Love, After Dark

Chapter 22

I pulled up to the curb at Sia’s entrance and barely had the car in park before she was already reaching for the door. “Wait—” I said, watching her shoulder the door open. She stepped out, the morning light hitting her just right. Her hair was already perfect, her confidence dialed up to dangerous levels. She took one step away from the car. I cleared my throat loudly and Sia froze. Slowly, she turned back toward me, eyes dropping to the jacket still sitting on the passenger seat. She sighed like I’d just ruined her entire existence, snatched it up, and threw it over her shoulder with a dramatic eye roll. Then, like nothing had happened, she pretended to fix her hair, squared her shoulders, and walked. She didn’t just walk, she model-walked. Heads turned instantly.

Girls whispered, some staring with open disgust, others with thinly veiled envy. Boys didn’t even pretend to be subtle. One kid on a skateboard stared so hard he completely forgot where he was going and wiped out right in front of the steps. Even the counselor directing student traffic had her mouth hanging open in pure shock at Sia’s outfit choice. I shook my head, rolling my eyes as I pulled away from the curb. Classic Sia.

The middle and high schools were combined into one enormous building, the entrances split on opposite sides. I circled around to my side, scanning for a parking spot. Just as I was about to pull into one, a sleek, expensive Jeep cut in fast, sliding right into it. A group of kids hopped out laughing, not a single one of them bothering to look back or apologize. I exhaled slowly and kept driving. Eventually, I found a decent spot farther down. I parked, grabbed my backpack and keys, and stepped out of the car. The school loomed ahead of me.

Redhaven High was massive. It was elegant in a way that felt intentional, like every detail had been curated. Gardens lined the walkways, fountains bubbling softly between perfectly trimmed hedges. Everything looked brand new, polished, immaculate. It was nothing like Millburn High. Millburn wasn’t bad at all. It was worn-in, familiar. The pavement cracked in places, the design outdated, but it was taken care of with pride. It had history. Heart. This place? This place looked like it could make the White House feel inexpensive. For a moment, homesickness hit me square in the chest. I missed my old lockers, my old routines, the comfort of knowing where I belonged. I missed walking halls where no one stared because I was new. Most of all, I missed my best friend. Kayla was there- every day of every year- ready to face the world with me. I swallowed hard, straightened my shoulders, and lifted my chin. You’ve got this. I walked toward the entrance with a confident smile. Smooth, practiced, convincing. Even if I was the only one who knew I was faking it.