Painful by S.C. Stephens

Author:S.C. Stephens [Stephens, S.C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780463537022
Publisher: S.C. Stephens

Chapter 19

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE WITH YOU

I woke up with a start, my heart pounding in my chest and a familiar fear coursing through my veins. Goddamn dreams. I’d kind of hoped that being on the road, being in such a strange environment, being around so many people, would squelch the nightmares, but sadly…no. Dad still tormented me whenever he could.

This last dream had been a strange mixture of pleasure and pain. I’d been lying in bed, kissing Kiera, when Dad had walked into the room and simply driven a knife into my chest. He’d never killed me in a dream before. That made it slightly easier to disassociate from it; dream-Dad typically preferred torturing me, death was far too simple.

Maybe I shouldn’t have watched that horror movie with Griffin last night. Maybe this was just a regular nightmare; I honestly didn’t know.

Climbing out of my cubby, I slipped on some comfortable clothes and headed to the sitting area of the bus. The bus was stopped in a parking lot; shows were much closer together here on the east coast, and we often arrived early. I waved at the driver, an older man named Samuel, then I set about my morning routine of crunches and pushups in the slim aisle. It wasn’t the most ideal place to work out, but it was better than the pavement outside. Maybe I’d go for a run next though. I had time, although, there was something I wanted to do today.

I was just finishing up my pushups when someone unexpected walked out of the sleeping area. Evan. He didn’t typically get up this early. Dressed in lounge pants and a holey T-shirt, he rubbed his buzz-cut head as he yawned. When he saw what I was doing, he shook his head at me. “You’re insane,” he muttered.

I paused an inch from the floor and looked up at him. “Matt wants a billboard, might as well give him one that looks nice.” Evan chuckled while I pushed myself up, then stood up. Swishing my hand, I told him, “It’s just a habit. Helps me wake up, clear my head.”

He tilted his head at me as he sat down. “You need to clear your head? What about?”

I stared at him a moment, wondering if I should tell him what had been going on with me recently. Clear my head from thinking about the daily text messages I’m receiving from the biological parent I want nothing to do with. But no, I couldn’t tell Evan that. I didn’t want to get into it. With anyone. Smiling, I pointed to the back of the bus. “Griffin’s habit of walking around naked for one. Did you know he was part nudist?”

Evan grimaced. “Honestly, I’m more surprised he’s not a full nudist. Poor Matt…How has that kid kept it together all these years?”

Laughing, I sat down at the table with him. “Maybe he hasn’t. Maybe that’s why he’s so…”

“Matt?” he said, eyebrow raised.

“Yes, exactly.” We both laughed for a moment, then I lifted an eyebrow at Evan.

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