||YA ROMANCE Book of the Month August 2023||
YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE!
Aurora "Rori" Callaway is starting her senior year in a new town, at a new high school. After all, after what happened at the beginning of her summer, a fresh start was the only way f...
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I felt bile rise in my throat at his confession. Not here. I felt terrible. I had written him off as someone who didn't know what the touch of death felt like. Someone who could never understand the indescribable pain that it left.
"I'm so sorry to hear that."
I knew it wasn't enough. I knew that no words could ever dig you out of the deep pit grief deposits you in.
Andrew seemed confused, "What?"
"About your parents," I clarified, feeling bad that I had to keep bringing it up. "I'm sorry they're not here."
"Thanks?" He still had a confused expression, "But I mean, most parents work. I'm pretty used to it after seventeen years."
I felt my whole face redden as I realized what he meant by not here.
"Oh my God!" I buried my face in my hands.
Andrew sputtered, obviously trying to stifle a laugh. It didn't work, because soon he was practically wheezing.
"It's not funny!"
I desperately wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole.
"It's kind of funny." Andrew chuckled.
I kept my face buried and didn't say anything.
"It's not a big deal." I felt his hand wrap around my wrist as he shook me, "It's nice of you to care."
I still didn't budge.
"Come on Rori." Andrew begged, "I swear it's no big deal."
I sighed and removed my hands. I knew my face was horrifically red but he didn't give me much of a choice. The truth was, I could either live with my hands buried in my hands in his bean bag chair or just get through this homework session.
I ultimately chose the latter hoping that it would go quickly and I could get out of there.
"Let's just work." I began to pull some books out of my backpack, "Do you have your five pages of notes for me to review?"
He nodded, giving way for our usual project-partner-relationship to come back out. I had to admit that over the weeks he had been, for the most part, good about not stepping outside the box we had labelled ourselves.
Andrew handed me his notes and I gave him mine. We sat quietly as we reviewed each other's work.
"What?" Andrew's voice made me lookup.
I furrowed my brows.
"Your face keeps twisting," he commented.
"Twisting?"
"Yeah like..." He made a face that looked almost disgustingly surprised.
"I don't think my face is doing that." I countered.
