The Gay Teen's Guide to Defeating a Siren: Book 2: The Siren by Cody Wagner

Author:Cody Wagner [Wagner, Cody]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780996713542
Published: 2018-02-08T22:00:00+00:00

* * * * *

Thanks to Luke, the older dorm finally eased up on Roze over the following week. Any time one of the jocks did anything mean, Luke got involved. And he always won. It was especially crazy in gym, when Luke ran next to Roze and commanded anyone nearby to give her a wide berth.

Over the course of the week, Darrin became increasingly upset whenever Luke was around. He kept trying to talk to Luke—even attempting feeble casual chat—but Luke ignored him and stared at the horizon. The whole thing reminded me of Timothy, and I found myself turning away when Luke and Darrin were together. Is this what Timothy felt like when I ignored him for my duty? For once, I felt for Darrin.

The final day Luke was around, I noticed he avoided Darrin more than usual, even making it a point to turn his back on the entire group of jocks. Darrin looked on the verge of a breakdown all day. The way he’d acted, I don’t think they ever officially broke up. It’s like Luke knew something Darrin didn’t. Just like me and Timothy.

After dinner that night, Roze, Cassie, and I were outside when a black car swung around the road lasso and stopped at the dorms. Luke picked up a camouflage duffel bag and saluted the driver. Roze figured we owed Luke some thanks before he left, and she approached him. Before she could say anything, Darrin ran up. He was winded and crying.

“Can I have a word with you,” he said to Luke. “Please.”

Luke stared at him for what felt like years before saying, “OK.”

Darrin led Luke near the older dorm, and they stood in shadows. Despite the darkness, I could see him trying to grab Luke’s hands as he talked, but Luke kept pulling away. Darrin started crying harder when Luke finally started responding.

“They deserve some privacy,” Cassie said.

Roze and I nodded, and we turned around to stare at the black car.

Darrin’s voice grew louder, and I overheard him say, “Just because you’re in the army, you’re too mature for me?”

Luke remained calm and we couldn’t hear his response, but Darrin replied, “You’re only a year older than me!”

Luke started talking again, and he went on for a while. He was occasionally interrupted by pleas from Darrin, but he remained calm. After a few minutes, a weird silence settled over us. It went on and on, like the final note of an orchestra that gets stuck in your ears.

Finally, I heard a sob from Darrin, and he said, “I won’t reach out to you again.” Then I heard him take off running.

I kept my eyes on the ground as Darrin sprinted by us toward the library. My mind flashed again to Timothy, and I felt pressure in my chest. Although he and I were never an item, the hurt on his face reminded me of Darrin’s. I think being blown off intensifies things, and I regretted not being more up-front with Timothy.

Luke walked back to the parking lot, and I slowly looked up to see him approach the car.

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