sit. “Your mom will fix that now.”
I’m just about to turn around and leave when Amy grabs my hand. “Please stay?”
It’s going to take some getting used to this new Amy. I nod and take a seat on the edge of the bath.
When Aunt Kris comes in I start to panic. I don’t want to see Amy’s back. Once was enough for me!
Aunt Kris looks at me as if she’s expecting me to get up and leave. I nod in the direction of Amy’s hand, still clutching mine in a death grip.
Aunt Kris says, “Angel, Noah can stay but you’ll have to let go of his hand so I can clean you up.”
Amy stares at her mom for a second before she pulls her hand from mine and gets up. She goes to stand in front of the basin and I’m just about to make a bee-line for the door when Aunt Kris steps in my way. She lifts Amy’s shirt to her shoulders and then starts to undo the bloody bandage. I look away, staring at the floor.
I hear Amy gasp and my head snaps up. When I see her back, I’m struck with horror. Carved into her back is my name.
I try to swallow the bile down. Sweat starts to bead on my forehead and I can’t take it anymore. I get up and rush past Aunt Kris. I race out of the house, my breaths coming fast and hard. I start to run down the beach.
Minutes pass and I push myself harder. When my legs start to feel numb with pain, I push even harder.
I try to run away from the image of my name being carved into Amy’s back.
~*~
Chapter Twenty-Six
Amy~
Since the incident last night, Noah’s been avoiding me. I know it has something to do with my back. I haven’t had the guts to look at it myself, and judging by Noah’s reaction I don’t want to. The pain is enough reminder that I’ve been hurt, I don’t need a picture to go with it.
I like Noah, and I’d rather spend time with him than to try and socialize with the rest of the family.
When I hear the door open I turn to see Noah coming out onto the deck. He’s dressed in a pair of jeans and a black shirt. He looks good.
I feel a nervous fluttering in my stomach when his eyes just skim over me. “I’m going to the fair,” he says to Uncle Justin.
“What time will you be back,” Aunt Riza asks.
Noah just shrugs. “I’ll see you when I see you.”
He takes the steps down to the beach and then walks in the direction of the town.
He didn’t even bother to ask if I’d like to go with. Upset, I get up and stomp down the stairs. He could have at least asked me! I walk to the water’s edge and stare ahead of me, not really seeing anything.
~*~
It’s while staring at the ocean that I make up my mind to go to the fair, even if it’s by myself. Just sitting around here will drive me nuts.
I go up to my room and grab the first dress I see. The material hangs loose on me and the dress reaches to just above my knees. I grab a pair of boots and yank the brush through my hair.
When I step outside, everyone looks at me. “I’m going to the fair,” I mumble, and start toward the steps.
“Alone?” my mom asks. “You don’t want us to come with you? Will you be okay to go by yourself?”
I tuck some hair behind my ear. “I’ll be fine. I’ll find Noah.”
I’m a little surprised and a lot relieved when they let me go. I get that they worry, but I just need some time.
Thumping music and hordes of people greet me. Everyone seems happy, either supporting one of the many stalls, or taking part in some sort of activity.
The music gets louder and then I see the live band. Some couples are dancing and I stare a while at them before my eyes start to wander again. I spot a beer garden and make my way there. I might not be old enough to drink, but I want to see if Noah is there.
The beer garden is packed with people already well on their way to being drunk. I find an opening at the bar and when the bartender looks at me, I order a coke.
I take a huge sip of the sugary drink, letting it fizz down my throat.
I let my eyes go over all the people, searching
I’m just about to turn around and leave when Amy grabs my hand. “Please stay?”
It’s going to take some getting used to this new Amy. I nod and take a seat on the edge of the bath.
When Aunt Kris comes in I start to panic. I don’t want to see Amy’s back. Once was enough for me!
Aunt Kris looks at me as if she’s expecting me to get up and leave. I nod in the direction of Amy’s hand, still clutching mine in a death grip.
Aunt Kris says, “Angel, Noah can stay but you’ll have to let go of his hand so I can clean you up.”
Amy stares at her mom for a second before she pulls her hand from mine and gets up. She goes to stand in front of the basin and I’m just about to make a bee-line for the door when Aunt Kris steps in my way. She lifts Amy’s shirt to her shoulders and then starts to undo the bloody bandage. I look away, staring at the floor.
I hear Amy gasp and my head snaps up. When I see her back, I’m struck with horror. Carved into her back is my name.
I try to swallow the bile down. Sweat starts to bead on my forehead and I can’t take it anymore. I get up and rush past Aunt Kris. I race out of the house, my breaths coming fast and hard. I start to run down the beach.
Minutes pass and I push myself harder. When my legs start to feel numb with pain, I push even harder.
I try to run away from the image of my name being carved into Amy’s back.
~*~
Chapter Twenty-Six
Amy~
Since the incident last night, Noah’s been avoiding me. I know it has something to do with my back. I haven’t had the guts to look at it myself, and judging by Noah’s reaction I don’t want to. The pain is enough reminder that I’ve been hurt, I don’t need a picture to go with it.
I like Noah, and I’d rather spend time with him than to try and socialize with the rest of the family.
When I hear the door open I turn to see Noah coming out onto the deck. He’s dressed in a pair of jeans and a black shirt. He looks good.
I feel a nervous fluttering in my stomach when his eyes just skim over me. “I’m going to the fair,” he says to Uncle Justin.
“What time will you be back,” Aunt Riza asks.
Noah just shrugs. “I’ll see you when I see you.”
He takes the steps down to the beach and then walks in the direction of the town.
He didn’t even bother to ask if I’d like to go with. Upset, I get up and stomp down the stairs. He could have at least asked me! I walk to the water’s edge and stare ahead of me, not really seeing anything.
~*~
It’s while staring at the ocean that I make up my mind to go to the fair, even if it’s by myself. Just sitting around here will drive me nuts.
I go up to my room and grab the first dress I see. The material hangs loose on me and the dress reaches to just above my knees. I grab a pair of boots and yank the brush through my hair.
When I step outside, everyone looks at me. “I’m going to the fair,” I mumble, and start toward the steps.
“Alone?” my mom asks. “You don’t want us to come with you? Will you be okay to go by yourself?”
I tuck some hair behind my ear. “I’ll be fine. I’ll find Noah.”
I’m a little surprised and a lot relieved when they let me go. I get that they worry, but I just need some time.
Thumping music and hordes of people greet me. Everyone seems happy, either supporting one of the many stalls, or taking part in some sort of activity.
The music gets louder and then I see the live band. Some couples are dancing and I stare a while at them before my eyes start to wander again. I spot a beer garden and make my way there. I might not be old enough to drink, but I want to see if Noah is there.
The beer garden is packed with people already well on their way to being drunk. I find an opening at the bar and when the bartender looks at me, I order a coke.
I take a huge sip of the sugary drink, letting it fizz down my throat.
I let my eyes go over all the people, searching
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