Free Take Me Away by S. Moose Page A

"He better not come over here. Oh wait, he is." The three of us watch him walk over. He has a cocky smile on his face and he's wearing cargo shorts with a blue polo. Did he change? When he comes closer, I swear I smell Abercrombie and Fitch. Sweet Lord. The thing that guys should know is when they wear an awful amount of cologne it actually makes girls want to vomit. I want to look at him and scream subtle .
    "Ladies. What's up?"
    "Get off the field, Henry!" Gavin shouts, "Now! We're still practicing."
    Thank you Gavin!
    "I'll hang for a little, Zara. Maybe we can get dinner," he winks and turns back to walk to the sidelines. He sits on the bleachers and stares at me.
    Turning back to my friends, I give them a look and they nod. What the hell is wrong with me and why is Henry creeping me out?
    We finish practice and Treston leaves without saying bye and part of me is sad. I know I shouldn't care, but I do. Reaching down to grab my bag, Henry comes up next to me.
    "Good job today. You look amazing out there."
    "Thanks," I smile, standing in front of him, not sure what else to say. "I gotta head back and finish homework." I lie, "I'll see you later. Maybe we can get dinner some other time."
    "Yeah, sure. Let me at least drive you back."
    Cue the uncomfortable moment. "Oh I'm sorry, but I have a ride."
    "Oh, okay. That's cool. Have fun and I'll talk to you later."
    "Okay! Later!"
    Jumping in Gavin's truck, he drives us back to the house and I rush inside to shower and change into cropped yoga pants and a tank.
    I feel my phone vibrate.
    Cheese: What are you doing?
    Me: Just got home...Why'd you leave?
    Cheese: Come over and hang out with me
    Me: Okay
    Commence huge smile on my face.
     

CHAPTER 7
    TRESTON
     
     
     
     
    SITTING ON THE EDGE of the tub, I’m bouncing my leg up and down, staring down at the floor. So many thoughts are going through my head.
    Beth.
    Emily.
    Zara.
    It’s all coming at me and pushing me in a corner. All I want is peace and to fucking get on with my damn life. Then I see her blue eyes and hear her sweet voice. My muscles calm and my leg stops bouncing. The strangest things happen to me when I think about her.
    I shouldn't have left the girls’ practice without saying bye to her. When my phone went off and I saw it was Beth, I had to take it. She's been calling me all day, and keeps leaving me messages about needing to talk because she can’t stop thinking about Emily. I listen to each message and it kills me. My family, especially my mom, tells me time and time again it’s not my fault.
    But it is.
    Splashing water on my face, I tighten the towel around my waist and look up to see my dark reflection in the mirror. I hate what I see in the mirror. My dark eyes and sinister stare.
    Monster.
    She’ll never love you.
    No one wants you.
    You’re worthless.
    The voices are right. Who would ever love a murderer?
    Putting on shorts and a shirt, I grab a bottle of water and head downstairs to relax and get my mind off shit. Turning on the TV, I flip through the channels and nothing’s on. There’s no way I can get my mind off her. I wonder what Zara's doing. I’m suddenly in a pissy mood; dealing with Beth and her shit and seeing Henry come to the practice. I slam my fists on the couch, struggling to get a grasp on what the fuck is going on in my head.
    "What's your deal?" Gavin asks, sitting down on the opposite end of the couch.
    "Nothing."
    "Bullshit."
    "Zara. Zara fucking Borzilleri."
    Gavin coughs, peers over at me, and gives me a look. "You know, you've been going through these moods for a few days now. Do you like her?"
    "Stop."
    "No," he demands, "I'm not stopping. You like her, don't you?"
    It's not a question. He's stating the obvious. I do like her. I like her a lot, but nothing can ever happen. My heart's still mourning and I have Beth to constantly deal with. I can't bring her into my drama. She deserves more than that. More than me.
    "It's too soon," I hang my head, "She's been getting