But I wasn’t okay. Not anymore. I was lost, fallen completely into some feeling I wasn’t ready for. Somehow, our fingers fit so perfectly together, like they were created only for this purpose. I was the lock and he was the only key. How would I ever come back from this? “No. I’m not okay.”
“Let me tell you something.” David edged a little closer. “And I say this as your friend, Ara.”
I braced myself.
He brushed my ponytail over my shoulder, the softness of his touch sending a shiver down my neck. “Your scars make no difference to the way I see you. I know you’re afraid that you aren’t good enough for me, but how could I ever look past those eyes long enough to see scars?”
I half smiled, rolling my face downward; he’d been allowed to look at them longer than anyone so far. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
His fingers tightened on mine. “Because I like you.”
Behind me, the swing stirred gently in the breeze, and the golden glow of sunset surrounded the sky in a blanket of soft pink and purple clouds, making his eyes dark and shadowed. “Why do you like me?”
“Because you’re funny, cute, sweet, smart—”
I scoffed at that one; he smiled.
“You’re, believe it or not, actually quite witty and, from what I can tell after this short period of time, I have a lot more in common with you than any other girl I’ve ever spoken to.”
“Not hard since you never talk to girls.”
He shook his head, smiling as he ran his fingers down my ponytail. “I feel a connection to you, Ara—one I’ve not felt before.”
“Connection?”
“I—” He kind of laughed, looking past me for a second. “I think we roll on the same wavelength, if you know what I mean.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “I think I know exactly what you mean.”
He looked up from my lips. “You wanna know something else, pretty girl?”
“Only if I’m going to like what you have to say.”
His serious eyes warmed, a wide smile showing his teeth again. “I think I like holding your hand.”
Chapter Seven
The rain passed left a chill that made my toes cold under the strappy shoes. I hugged my arms across my chest, making myself small as I passed a group of obviously drunk boys.
“Hey.” One of them broke from the cluster.
“Oh, hey.” I waved, glad it was only Mark from school.
“What you doin’ out this late?” he said, but kind of kept walking past me.
“Just headed home.”
“You want a ride?” He motioned behind him to his group of mates.
“Nah. I’m gonna call my mum.”
“Okay.” He nodded and turned back, jumping into the huddle as I headed for the corner store, where the only pay phone still in existence resided. The flickering light beamed down on me inside the booth, making my skin almost blue. I picked up the receiver with two fingers and held it just beside my face, not touching my cheek, then dialled reverse charges; it picked up in two rings.
“Mum?”
“Ara-Rose?” she sounded groggy and confused.
“Yeah, it’s me. Um—” My lip quivered. “Can you come get me?”
“Why?”
“I’m at a pay phone. Can you please just come get me?” I burst into tears.
“What happened? Why are you crying?” Her voice became clear with panic as she threw a dozen questions at me.
“I...I had a fight with Mike.”
“Mike? What were you doing at Mike’s? I thought you were at Kate’s.”
“I was, Mum. Okay. I don’t wanna talk about it. Can you just come get me?”
“Ara-Rose. It’s the middle of the night. I just got Harry down again and he’s—”
“Mum!” I yelled down the line, holding the grotty phone in a tighter grip. “It’s three in the morning. I’m cold and tired and—”
“Ara, just...” She let out a breath. “Hang up, okay, I’ll call Mike. He can come—”
“No, Mum. Don’t. Please don’t. I don’t wanna see him.”
“Why, honey, what happened?”
“Nothing,” I practically screamed, my tears coming out in streams. “Just come get me.”
“Harry’s sick, Ara.” She went quiet. “He shouldn’t go out at this time of night. You know I care about you and, quite frankly, I’m terrified of the fact that I don’t know where you are. I mean, I’m guessing you’re on a pay phone, aren’t you?”
“Mm-hm.” I sniffled, wiping my cheeks.
“Honey, you’re seventeen now. You’re too old for this. Just stop being a baby and go back to Mike’s. I’ll come get you first thing in the morning.”
“No!” I held the phone right in front of my lips to make my voice as clear as the goddamn day. “I am never going back there, Mum. Never. If you don’t come get me, I’ll hitchhike home.”
“Please, honey, just—”
“Fine. I’m hanging up,” I said. “I see a car.” I didn’t see a car. “I’m sticking my thumb out, Mum. I’m doing it.”
“All right. Okay. I’ll come get you. Just—just stay there, okay?”
“Okay.” I calmed instantly.
“Where are you?”
“The corner store.”
“Ronnie’s?” she screeched. “Ara, that’s three blocks away. You can walk that.”
“I’m scared, Mum. And I’m...I’m wearing heels.”
It clicked then. I knew it did. I knew she knew the only reason I’d be wearing heels when I was supposed to be at a sleepover would be if I wasn’t at a sleepover.
“Just stay there, Ara-Rose. And by God, child, you are in a world of trouble when we get home.” She hung up.
I held the phone for another few seconds, resting my head on the glass, feeling the swirl of alcohol mix in my system with fear, making me want to puke. But when I opened my eyes again, daylight flooded my world; it took a second for my eyes to adjust—to see the dresser mirror on the other side of the room, the yellow walls, the white door and the new morning greeting me. And I could still feel her; still feel her voice in my ears.
I smoothed the covers out on top of me and let the proverbial rock on my chest keep me in place, on my back, unable to breathe.
Downstairs, Dad’s burly laughter rose above the clatter of Vicki making breakfast, arguing about something with Sam.