Sabrina McLain:
Lilly Nicole Porter and I
ate lunch together today.
That was usual.
We didn't talk much.
Also usual.
But what was unusual?
Kyle didn't sit with us.
He sat with Fiona Shaw
and Diane Ginnis.
He sat with the popular people.
He sat with the people
that he sat with before he met me.
I couldn't take my eyes off of him.
My fingers gripped my sandwich,
leaving oval-shaped depressions
in my bread where
my deathgrip flattened it down.
My food tasted like nothing.
I watched as his arm
found its way easily
around Fiona's shoulders.
I watched as they flirted.
I watched his sweet, sweet smile
as it flashed...
at her.
I watched them laughing
and talking
and being together.
Two beautiful people.
Both blonde.
Both popular.
Even though I hated to admit it
and even though
Kyle was
MINE
they looked good together.
Like they belonged together.
Lilly Nicole Porter
didn't say anything,
but she hated Kyle for what
he was doing.
So did I.
I thought he liked me...
loved me?
He kissed me!
He held my hand!
He hugged me!
He treated me
like a boyfriend
treats his girlfriend.
But apparently I didn't mean much
at least to him
because there he sat...
next to Fiona.
My hands tingled
at the memory
of his fingers twined with mine.
My lips tingled
at the memory
of his own lips touching mine.
My heart tingled
and burned
and festered
at the memory
of his own heart beating
in tempo with mine.
I finally just gave up on lunch.
I told Lilly Nicole Porter
where I was going,
gave her a goodbye hug,
and left.
As I passed the popular table,
Fiona looked up.
She glared warning daggers at me,
contempt dripping from her false smile.
Kyle didn't look up at all.
***
I went to the nurse's office
and slept
until five minutes
before school let out.
I spent those five minutes
wandering the halls
until the bell rang.
I rode the bus home
in silence.
I arrived at home.
Mom wasn't home.
Baylee was.
We didn't speak.
But she showed me her forearm.
The scratch has gone from
grisly, garish red
to a pale, pale white.
Soon it will fade into her natural skin color.
Soon it will all be a memory.
Just like Kyle.
YOU ARE READING
Dissipate: Book Two
Short StoryThe sequel to "Unnatural" this book is about Sabrina's life after another death. Sabrina is still writing to Jennah, her dead older sister, and Sabrina has a lot to write about. Her mother's so-called "friend from work" is suddenly her new boyfriend...
