Page 33 of Sticks and Stones (Shadow Valley U)
“Go back upstairs,” Evan barks.
My chair screeches against the floor. Evan sighs loudly, knowing I’m finished with the conversation. I refuse to look at Stone as I walk the three feet over tomy room. Stone doesn’t move. He stands just outside the kitchen, blocking me from opening the closet door. I stare past his shoulder, knowing his eyes are pinned on me.
“Move,” I demand, leveling my shoulders and bracing myself for impact.
His mouth opens. He licks his lips, and I know he’s going to say something that’s going to drive me up a wall, but to my surprise, Stone moves just far enough away that I can slip by him. My chest brushes his, and the way his warm breath skims my skin pisses me off. I want to fling the door open so far that it hits him in the face, but instead, I keep my cool and open it just far enough that I can slide in.
The door clicks a moment later, and if Evan wasn’t watching us from the kitchen, I am certain that Stone would pull a chair over and push it up against the doorknob, locking me inside. Just to be an asshole.
“Lay off her.”
I grimace at Evan’s seethe. His voice lowers, but I have exceptional hearing. You don’t grow up in foster homes and not learn how to eavesdrop.
“I did,” Stone says in his normal tone. “Otherwise, I probably would have tripped her when she walked past.”
“Stone.” Evan is angry.
“Relax. I’m kidding.”
“Well, I’m sick of the jokes. I don’t even want you to look at her. Not now.”
“Not now?”
It’s hard to hear, so I press my ear up to the crack.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Is this because she cried? How was I supposed to know that a simple photo of her on the internet was going to make her have a mental fucking breakdown? Talk about sensitive.”
“For fuck’s sake, Stone. You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
There is a growl loud enough to make me pull back from the door.
“Haven’t you noticed that Wren isn’t on social media? That there are no pictures of her online? Like, anywhere?” There is a short pause before Evan continues. “Of course you didn’t notice. You’re too selfish to worry about anyone other than yourself.”
“There is nothing wrong with being focused on myself. I’ll worry about someone else when I get settled in my career.”
“No, but there is something wrong with taking down innocent people just because you’re blind to real problems that others have.”
“You want to talk about taking down innocent people?”
My eyes widen, and I glance over to my things at the bottom of my makeshift bed.I might as well pack my shit now. Stone has every right to throw me under the bus.
“What?” Evan asks. He sounds completely fed up with his best friend.
“You first. What real problems does Wren have now that she’s legally an adult and no longer the poor girl with sticks for legs who bounces around foster homes? Huh? Because from the looks of it, she’s doing just fine.”
“Just fine? She’s sleeping in a fucking closet because of you.”
“She isn’t innocent in all this, Evan. You just can’t see that because you’re blind to anything she does.”
“You’re the blind one, Stone.”
My legs shake, and I place my hand on the doorknob. Their argument is quiet, but I have heard every word, and even though I hateStone, I don’t want to get in between them. Evan means too much to me to ruin their friendship.
“Fine, then open my eyes. Why was the photo such a big deal?”
My fingers tighten on the worn bronze of the knob.
“Her fucking dad called her. You posted that picture, and he tracked her down!”