so close. Why wasn’t I faster? I’m supposed to befast.
“You look like shit.”
I barely hear the words, pausing in the parking lot to remove my earbuds. Tai is standing next to my truck, phone in hand with the screen facing up.
“Stalking me again?”
He nods. “It brings me such joy.”
Our usual banter is devoid of the playful and expressive emotion that would usually accompany it. But to everyone else, they probably wouldn’t notice.
“This is early for you,” I remark, trying to catch my breath.
Tai gives me a tight smile. “Maybe I’m just an early bird now.”
“Couldn’t sleep?”
“Not a wink.”
I let out a sigh, leaning against the cool metal. “At least it’s Friday. Just one more day of this bullshit.”
“I can’t believe it’s been a whole week,” Tai says quietly. “Feels like forever but also—”
“Like it happened last night,” I finish for him, understanding completely.
The past week has been a blur of appearances. We’ve just gone through the motions of turning up at the academy every day, stoic and unfazed. I had hoped that by doing so, I’d be able to keep a watch on everyone, maybe spot suspicious behavior. But unless I’m way off course, no one is a frontrunner in the list of suspects yet.
It’s frustrating. Someone must know something.
From what we’ve been told, someone from Cedar Heights overheard a private conversation during the dance which spurred Bexley into action.
