I didn’t like this hurt and confusion welling up inside me. It had the definite sting of loneliness, and that was one thing that I had become unprepared for. With everyone I loved immortal, it never occurred to me that I would be left alone.
Heavy footfalls echoed on the boards behind me, and I wiped at my eyes. I didn’t want to cry, let alone have an audience. I kept my arms wrapped around me, and I refused to turn back to see Jack as he came up behind me.
“Alice. It’s really not so bad.”
“No, I know,” I nodded in agreement. My tears stopped enough where I could look at him. “I just wasn’t thinking. If I had been thinking, I would’ve realized that I’d have to go soon.”
“Alice,” he groaned, seeing through me. “It’s for your safety, and ours.”
“No, I know,” I insisted. “I get it. Completely. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Nobody blames you for being hurt.”
“I’m not hurt!” I snapped, and he rolled his eyes.
“Why do you always have to be so damn obstinate?” Jack asked, growing frustrated with me.
“I’m not. I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I shook my head.
He exhaled and tried a different approach. He reached out for me, but I pulled back, and he let his arm fall to his side.
“I don’t know why you’re mad at me. I had nothing to do with this.”
“It’s your fault Milo’s a vampire,” I pointed out, and then instantly regretted it. He looked so wounded, and I wanted to say something to take it back.
“You’re right,” Jack replied thickly. “You’re absolutely right. This is my fault.” He lowered his eyes. “You take as much time as you need. I’ll be in the house.”
“Jack,” I said, but he just shook his head.
“Take all the time you need, Alice.” He turned and walked back to the house, his footsteps heavier and slower this time.
I stared out at the black water surrounding me. Jack almost never did anything wrong, but he and Milo got the brunt of my anger or frustration because they took it so willingly.
It wasn’t fair to them and led me to believe that I was most likely a terrible person. No wonder they didn’t want me around anymore.
It would all just be so much simpler if I had been the one that had slipped on the dock and hit my head instead of Milo. I was jealous of the fact that he had almost died.
- 8 -
Since Milo managed honor roll grades, it wasn’t a stretch to think he’d been offered a scholarship to a fancy boarding school. It wouldn’t even seem that strange that he hadn’t mentioned it to our mother. With her work schedule, they barely saw each other.
Ezra printed off documents to certify Milo would be attending Chester Arthur Preparatory School outside of Albany, New York. The semester was slated to start one week from today, and it was recommended that students get out there a week early to acclimate themselves with the school.
Or at least that’s what the letter claimed.
They had an extensive story to go with it. Milo went over it with Ezra and Mae all evening.
Jack had done his best to try to cheer me up, but there was little he could do. As time dragged on, I only got more nervous and upset as I thought about the life I’d return to.
Milo called our mother and arranged a time for them to talk. Mae helped me pack up my things, talking the entire time about how things were going to be so much more fun this way. Her reasons almost entirely depended on the phrase “absence makes the heart grow fonder,” but I nodded as if I believed everything she said.
Once Mae’s Jetta was loaded with my things, I stood in the entryway, waiting by the garage door. Jack was next to me, twirling the car keys around his fingers. We waited for Milo, but he didn’t have to pack, so I didn’t understand what could be taking him so long.
“What is he doing?” I asked, pulling at the hem of my shirt. If we were going to leave then I wanted to hurry and get it over with.
“He’ll be down in a minute.” Jack scratched the back of his neck and looked away from me, a clear sign that he didn’t want to tell me something.
“What?” I asked. “What’s he doing?”