"There's a word I found recently. Evanescence. It made me think of you. It made me think of us. Were we just a dream, Sebastian?"
TW : Key themes of suicide and trauma.
WARNING: This is Book Two. Please read "affluenza" first to avoid any spoilers...
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this is my favorite chapter ever okay bye
I TAP MY fingers against the dashboard, inhaling sharply through my nose as Roman drives speedily down the freeway. We were headed back to Malibu after spending Sunday hanging out with Eden and Isla. I came to like Eden too, falling for her infectious laugh and quick humor. But I still couldn't shake off the conversation Roman and I had in the bathroom yesterday.
There was a weird sort of atmosphere between us, though this felt different than any arguments we'd had before. Maybe it was because this wasn't an argument. Maybe it was just two people realizing that they cared too much about one another all too late.
Summer was almost over. All I could think of was how many days we had wasted, in arguments, in disagreements. Me hiding my feelings, me shutting down. And now things would be ending soon. What was I to do then?
"Will you come to Oba's wedding?" I ask suddenly. Roman's eyes snap toward me in surprise. I don't blame him. I hadn't spoken in at least an hour.
He bristles. "Have you talked to her? Since the other day?"
I shake my head. "I haven't. I just need my time, she knows that. Anyways, I wouldn't miss the wedding for anything. Doesn't matter if we're fighting or not."
"Because you love her?" he asks, glancing over at me from the road.
"Because I love her," I agree, bringing my knees to my chest. I couldn't help but feel like we were talking about something different, something completely unrelated to my aunt.
Roman stares at me for just a moment longer before looking away. "Then, I'll be there."
We drive in silence for a little while and pretty soon the freeways turn to streets. Only, the street that Roman's taking isn't the one to get to his place. I crane my neck, looking out the window as we pass another unfamiliar street. "Hey, I think you made a wrong turn," I call out.
Roman smirks softly. "No," he murmurs. "I don't think so."
Roman drives and drives a little longer and it's abundantly clear that we're not going to his house. I'm not even sure if we were in Malibu.
He pulls the car up to an area of green surrounded by what looked like rock pools, parking next to a large tree that definitely was not meant to be a parking spot. "Rome?" I call out, confused.
He turns to me, a twinkle in his eye. "You coming, or what?"
I stare up at the dark blue sky, the sun quickly disappearing into the dark. Sketchy lake with a guy I just started to get to know in the dark? Count me in.
I climb out of the car and follow Roman as he walks with ease over the dirt and rocks. He stops in front of a large one before grabbing his shirt and pulling it over his head. I'm briefly dazzled by the ridges along his chest before thinking better of it. "Did you want to have sex on this dirty rock?" I ask, eyebrows raised. "What are we doing here?"
