Wingless, book 1 of Wingless Series

Window

I'm looking at myself in the mirror and I have to admit I look lost—and full of worry.

I need a release and I need to convince myself that I'm not lying to Evan I am trying to have fun.

I feel suffocated. I need a break before things go bad.

I sit down on the edge of our bathtub, trying to come up with a plan to get out of Piper without anyone catching on. I wonder what Evan will think about me taking off without telling him. Would he send a bunch of goons after me like Kenny did Ari? I couldn't imagine it going that far, I am after all coming back.

"You can do this. It's fine," I tell myself, my heart pounding.

I feel like I am escaping from prison. And now I am mad, I shouldn't feel bad about seeing my best friend. I'm not doing anything wrong. So what if I have to go behind his back to do it. This will show him that I am my own person and that he has to respect my choices.

I walk down the sidewalk heading through the neighborhood to the nearest gates. My flip flops are making all kinds of unnecessary noise as I hurry to get out of Piper.

As soon as I am out of the gates I dial Vanessa and tell her to come get me. I can't walk all the way back to town.

She agrees to come not asking why I am farther away from home than the last time she saw me.

I take my jacket off and sit down on the ground to wait. I already feel better. I'm still doing what I want to do. It's not Evan's fault he fell in love with a normal girl like me. I will have to find a way to keep my new life separate from my old one.

Vanessa's car stops in the middle of the road.

"Dude, why are you on the side of the road?" she says, shaking her head at me.

"I wasn't sure if you would find the place," I lie, throwing my jacket in the backseat.

"Okay, but it still seems weird. You looked like you were escaping from prison. Are you sure you can go?"

"It's fine," I assure her turning on the radio.

***

We pull into our old high school parking lot. Vanessa says it's easier to walk from the parking lot to the party.

She fluffs her hair, blowing her bangs out of her eyes in a hurry to get there.

I don't care about what I look like. I'm not trying to catch the attention of anyone at the party.

Besides, when I go to parties with Vanessa I stick with her the entire night. For fear she will get drunk and do something she regrets.

"Did you see Josh?" she says, as we lean against the wall. There are hundreds of people packed into the old Victorian style home. The music is loud I can barely hear my own thoughts let alone what Vanessa is trying to tell me.

"This place is an accident waiting to happen," I tell her.

The more people crowding in the small living room the more I think this is a bad idea.

"Here." Vanessa jabs the flask into my side.

"I can't," I say.

She doesn't hear me, she eggs me on. I roll my eyes taking a long swig. The taste of vodka hits the back of my throat. My eyes water, I hand it back. She smiles pleased the old Eve is back.