What Lurks Beneath the Surface ✔️

chapter twenty-eight

I lie on Kira's bed, my phone in my hand as I check my email for the dozenth time today.

I sent out my Columbia application two weeks ago, thirteen minutes before the deadline. Now it's just a waiting game, and I'm already failing miserably. My impatience will be the death of me, I swear.

My father's departure gave me what I needed to end my short story. Angel's dad, Brendon, left town but not her life. They vowed to continue getting to know each other via phone, without the constant interference of their friends and family. She still didn't trust him, and she certainly didn't forgive him, but he showed her that he wasn't a monster. That he was capable of change. That there were rays of light poking through the cracks of his dark heart.

And just like Angel, I intend to keep my guard up, but that doesn't lessen the excitement I feel when his name flashes on my phone.

"So he's really gone?" Kira flops down beside me. "Like, gone for good?"

"Gone for a while," I reply, unsure if he would dare step foot in this city again.

"Good riddance!" my best friend exclaims.

"Yeah, yeah," I brush her off, refreshing my inbox again. Still nothing from Columbia.

"What happened with Alyx and Clem?" Kira inquires.

"Alyx decided she was better off without him in her life—or in Clem's. When Clem is older, she can choose if she wants to have a relationship with him," I explain. "Plus, Alyx didn't want to fuck up her marriage more than she already had."

"Don't blame her. Shamus is hot," Kira purrs.

"Eww! He's like an uncle to me!" I shriek.

"Speaking of uncles, Bowie is pretty—"

"Stop!" I throw a pillow at her head, preventing her from finishing that disturbing sentence. "You better get over your dad fetish before you go to college, or else all the UIC professors are going to have restraining orders against you."

"Actually, about that...." Wearing an apprehensive expression, she turns to face me. "Vange, I'm not going to UIC."

My jaw drops. "Wh-what? Why? That was your dream!"

"It was our dream," she corrects me, "and then you met Rem and applied to schools in New York. I'm not mad, for the record, but I sure as hell am not staying here without you."

I feel a pang of guilt. Between my growing relationship with Rem and the drama with my dad, I put Kira on the back burner. I completely disregarded our post-high school plan—a plan we've had since we were freshmen.

And to make it worse, she never, not once, complained. She never resented me. She isn't even angry. I'd feel less shitty if she weren't such a damn good friend.

"Kira, I'm sorry," I whisper.

"Vange, I'm not mad," she repeats. "You've had the senior year from hell. If the idea of a future with Rem in the Big Apple brings you even the tiniest modicum of joy, you should do it."

I nod my head in response, still unable to forgive myself.

"Besides," she continues, "I'm going to California."

"That's... far away," I mumble, bowing my head. "Why Cali?"

"My dad lives out there," she says with a shrug.

"You hate your dad."

"Yes, but he's Mr. Money Bags. If I go to school out west, he'll pay."

"I can see why that offer would be hard to resist."

"Trust me, I'm not happy about it," she replies, "but it's what I have to do."

"Kira—"

"Before you get all sad on me, just know that this is something I've been considering for a while," she cuts in. "Like, before you and Rem even got together. And I've already planned everything out! I'll spend Christmas break in New York with you, and you and Rem can visit me in LA for spring break." Smiling, she nudges my arm. "We're gonna be okay, Vangey Pants. Don't you worry."

"It just feels like the beginning of the end," I say. "I know we have until September, but—"

"June, actually," she mutters. "One of Daddy Dearest's conditions was that I spend the summer with him and my twenty-six-year-old step mom. Gross."

"Rem and I have discussed moving out to New York right after graduation," I admit. "Assuming I get into Columbia, that is."

"Which you will!"

"I appreciate your optimism."

"What are best friends for?" She pulls me into a one-armed hug, tipping her head so that her forehead touches mine. "I love you, Vange."

"Love you more," I murmur, feeling both happy and sad all at the same time.

Kira and I decide to distract ourselves with a movie. We browse through Netflix and select a film, although neither of us pay attention to the people on the screen. My mind is consumed by thoughts of real-life people, and how in a few short months, I might be leaving all of them.

<>*<>*<>*<>*<>

The next several weeks pass by simultaneously too fast and too slow. I want time to freeze so I can cherish these precious moments with Kira and my family, but I'm dying to hear back from Columbia. It's almost March now. Shouldn't I have heard something?

Maybe my grades aren't good enough. Maybe my short story wasn't good enough.

Maybe I'm not good enough.

An incoming text chases the negative thoughts away. Grinning like an idiot, I stare at my phone.

Benson: Hey, Vange! Hope all is well. I finally found a beautiful two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan. Pics to come. Miss you!

"Miss you, too, Dad," I murmur.

I leave the device on my bed and venture downstairs. To my surprise, Alyx and Shamus are here.

"Hey, guys! Where's Clementine?" I greet them. "I haven't seen that little firecracker in a while."

Immediately, Alyx bursts into tears.

"Vange, can you go back upstairs?" Gram asks, pulling a distraught Alyx into her arms.

"What's wrong?" I whisper, ignoring her request. "Is Clem okay?"

Alyx sobs harder. Grandpa takes my hand and leads me outside.

"Vange," he begins, "Clem is missing."

My eyes turn into saucers. "Missing?"

"The school called Alyx earlier. She never came in from recess. It's like... like she... disappeared," he chokes out, resting his hand over his heart, grimacing like a man in pain.

"Grandpa? What's happen—?"

He falls to the ground, his body smacking against the pavement with an awful thud.

I kneel down beside him.

I check his pulse.

"Call nine-one-one!" I cry out.

Wake up, Grandpa. Please.

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