Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Eliot’s blue eyes ice. “Don’t, Luna.”
My stomach twists. “Don’t what?”
“Don’t let that fucking worm into your head.” He points at his temple. “Don’t let him question what you know.”
I know myself.
I take a breath. “What do I know?” I ask, needing them as I teeter between awful feelings.
“You’re not an addict,” Tom says.
“You’re not a slut,” Eliot adds. “Not sluttier than me. And even if you were, that doesn’t make you a sex addict—or else, a quarter of the world would be one. Myself included.”
Tom picks up his guitar to play some dramatic notes. “Sluuuuts,” he sings. “They’re just like us.”
I laugh.
He smiles over at me, then rests his hands on the strings. “What would Moffy say?”
“Fuck what Caden said.”
“Fuck what Caden said,” Tom says in agreement. “The dude you trusted to have sex with for the first time is now defaming you to the rest of the senior class. He sucks. You’re awesome.”
If they’re trying to make me “loathe” Caden the way that they do, the hatred is sitting beneath a feeling like I fucked up again. I chose poorly.
Chose the wrong guy to deflower me.
Chose the wrong time.
Almost got pregnant.
They don’t know that.
“I almost got pregnant with the worm’s baby,” I let out, just staring at the fire.
I can almost feel Tom’s jaw drop and Eliot’s eyes narrow into lasers.
Before they can speak, I add quickly. “My period was late—the test was negative, though. And that’s my news—what I wanted you guys to know.” I nod heartily like it’ll end the conversation instead of open up a new chapter in a book of doom.
Tom is still in shock. “What the actual fuck, Luna?”
Wind nips at my skin, and I slide my arms into my hoodie sleeves. “I wanted to tell you guys when I needed help going to the store, but Xander kind of thought I was acting strange. I didn’t want to lie. Kinney was there. It came out, and then Farrow helped me.” My knees bounce. “It was a whole mess that ended with a happy ending. Not pregnant.”
“The happiest of endings,” Eliot agrees, exhaling a long breath, and I catch him shaking his head. When our eyes latch, he gives me a smile that feels like a hug. It’s the it’s okay, my friend smile. It’s the I’m here for you, always smile. It’s the smile that wraps around me and makes me feel like my fuck-up is over, even if it’s still lingering behind me like a shadow. He breathes, “We don’t need any Baby Worms around here.”
Tom puts an arm around my shoulders. “I can’t believe you went through that. Moffy was there?”
I nod strongly. “It’s nice having Farrow, too. I guess that’s a perk to my brother dating someone I really like.”
Tom considers this and puts music on his phone. It plays softly. “Maybe we should get Jane to date someone we like.”
“You two don’t like very many people,” I tell them.
“Luna Hale, calling us haters,” Eliot says with a rising grin.
“I’ll wear that badge,” Tom says, his arm still hanging along my shoulder, and we sway to the beat of a My Chemical Romance song.
“With honor,” Eliot adds, “as will I, dear brother.”
I smile softly. I like that Eliot and Tom aren’t angry that I didn’t say something sooner. They just care about me, and they’re glad I’m okay.
That’s one thing I love about our friendship. It’s easy. Uncomplicated. There is no competition about information. I’m fine when they keep things with the Cobalts, and they’re okay when I go to my siblings. And when we do confide in each other, there’s unquestioning support.
“Speaking of happy endings,” Eliot shifts on his tree stump. “I’m afraid that I won’t be seeing one soon.” He forces a smile.
I go still. “What?” I look to Tom, his face turning pained.
“Caden needed to be reminded not to fuck with you,” Eliot says like it’s simple.
“What’d you do?” I look between them, eyes wide.
“I decorated his Porsche’s windshield,” Eliot says casually. “With some Shakespeare.”
“The red paint was permanent,” Tom adds. “So that asshole can reflect longer.”
I slowly begin to smile. Maybe I should feel awful for Caden, but I feel better that he experienced some kind of consequence for saying shit about me. “What quote?”
“‘The most unkindest cut of all,’” Eliot recites. “It wasn’t enough, Luna.” He scrapes his boot against the dirt, staring down at the earth. “Now hearing about your pregnancy scare, I wish I broke his windshield. I wish I bashed in the doors with a baseball bat. I wish—”
“It was enough,” I cut off Eliot, holding his gaze. “It makes me feel…better. You didn’t have to do more.” I enjoy writing; I should have better words, but it’s always been hard to articulate my feelings out loud.
I might be supporting his vandalism—but I can’t help it. He did this for me, and it feels good to have someone defend me at school.