Page 44 of The Design of Goodbye
“That student was me,” he said, indicating to the papers I was holding. “You’re saving me from another lecture about my failure to follow rules and illegible chicken scratch.”
I sat down at a computer behind him and placed the bag of M&M’s on the corner of the desk so we could both reach it. “Fuel,” I said. “Have as many as you want.”
Twenty minutes later, we walked out of the library with Liam’s essay submitted and an almost-empty M&M’s bag.
“Thanks again for your help,” said Liam as the large library doors slammed behind us. “I’ll see you Saturday.”
Students were arriving. I needed to get to class before everyone saw me, but he’d reminded me of something.
“Wait.” I grabbed his wrist to stop him. As he twisted to face me, my grip loosened, and our fingers brushed. My skin burned at the contact. “My dad wants to have you over for dinner on Saturday as a thank-you for tutoring me. You can say no.”
His demeanor brightened. “I never say no to home-cooked meals.”
I smiled, which, after the past twelve hours I’d had, could only be from whatever magic this boy apparently possessed. “What kind of food do you like?”
“Everything. Surprise me.”
chapter seventeen
Ihad a plan.
I was going to Buzz, ordering a large pumpkin spice latte and raspberry cream cheese pastry and then going home to watch reruns ofMyFashion Disasteruntil I stopped thinking about how I’d experienced the worst day of school in my entire life.
And this was quite the accomplishment. In sixth grade, I’d thrown up in my classroom because I’d been nervous about giving a presentation on the solar system. In eighth grade, I’d laughed so hard milk had come out of my nose. Freshman year, I’d fallen down the stairs whilewearing a dress.
All I had to do was go to my locker, grab my stuff, and walk to my car. Tiny steps to a great escape. I was so close. I turned into the senior hallway, my body buzzing with the anticipation of freedom. But then—
Pictures of me wereeverywhere. Taped to lockers, walls, even scattered on the floor.
I couldn’t move.
The floor beneath me was water, and if I moved, I’d sink.
I couldn’t speak.
A sob was trapped in my throat, and if I spoke, I’d set it free and fall apart.
Even in my oversized hoodie and leggings, I was naked. On display. Confused, lost, with absolutely no sense of direction. I didn’t want to leave the pictures, but I couldn’t stay. Icouldn’t. I wasn’t strong enough. I spun around, intent on fleeing, but I stumbled. I didn’t bother trying to brace myself as I fell. This was it. I was going to fall, curl up in a ball, and hope the floor would pull me under.
But instead of falling, I crashed into someone. Someone that smelled like mint and felt like safety.
Liam.
Of course.
Body trembling, I gripped the fabric of his shirt.
“Careful,” he said softly. “Are you—”
I knew what his pause signified: he’d noticed the pictures.
I braced myself for his expression, which would tell me exactly what he thought of me. But when I looked at him—at his clenched jaw and eyes full of fire—I was left speechless for an entirely different reason than before.
He charged toward a locker and started tearing down the pictures with an anger I’d never seen him possess. I wanted to help him, but I couldn’t look at the pictures. Couldn’t touch them. All I could do was stand next to him so I didn’t feel alone.
And then Jules appeared. She always had perfect timing. “Aww,” she cooed. “Look who’s helping you. Isn’t that sweet?”
I wanted to defend myself. But I was a flimsy piece of paper, crumpled and burnt around the edges. All I could do was stare at the girl who I thought was my best friend. She went to say something else, but Tanner, Alex, Bruce, and Spencer walked up.
