Page 85 of Don’t Forget Me

“I’m asking because I care. So, please, just give me an answer,” I said more roughly. Even I didn’t like my own tone. She stopped pacing, piercing me with her glare. It was that look, that look of hatred and disgust, that broke my heart even more.

“Now you care?” she snapped.

She had every right not to believe the words formed in my mouth after my empty promises.

“Please. Where are you staying in the summer?” I begged.

“I’ll be staying far away from you, that’s where I’m staying,” she spat before tightening her grip around her binder and notebooks. I could see the white ends of her fingertips.

It amazed me how I could’ve built a connection with her, and it could have all come tumbling down like a sandcastle.

“I’m serious.” My hand found her arm, stopping her from leaving. Although my action only enraged her even more.

“I am too. Today is the last day you will ever see me again,” she uttered. “I hope you’re happy.”

There was bitterness in her words. Her statement hadn’t been filled with resentment, but with despair. As if she wished she didn’t have to leave, but like she felt that she had no other choice.

“What are you saying?” I asked. My heart pulsed faster.

“I’m leaving this school,” she said.

She elbowed my hand, causing me to lose my grasp of her. Then she stepped into an incoming crowd of uniformed students. Her silhouette was lost among the mob of Blackthorn attendees.

And it truly was the last time I saw her.

thirty seven

LYSANDRA

Today was the day.

Well, not really the day, but it was the day that I would try to see if there was even a chance between Ezra and me. I couldn’t believe I was about to do this. Nothing but Cami’s encouragement fueled my courage to approach him. It also didn’t help that she was feeding into my delusion and motivating me to do this in the first place.

What was I freaking out about? It’s not like I was going to confess my undying love for him. That would be crazy. Never in a million years would I do that. I would just go near him to see if he was willing to go on a date with me. Hopefully the words actually left my mouth this time.

I felt so pathetic just thinking about it.

Today’s filming would last for almost the entire day. Which kind of stressed me out, since I had to fit in more time to start writing again. After countless meetings with my publisher, they finally accepted my book proposal, and they expected me to have the book’s first draft by February. We were in November already. Something about the marketing team having a plan to keep up the “hype” of my public profile. I didn’t understand any of it, all I knew was that I had to do my job.

The doors of the set clattered with a bang as I strolled inside. Pushing past the carts and dozens of assistants walking around with earpieces. I’d arrived at the back section of the set, my eyes looking for the snack bar. My nerves created an insatiable hunger within me.

Again, I kicked myself mentally for my anxiety.

When I looked up, I wished I could erase the image that would forever be imprinted in my mind. It was Ezra. With another woman clinging to his arm. The walkie-talkie attached to her hip and the badge hanging from her collar meant that she was part of the videography team. Her blonde hair had been pulled back into a ponytail with strands falling at the front. The uniform fit her ridiculously snug. The woman rubbed his arms as he gave her a tight smile.

“Thank you, that truly means a lot to me,” I heard him say.

“Anytime, darling,” she purred. Hearing her flirt with the man of my dreams ruined the adoration I had for Scottish accents.

My breakfast almost came back up my throat. I let out a hitched breath, covering my lips when I realized I’d been too loud. No need to get their attention.

Ezra stepped back, grabbing the script from his back pocket, and dashed toward the cameras that were being prepped for filming. There’d been a grin on his expression, as if he’d been enjoying the attention he was receiving from her. I inferred that my love for him would not be enough to satisfy his male desires. It made sense, then, why he was friends with Zack in the first place. I should just return to lurking in the distant shadows while longing for him.

He hadn’t realized I had seen their exchange. I wish I hadn’t. It ruined the entire plan I had for this day, which I had predetermined would be one of the greatest days of my life. I was wrong. I found my seat beside him, all the joy in my body gone. Ezra grinned when he set his perfect gaze on me. “Hey! I didn’t know you were coming today. We’re almost done filming the fallout between Laurie and Elijah.”

I almost beamed at the way he exclaimed like a child…had I not felt like my heart was boiling inside my chest, and if it hadn’t caused an excruciating burning sensation within me.

His brows furrowed when I didn’t reply. I stood, putting space between us, as he remained glued to the screens playing out the scene of Laurie’s and Elijah’s scene. Who, really, had been a representation of Ezra and me.