The Enemy Lives Next Door (bxb)

Part Ten

Part Ten

•••

It's unusual for Lilly to be this late. She's never missed an appointment, so I'm immediately skeptical about why she's running behind. Moments later, she texts me saying she can't make it.

I groan loudly and stomp out of my room to find my brother. He's lounging on the couch, scooping cereal into his mouth while his eyes are glued to the TV.

He glances up when he senses me and offers a half-hearted smile. "What's up?" he asks, continuing to eat.

"The sky," I reply, wittily to myself, and sit down next to him. "That's what's up."

Gale rolls his eyes. "It's the ceiling, actually." His usual green eyes seem darker, and his irises are tiny. "What do you want?" he asks, cutting straight to the point.

I gawk at him. Someone's in a mood. I ruffle his brown shaggy hair. "Who says I want anything, my dear brother?"

He gives me a look that says, don't bullshit me. I sigh and slump back on the couch. "Fine. I need a ride to school, and Lilly won't be able to pick me up."

Gale groans. "Why don't you ask Liam? I've got stuff to do this morning, and I'm picking someone up, so I can't."

Intrigued, I ask, "who are you picking up?"

He shakes his head. "No one important," he says casually, biting his lip. He's lying; he always bites his lip when he's not telling the truth.

I'll have to find out what he's hiding. For now, though, I'm stuck without a ride to school. This just sucks. I seriously need to get my driver's license and gain some independence.

Suddenly, a yellow bus drives by. I jump up, grab my backpack from the table, and dash out of the house. I run down the driveway and into the street, waving my arms frantically.

Yeah, my Monday definitely sucks.

I stand by my locker, waiting for my friends. Maya arrives first, her brows knitted in confusion. "Lilly isn't here yet?" she asks, pulling me into a hug and ruffling my hair.

Her denim two-piece and knee-length boots add to her discontent. "Lilly is never late."

A knot tightens in my stomach. "Maybe she's stuck in traffic," Maya suggests, sighing. "Or maybe she got pulled over."

"Why would she get pulled over?" I lean against the locker, arms crossed.

Maya tucks a strand of wavy black hair behind her ear. "I might have left some cannabis in the trunk."

I stare at her, my mouth dropping open. "You did what?" I exclaim. She blinks, looking too innocent. "If she's in jail, I might never see her again."

Maya smacks me lightly on the back of the head. "That's your worry? She'll have a record, and her career might—"

As Maya rants about worst-case scenarios, I scan the hallway, my eyes searching for Lilly. Maya's hand on my shoulder brings me back. "She'll show up. And besides, if I can't find a boyfriend, I might as well end my life," she jokes, resting her head on my shoulder. "I'm even on Tinder."