Chapter 1
“Who’s gonna get custody of the book?”
“Hmn?”
“If we ever had a huge fight and stopped being friends.”
Alex swerved, almost grazing the side of his sports car against the guardrails. He glanced back and forth between me and the road, chewing his bottom lip.
“Why would you ever ask that? Already planning to end our budding friendship?” He chuckled.
“It’s a sensible question. Things end. Friendships end— and since it’s my book, I should get to keep it.”
A sharp hiss slipped through his teeth. “I dunno, most of the notes in there are mine. Almost every page. If we think about it, all those belong to me. I’d have to rip them out.”
I scoffed. “That would ruin the book.”
“Exactly. Which is why we’re never falling out.”
He says that now, but I barely believe him. People make promises and they break them. They worm their way pass your walls, find out all your secrets then break it all down for the whole world to see.
Alex was everything good and proper. It was only a matter of time before his parents declared I was an unfit friend and gave him an ultimatum to get rid of me.
I don’t even know how we became friends. It just happened.
“Is this seat taken?” He was dressed in a dark blue flannel shirt and tee, gray sweats and sneakers. Headphones dangled from his neck as he shot me a warm smile.
“No. You can take the chair.” I shifted in my seat around the table, dropping my eyes back to ‘Juliet’ and making it clear that I did not want him at my table.
“Thanks.”
A scuffling broke my bubble and I slowly lowered the book to see that he had gotten quite comfortable in the seat across from me. “What are you doing?” I narrowed my eyes.
“Well, taking the chair. You said I could.” The corner of his mouth tipped up.
“I meant that you could take the chair and go to another table, like over there,” I pointed to the far corner of the library, where I regretted not going to earlier. I would’ve been able to enjoy my book in peace.
“Nah,’ He shook his head, his brown curly hair swaying across his forehead. “I think I’m good right here.”
I decided to ignore him, putting the book up between us so ‘Juliet’ and I could have some privacy.
“Whatchya’ reading?”
“I’m sure you can see the title on the front cover and spine.” I retorted. Why was he talking to me? It was strange. People don’t walk up and talk to me anymore. Didn’t he know who I was?
A few moments passed before I heard his voice parroting, “A plague on both your houses, you shall all perish in fire and gore, your children forever wail under a mad moon; until the Virgin and Giulietta wakes to behold her Romeo.”
I slapped the book down. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
“Nope,” He grinned. “I’m from New York. I’m spending the summer with my cousins.”
“So you’re a New Yorker who knows Shakespeare. Good for you.” I resumed reading, willing my mind to be sucked into the pages.
He kept talking. “I don’t know that much about Shakespeare, but I do know a rather unique version of the story; a tale set in Siena 1340 fused with modern retelling of the legend of Monna Mina.”
I froze, my mind retracing his words. Inch by inch, I lowered the book again, squinting at him. “You’ve read Juliet.”
“Who hasn’t?” everyone knows the family feud between the Tolomeis and the Salimbenis- the supposed ‘true story’ behind Shakespeare’s meager Capulets and Monteagues.”
I felt the corner of my mouth tip up for a smile and dragged it down. “I call bull. This book is only a few years old- and it’s not the go-to for hormonal teens.”
“Okay, maybe just the two of us then,” He grinned sheepishly. I’m almost impressed. He looked like an air head off the bat. Then again, I should know by now that things aren’t always as they appear to be.
“I’m Alex,” He held out his hand- “And no, it’s not a ploy to make you like me because Alessandro is the name for Julie’s modern day Romeo, My name is actually Alex.”
Reluctantly, I shook his hand. “I’m Odessa. Now— could you please sit in silence so I can read?”
For the rest of the summer, we passed the book back and forth between us, leaving little notes in the margins as insightful commentary. Eventually the book had to be bound in leather because the covers were soft and frayed, the pages dog eared from excessive folding. ‘Juliet’ had truly become sentimental, the roots from which our friendship grew.
It also helped that he was a stranger to the town and didn’t know I was pariah.
“‘Dessa,” Alex said, pulling me from my thoughts. “Everything okay?”
