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Chapter 26
When I was young, I always wanted to climb the clothesline in Grandma's backyard. She had a dryer and never used the thing. The lines strung across drooped and were worn down by the weather, and the two white poles stood like a playground. There was a flat part on top of the poles. I wanted to climb up and sit on top and stare out at the trees. So, one day, when grandma and my mom were busy inside, I went out and dragged a lawn chair to the pole and set it against it. I got up and reached to the horizontal bit. Managing to grasp it, I jumped and struggled to pull my body up. It was a balancing act, but I didn't fall. When I actually did it, when I sat up there like a perched bird, I watched the trees as I hoped to.
The high branches swayed in the wind. The sound of the leaves reminded me of waves. If I wasn't afraid of slipping off, I would have shut my eyes and imagined myself on the be
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Waindale Chapter 27
I wake suddenly with a dry throat. My blankets lay heavily on me, suffocating me, so I shove them off, feeling the air cool down my hot limbs. The clock reads12:04 p.m.; how did I sleep for so long?The smell from my nightmare lingers in my bedroom, making me sick. I can still feel its teeth grazing against my shoulder before chomping down and startling me awake. I knew I wouldn't be able to let go of the rogue. No matter what Adam tells me, nothing will calm my nerves. It's in my dreams now. It won't leave me alone.My stomach aches and I know it's because I miss him. It took me hours just to fall asleep last night, having to ignore the longing that's like a stone in my chest. How long has it been since I stayed the night at his house? Almost two days. I used to last longer than this, but things are different now. I feel
Waindale Chapter 28
Seeing him makes me emotional. Everything from Friday night comes flooding back."How did this happen?" Adam asks. He comes to the bed and takes off his jacket and then his shirt. He kicks off his shoes and lifts up the blankets."We were at the beach. I fell in the water."Adam comes under and I try to not fixate on his bareness. "Come on," he says and takes off my mittens. He sets my chilled hands against his chest and my eyes open wide.Instinctively, I bring my cheek against his skin and bask in the warmth. I swiftly pull off my socks and my extra shirts and pair of pants. Not caring about our intimacy, I press every bit of my body against him and cling to him like a child to a leg. His arm comes around me and I rest my head on hi
Waindale Chapter 29
"I thought we agreed that it was best to keep her out of this," I say.I follow my mom as she leads me to the living room. Adam is close behind me, and when we enter, grandma is sat there alone. "Your friends said that they would reach you later," my mom says. "I think we need to have this talk alone."I face Adam, my chest rising and falling like the waves I tumbled into. Grandma looks up at me from the couch. She doesn't give away anything on her face, so I hesitantly sit on the adjacent loveseat. Mom joins her, and Adam—me. I feel as if I have been called to the dean's office. The only thing keeping me from dashing out the front door is Adam's presence.I watch grandma with big, innocent eyes—the ones I used to pull when I was younger and in trouble. "They told you?" I a
Waindale Chapter 30
I take a seat up front as my mind swims in ideas and day-dreams of my weekend with Adam. My mom came into my bedroom as I was getting ready this morning. She sat on the edge of my unmade bed and watched as I made sure I had everything necessary—and arguably unnecessary—packed in my suitcase. We talked a little. It wasn't like our usual sarcastic banters, but rather deep and blunt. Since I felt guilty about my fib regarding the status of Adam and my relationship, I decided to fill her in a little. I even told her that Adam and I haven't doneanythingyet, but the message was masked by other words yet clear from context. I told her that we were taking it steady, and this seemed to settle her nerves.Although I have stayed the night at his house before, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous myself. Last time things didn't go exactly as I planned, but worryin
Waindale Chapter 31
Adam carries my bag inside and up the stairs. I follow as we pass many doors which I know lead to bedrooms, but unlike last time, one door is open that has always been closed. Unaware, I glance inside as we pass, but the contents of the room bring me to a stop. Adam soon realizes that I'm not with him, and he turns.My hand pushes the door further open. It's a boy's room—that's clear. Not a little boy, but what I would assume to be a teenage boy's room. "What is this?" I ask Adam."That was my brother's room," he says.My hand springs from the door as if it has suddenly become searing hot. "Oh, sorry," I mutter and quickly bring the door to its previous position.We enter the master bedroom and he places my bag down for me to un
Waindale Chapter 32
I sit against the front door, enveloped in my blanket, waiting without a drop of patience in my being. The tile floor is hard and cold, but I've adapted to the discomfort and stopped caring about my numb toes. My mind is conjuring all sorts of things I want to shout at him. There are so many things that I can't seem to decide what to say first. Maybe how it's our first night as people that live partially together, and he's abandoned me on this special marker. Maybe how this is the second time he's done this—left with little to no explanation—and all I can do is worry until he comes back, if he does. Maybe how I'm in this house all alone and something could happen to me; he must have left for a reason.My fingernails dig unconsciously into my palms as my eyes stay fixated on the ground. Sounds come from outside then, and I perk up like a dog who's been waiting for their owner
Waindale Chapter 33
"Hey, Kid."Glancing up from the nest of blankets and pillows and clothes that I've made myself on my bed, I see my mother walk into my shadowy room. She comes to my depressed, laying figure, urges me to scoot over, then sits beside me."Grandma told me that you aren't feeling good today. That's okay. Missing one day of school here and there; it won't hurt," she says and brushes the top of my head with her fingers. "I just wanted to check-in. Grandma said she'll make you something to eat if you're hungry."I shake my head."Maybe later then. You know, this reminds me of when you were younger. Before bed, I used to read you stories and we'd be sat like this. I would read and play with your hair and you'd be out in minutes. Remember? We
Waindale Chapter 34
I sit in the corner of the shower and watch the tips of my fingers shift from blue as they warm. The water falls onto my legs from above like a million little punches or swift, passionate kisses. My head is clearing now. The fog has drifted and it's easier to think.I can feel Adam's presence on the other side of the bathroom door. I'm conflicted once again; half of me wants him to hold me and run his hand down my hair, but the other half wants to remain cold. Although I was falling to pieces, it was easier without him. My purpose was clear—last as long as you can. My purpose isn't clear now. I don't know what to do, so I sit here and watch my hands like a mermaid studies her new legs."Wrenley," I hear him call, his voice low and worn-down. "Will you come out of the bathroom?"H
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