The Murmurings by West Carly Anne

Author:West, Carly Anne [West, Carly Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Published: 2013-03-04T23:00:00+00:00

13

* * *

THE DRIVE TO JEROME FELT like it took days, but the ride back feels like it takes minutes. That’s especially surprising considering it’s been almost completely silent. Neither Evan nor I even thought to put on music, and now that we’re nearly home, there’s no point.

“Thanks for letting me drive,” Evan finally says, and I’m startled to hear his voice.

“No biggie.” Frankly, I couldn’t care less who’s driving my mom’s beat-up Buick.

“It helped me sort some things out,” he says.

I’m back to being pissed at him for how he reacted at Adam’s place.

“Yeah? How’s that going?”

“Not so great,” he scowls.

After I’ve grown used to the quiet again, he pipes up. “How could you not tell me?”

“Are you kidding me?” I ask in full defense mode. “Exactly what would you have wanted me to say? ‘Hey Evan, I know we only just started hanging out and don’t even know each other’s birthdays or favorite movies or what we want to be when we get older, but here’s a fun little fact: I hear people whispering when no one’s there, which probably means I’m going crazy. Still want to hang out?’ Jesus, Evan. I was afraid you’d—”

“What, think you’re a freak?” He grips the steering wheel so hard his knuckles begin to pale. “You’re forgetting one important detail. I shared something with you, something I’ve never told anyone. I told you about Deb. About what happened to her.”

“Yeah, and you also told me that you thought she was crazy just like your aunt and uncle did,” I spit back.

“I was a kid!” Evan yells. “What did you expect me to think? By the time they sent her away, I was finally old enough to understand how badly they’d treated her, but I still couldn’t do shit about it. I’ve been trying to figure out what happened to Deb ever since, which by the way is looking totally hopeless now that I know how crazy Dr. Keller is and how there are basically no Seers left at Oakside. Do you honestly think I would have shown you those websites if I didn’t think that you would understand?”

For the life of me, I can’t think of a thing to say in response.

“After our picnic, I thought we had an understanding. I thought you got me.”

He pauses before delivering his final blow on my already throbbing heart: “I guess I was wrong.”

We pull up to my house.

“You weren’t wrong.”

Evan doesn’t answer me. He stares at the steering wheel, the engine still rumbling.

“I should have told you that I was like Nell. Like Deb. Because I felt a connection too, that day by the picnic benches. You have to understand, I saw what happened when people found out about Nell. They treated her like she had some sort of contagious disease. I just couldn’t stand the thought of you thinking of me like that.”

He turns to me. “So now do you trust me?”

I think for a second. “I have for a while. I just never told you.

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