Lingering Echoes by Erica Kiefer

Author:Erica Kiefer [Kiefer, Erica]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing
Published: 2013-10-29T22:00:00+00:00

I lay in bed the next morning and stared up at the ceiling, unwilling to remove myself from the comforts of my bed. I was unsure of what time it was, but the sick feeling in my stomach had awakened me long before the sun was shining outside my window.

I rubbed my eyes and massaged my forehead with both hands. Did last night really happen? It was hours before I could fall asleep last night, remembering the look on Damien’s face before he drove off. I replayed the evening in my mind, over and over again.

I rubbed my wrist, remembering Damien’s firm grip and the anger that hardened his face. What if Aaron hadn’t jumped in when he did? Would that unfamiliar side of Damien have escalated further?

I tried to shut my mind off. I knew better than to dwell on “what ifs”. I had driven down that path for a long time before I realized it led to nowhere. No matter how many times thoughts and ideas revolved around them, they never changed the past.

Three short knocks on the door interrupted my thoughts. I sighed, not bothering to move from my position.

“Allie?”

“Yeah, come in.”

Dad entered the room, dressed in his usual casual attire of khaki shorts and a T-shirt. He looked refreshed this morning, which was more than I could say for myself.

“Still in bed, huh?”

“Yep.”

He pulled the chair from the desk and sat down across from me. I could smell the sweet scent of banana pancakes and maple wafting through my bedroom door.

My stomach turned. I was in no position to entertain the thought of food.

“So...I hear you’re having some trouble with that boy.”

My head shot back to face Dad. He sat back against his chair, attempting to appear at ease. His eyes roamed around the room, as he twiddled his fingers. In truth, his efforts were somewhat comical.

Catching me eyeing him, he admitted, “Brooke stopped by. I heard her and Aaron saying something about it.”

I rolled my eyes. That figures.

“I didn’t quite catch the details of their whispered conversation, but I just wondered if you wanted to talk about it.”

I looked back up at Dad in confusion.

Huh?

“I’m sorry, what?” I cocked my head to the side.

Dad adjusted his position on the chair, clearing his throat. “Well, seeing Brooke and Aaron talking in hushed tones and you not coming out of your room this late into the morning, I’m assuming this has to do with whatever you needed to sort out, and I wanted to see if you are ok. That is, if you want to talk about it.”

Oh, boy...

I hopped out of bed, sidestepping Dad, and fleeing to the bathroom. I turned on the faucet and threw cool water on my face. Pumping out a handful of face wash, I massaged it into my skin, taking extra care and more time than usual.

“Allie?” He was at the doorway.

I loaded my toothbrush with mint toothpaste and stuck it in my mouth. I ran it over my teeth, lathering up the foam.

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