Parachute [Book 4]

Chapter 30 - The Calculation

“Still in Lima and husband-less.” Marley sighed to herself as we walked through the double doors of the school together. She looked around the hallway, smiling slightly to herself as she reached for her back pack, quickly realizing it wasn’t there. I laughed quietly at her and looked down at my feet, dragging them along the ground.

Ryder had left for New York again and Marley was surprisingly calm. She had kissed Ryder and they had shared a really depressing yet sweet conversation about how much they loved each other and how they were going to miss living with each other for a while. Ryder had also smiled as he hugged Marley a final time, loudly whispering, “And when you get back, you’re going to audition for American Idol,” which had sent Marley into happy, hysterical tears.

While Melissa – who was also there to farewell Ryder – had calmed down Marley, Ryder pulled me away from the other two and gave me a big hug. He had kissed my cheek after pulling away and apologized for leaving when I probably needed comfort the most. I had waved it off and gave him another hug, telling him I would call him if I needed to chat.

It had been a day since he left, and I felt like calling him just to scream out my frustration at him… and to make things worse, the winter break was over and we had to go back to school. 

Luckily Marley had decided she would come to school with me and follow me around all day (which I was fairly sure wasn’t allowed). I was thankful for her decision to follow me around because I would have been so disappointed if she decided to go home with Ryder. Then again, I would have no one.

Well, except for Melissa.

“Hey, how weird is this?” Marley said to me as I turned down the hallway to my locker. Melissa was already there, on the phone and smiling brightly. From that. I knew it was Riley calling her. I felt sick at the sight – why couldn’t Jake call me?

I turned to Marley, stopping myself from walking forward. “What’s weird?”

“It’s weird that we’re both in Lima together, and we both don’t have our boyfriends... well husbands here.”

I cringed at her words, facing away and glancing down the over-filled hallways. “Please don’t even mention it, Marley. You’re okay about Ryder being in New York because you can go back to him, and I can’t go to Jake any time soon.”

Marley wrapped her arms around my waist, pulling me towards her. “Sorry.” She whispered into my shoulder, swaying me from side to side.

I managed a laugh and I shoved her off of me. “You’re a weird girl, Marley Lynn.” I poked the tip of her nose softly before walking to my locker again.

Melissa was leaned up metal, smiling towards the ceiling. I couldn’t tell what she was saying until I got really close, and I almost vomited right then and there. It was so cheesy. “No, Riley, I love you more.”

Marley ran up behind me, tugging on my bag to keep me with her. Her gaze flicked over to Melissa, who was still arguing with Riley about who loved the other more. Marley leaned over my bag and rested her head on the shoulder of my t-shirt. “Is she seriously having one of those conversations with Riley?”

I gave her a light slap in the face as best as I could without dislocating my elbow to reach her. “You and Ryder used to have conversations like that, too, I’m sure.” I stepped forward to my locker and began spinning in the code. “Plus what she says to Riley is none of your business?”

“Wow, you became defensive.” Marley said. I craned my head to stare at her, and caught her arms crossed over her dangling scarf, her mouth in a hard line.