Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
A door upstairs closes, but not loudly.
Not as if in temper.
“Thank you.” I check the time and start cleaning up my brushes, tucking away my supplies in the bag I use for hauling them back and forth. “You know, I wonder if Luna would let me store this stuff somewhere here, rather than bringing them with me every time I come over to work. I’ll have to ask her. Thanks for hanging out with me tonight, Rose.”
But when I reach for the easel, it suddenly goes flying across the room and smacks into the wall.
“Hey, what’s gotten into you?” I walk over, and reach down for it, but it skids out of my grasp once more. “Do you want me to leave it here?”
I prop my hands on my hips and scowl, and a door upstairs closes once more, slamming this time.
“What in the world? I’m going to go chat with Luna, but I hope you’re not mad at me, Rose. I actually like having you around.”
With that, I leave the easel lying on the floor and walk across the small field to Luna’s house.
“Are you done already?” she asks with a smile when I walk into the kitchen.
“I was in there for more than two hours.”
She raises a brow and checks the time. “That went fast. How did it go?”
I tell her about the painting and Rose. “It was like she didn’t want me to leave yet or something. Really weird.”
“Or she agrees that you should just leave your supplies here, and I’m completely fine with that. I’m sure there’s a closet out there you can use, and if not, I know I have space here.”
“Thanks, that’s helpful. Especially since I don’t have a car.”
“Speaking of, I’ll give you a lift home.” Luna reaches for her car keys. “Unless you want to stay for dinner.”
“Thanks, but I have a few things to do at home.”
The sun hasn’t quite set yet when Luna pulls into the driveway to drop me off.
“I’ll wait here, make sure you get inside okay,” she says.
“How chivalrous of you.” I wink at her, then lean over and kiss her cheek. “Thanks, friend. I’ll see you soon.”
“See you.”
I walk to the house and freeze when I’m about a foot away from the door.
I whirl around and run back to Luna’s car as she rolls down her window. “What’s wrong? Did you see a spider?”
“My door is ajar,” I inform her and then swallow hard. “Luna, someone’s been in my house.”
November 20, 2007
* * *
Dear Diary,
Tanner just broke my fucking heart. He’s home from college for Thanksgiving, and we met at Gordy’s tonight for dinner, and I was so excited to see him! But he broke up with me.
He wants to see other people.
Which is code for he wants to fuck other people.
We’ve been dating for three years. I gave him my virginity; we have been basically attached at the hip for years, and he just dumped me.
I’ve stayed in Huckleberry Bay because of Scott. My parents are getting so much worse with their drug use and the abuse they put on my poor brother, so I’ve stayed close by still living in the same house, even though I’m eighteen, and I could technically move out. He needs me, and I won’t leave him.
But maybe I should have moved with Tanner to college. He could go to school, and I could work, and at least we’d be together, and he wouldn’t be so lonely that he thinks we need to break up so he can see other people at college.
Is he embarrassed of me? He never has been before, but maybe he is.
I don’t know what I’m supposed to do without him in my life. Besides June and Luna, he’s been everything to me for so long. How am I supposed to move on without him?
We were supposed to get married and leave HB with Scott and live a normal life together.
But now we’re not.
And I don’t know what to do about it. I guess there’s nothing to do about it. I’m not some psycho girl who’s going to chase him down and make him love me.
But man, I wish I could make him love me. I wonder if there are witches nearby like in Practical Magic who can put a spell on him.
Probably. But that would be wrong, too.
I want him to want me because he really wants me. God, I just want someone to love me! Why am I so unlovable? What’s wrong with me?
TTYL,
Sarah
Chapter Six
Tanner
This is the first quiet night I’ve had at home in…I don’t remember when. It’s a gorgeous spring evening, and I have the accordion glass doors open to the outside, letting in the ocean breeze as I cook in the nearby kitchen.
The indoor/outdoor space is what sold me on this house a couple of years ago. Granted, I can’t use it year-round, but when the weather is nice enough to open it up, it’s damn satisfying.