Free Devious by Aria Declan Page A

ever. I traced my fingers along the wall as I left the restroom. I tried thinking as hard as I could about the day prior. Nothing but my conversation with Johnny was coming back to me.
    With hesitation, I left the bar and walked toward the supermarket. There were hardly any cars in the parking lot; many people left because of Derek's death.
    I sat on the bench outside the supermarket, waiting to see if Christian would find me. I knew he missed me because he loved me a lot; that was why I kept dreaming about him. As I was biting off my nails, the Riverbed gang approached me.
    “Hello, Leanna. Will you be attending Derek's funeral this weekend?” asked the gang leader.
    “Um, I’m not sure. Have you seen a tattoo boy around here?” I asked while still biting my nails.
    “Do you mean, Christian?”
    “Yes! Have you seen him? I think he's spying on me.”
    “Well, that is odd because his father was complaining how he hadn't seen Christian in a while. I just hope they're both okay.”
    “Why would you say that?”
    “Well, Johnny's car is in the supermarket parking lot and he's nowhere in sight. Police are looking for him,” she said as she pointed to his car. “We will see you later.”
    They all walked away in synchronization and I hated that. They seemed too perfect to be in a town full of truckers and whiskey drinkers. Sometimes they made me wonder how housewives could be so perfect. Housewives were supposed to be sweaty in jeans and drove vans. Not happy women who dressed in floral dresses and had white couches.
    The only people I knew like that were crazy.
    ***
    After walking back and forth for three hours, I went back home to go to sleep. I kept my phone close to me hoping Christian would call me back. I wanted so badly to hear his smooth voice, complementing me on how smart I was. I even wanted him to hold me again and fall asleep in his arms.
    My phone rang. I jumped up hoping it was Christian calling from a blocked number.
    “Hello? Hello?” I said.
    “Leanna?” it was Mama. “Why didn't you tell me Derek died? What is going on out there? Stop the bullshit, I’m coming home. I have over ten emails from people back home telling me this stuff. Why didn't you tell me? I didn't realize it was that bad out there!” she cried.
    “Mama, please just stay there!”
    “It's not even worth it anymore. I would regret it if anything happened to you. You cannot stop me; I’m at the airport right now. I'll be home before you know it.”
    “But Mama! I’m fine here,” I cried.
    “Why are you crying? Don't you need me there?”
    “No, I’m just upset over nonsense. I’m so stressed out because no one seems to be around me anymore. Mama, I don't want to scare you but I think I’m going insane.”
    “I'll be home soon, just have all your things packed.”
    “Packed—”
    The phone clicked and I tried to redial her number but it would not go through. I rested my head on the pillow as I tried to imagine myself happier with Christian in my arms.
    I love you , I finally thought to myself. I should have said that sooner to him. Maybe that was why he left me. He wanted me to commit or maybe he found someone who would actually return the love back.
    He would never have my love.
     
     

Chapter 10
    This Is What Makes Us Girls
     
    Mama was on a flight back home so I decided to stay up that night. I felt so uneasy as I continued to think about how my days were not adding up.
    I remembered speaking to Johnny, but that was about three days ago and that was all I could remember. I could not remember the day after that—only my dream about Christian. In fact, when I thought about my entire life I could not remember anything after nine pm.
    I logged onto the internet and pulled up Google. I typed in 'sick during sundown' and over 50 million pages appeared but the third result caught my attention.
    Anxiously, I waited for the page to open. I peeked out the window and the sun was setting. I hurried to my computer as the