“I’m fine.” I sighed. “I just can’t believe I actually got into the academy. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Hey, that was all you and your big brain.” He shrugged, “I just pointed you in the right direction. Besides, my reward is that I get to do senior year with my best friend.”
“We’re not best friends,” I deadpan.
“Yeah yeah. Whatever you need to tell yourself to maintain your goth-emo reputation.”
The moment he uttered the word ‘reputation’, the scarred skin just two inches above my left wrist began to tingle. It traveled to the one on my right collar, as if my body remembered the searing heat. I pushed up the sleeve of my sweater, scratching the itch and rubbing my thumb over the area in soothing circles.
“Maybe… you could finally tell me about that scar you’ve so neatly hidden under that black dahlia tattoo?”
My eyes snapped to his, wary. Guarded. “Once upon a time, life game me lemons and I made lemonade. The end.”
He barked a laugh. “Seriously? After three months, that’s all I’m getting?” He turned the car into a long winding drive way.
Crisp cool air funneled in through the window and I took a deep breath. “What’s the point of a fresh start if we keep bringing up the past?” The last year and a half was hell. It would break his heart if he knew the real reason why my parents practically jumped at the idea to uproot and move across the country. I didn’t want him to know. Sure, all things must come to an end, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t fight to have some normalcy in my life.
Alex was… Normal. Maybe if he was around for long enough, it would rub off on me.
He said nothing as he parked at the front of the house and turned off the engine. Alex looked at me, his brown eyes soft and sincere. “You can trust me, Odessa. I don’t know what happened at your last school, but I promise. I promise I will always have your back.”
I wanted so badly to believe him.
“Odessa honey, is that you?” A sweet voice chirped, giving me the perfect escape. I slipped out of the car and walked toward the woman who was bounding down the porch. She enveloped me in a tight hug and I groaned.
“Mom.” I grunted, “I’m too old for this.”
She leaned back and bopped me on the nose with a finger. “Aw, you will never be too old for my award winning bear hugs.” Her gaze turned to Alex. “Hey! That means you too. Get in here!
“Hi Mrs. Keaton, how are you?”
“How many times do I have to tell you to call me Sarah? Mike and I are doing just fine. I can’t believe that my darling will be attending Kyverna Academy! Also, thank your parents a million for letting us use this beautiful town house while we get Odessa settled in.”
Alex waved her off. “It’s no trouble. They travel so often I doubt they even remember this place exists.”
“Back away from the cubs, Sarah.” A deep voice with a hint of amusement sounded from the doorway.
“I can’t help it, Mike. I’m just so excited and sad all at the same time. I’m going to miss you both when we head back to Florida.” Her arms closed around us again.
Dad smiled, but his eyes were pensive. I don’t know how he and mom ended up married. They were polar opposites. She was bright and bubbly, and he was quite and reserved. I used to be like mom, bright eyed and bushy tailed. Now… I was worse than my dad.
His gaze said a thousand words that neither Alex nor my mom picked up, too busy chatting away and plotting holiday logistics. Shoulders tense, I walked up the steps until I was a few feet away from him.
“This is your last chance, Odessa.” He said firmly. “You’re in the big leagues now. You can’t afford to make mistakes when the world is watching.”
I clenched my fists, holding his gaze. “Yeah, I got that dad. As usual, it’s my fault and my mistake.” I brushed past him into the house. A firm grip on my wrist tugged me back. My scar tingled.
“Yes.” He gritted his teeth. “It is your fault and your mistake. I told you to stay away from that boy— those kids, but you didn’t listen to me. You sneaked out and went to his party. And what’s worse, you didn’t protect yourself like I taught you.”
“Let go of me.” I dragged my hand away, swallowing the lump in my throat. Mom and Alex were still outside, completely oblivious. “I thought they were my friends.”
His gaze softened and he reached out to tuck a strand of my curly hair away. “People like us, can never be friends with people like them. You’re heading into the mouth of the serpent and I need- I need you to remember that.”
I scoffed. “You don’t have to worry about that. I have permanent reminders now.” I stomped up the stairs.
So much for not digging up the past.
