Tryst Six Venom by Penelope Douglas

I walk away, looking back at the bouquet, a flutter in my chest. Everyone
likes flowers. Even girls in motorcycle jackets.
She should be here soon.
Heading into the locker room, I open my locker and hang my backpack. I
dig my AirPods out of the pocket and take my phone. The Seminole flag
peeks out. Liv will be working in the theater after school today. Maybe she’ll
be alone. Maybe I could take it to her.
I take out my pill bottle and open it, wanting to calm myself down a little,
but I stop, staring at the container for a second. I didn’t take any all weekend.
Not once. Since Henry’s death, I certainly haven’t needed it every day, but it
didn’t even occur to me. That’s weird.
“You okay?” Amy asks at my side.
I recap the bottle and stuff it in my backpack, quickly zipping it up. “Of
course.” I close my locker. “You?”
“Still a little nervous.”
And I know what she’s talking about. She texted fifteen times yesterday.
My grandmother gave me a stern look in church, so I muted it.
“They won’t report it,” I tell her. “And who knows? They might cross the
tracks for a little more fun.”
“I’m not worried about them reporting it,” she retorts.
I know. The Jaegers would exact their own justice before going to the
police. I still feel shitty about Callum and Milo trashing their house.
“Hey!” Krisjen chirps. She heads to her locker, rubbing a hand on my
back. “How are you doing, babe?”
“Fine,” I blurt out. “What is it with you guys?”
Why do they keep asking that?
Amy and Krisjen exchange glances, and Krisjen broaches softly, “It’s
just... I know this week is hard…on your family.”
I turn away, slipping my phone into the side pocket on my leggings. It’s
been four years since Henry died, and I wait for the sting in my eyes to come
like it always does the moment my mind wanders to him, but it’s not coming.
I’m distracted. It’s not… I don’t know. I miss him. I miss him so badly
I’d give up my hands to have him back, but it’s not the only loss I’m feeling
right now.
I glance around again, keeping an eye out for Liv, but she’s nowhere to
be seen.
And as we all head into the gym, and I jump on the treadmill, she still