Following Me by Linde, K.A. (good e books to read txt) 📕

not lookingdirectly at her.  “I guess it’s going around.”

“Yeah, but I feel bad.  I shouldhave waited,” she said.  “You put on a great show.”

“Thanks,” he said. “I thought itwent well.”

He still hadn’t met her gaze.  Whatwas up with him?

“I really liked the last song.” She bit her lip, hoping he would look at her.

“I think it still needs somework.”

Devon tried to figure out adifferent angle.  He seemed even more off and withdrawn than normal.  “Are youfeeling any better?  Jenn said you were sick.”

He shrugged again.  “I guess. Some.  I just came in for my check.”  He waved it dismissively in the air.

“Oh.  So, you’re not staying?” Her stomach sank.

“Jenn won’t clear me even thoughI told her it wasn’t that bad.  She said I handle food, and she doesn’t want meto contaminate her customers.”

A faint smile touched his facewhen he finally looked up at her.  He really didn’t look good.  No wonder Jennwas sending him home.

“That sucks,” she said, not surewhat else to say.

He felt so far away.  Through hismusic, she felt like they had connected on a different level, one that even shecouldn’t figure out.  Yet, she had left, and now, it was like he was an emptyvessel.

“Hey, how did your medical examsgo?”  She hoped changing the subject would bring him out of his funk.  She hadforgotten to ask him about it at his show.

He visibly flinched at thewords.  “Fine.”

She wasn’t sure how she hadmanaged to make him even less comfortable. “Do you think you’ll get into the schoolsyou want?”

“We’ll just wait and see,” heresponded dryly.

It was the same tone she had usedwith her mother.  That wasn’t good.

“Well…good luck,” she muttered.

“I’ve got to get out of here. Not feeling as well as I thought, I guess.  I’ll see you around, Devon,” hesaid with a half-smile before he walked out the back door.

She watched him leave with aheavy weight on her chest.  Hadn’t she left St. Louis to escape herproblems?  Why did it feel like the farther she ran, the more problems keptpiling up?  Nothing was working, and she couldn’t hide out in Chicagoforever.  She would have to face what had happened to her before school startedor else it would only get worse.

Somehow, shewould have to factor Brennan into all of that because whatever she was feelingwasn’t going away.  Her stomach twisted at that thought.  Brennan didn’t needto be anywhere near her problems…they could get him killed.

JENN WAS BEYOND bitchy when shefinally found Devon.  Devon couldn’t really blame her; it was a holiday.  Whowas late on the Fourth of July?  She was missing all the fun with parades,barbeques, and American flags everywhere outside.  She wished that she couldhave had the day off, but Jenn’s was slammed.  Hannah had called in sick, andthere was no way that Jenn was going to let Devon leave early, especially aftershe had shown up twenty minutes late.

The only good part about beingthis busy was that Devon didn’t have any time to think.  She was on her feetall morning, literally running at some points to get through orders faster. Her head was pounding by noon, and her feet hurt like the first day she hadstarted working there.

Just as she was taking her firstbreak of the day, Devon saw Hadley walk into the restaurant.  Hadley had beenas scarce in the apartment as when Devon had first confronted her about thedrugs.  This time, Devon was pretty sure that it wasn’t her fault though.  Shehad never found out what had caused Hadley’s argument with Garrett.  Hadleyhadn’t been around all week, so Devon hadn’t gotten the chance to ask her.

Garrett hadn’t been acting anydifferently toward her.  He clearly didn’t know that Devon knew about theargument.  The more time she spent with him, the more she thought it must beHadley’s fault.  He wouldn’t be that carefree about the situation if it hadbeen his fault.  She knew because she felt terribly guilty for leaving St.Louis, like it was her fault for not facing her problems, for not somehow beingbetter.

Garrett didn’t show any signs offeeling bad about the argument, whereas Devon knew Hadley was using.

Hadley’s eyes roamed therestaurant, and when she found Devon, she bit her lip and nodded her head tothe side.

Hmm…

Devon was on her break, so shedid have some time to talk to Hadley, but all things considered, it was weirdthat Hadley wanted to talk to her.  It was also strange that Hadley was alone. It was a holiday.  She should have been with her family, or with Garrett, orwith Garrett’s family.

What the hell? Devonthought, deciding to go find out.

“Hey, do you have a minute?”Hadley asked when Devon reached her.  “I know it’s packed in here.”

“I’m on break actually,” Devonsaid.

Hadley looked relieved andmotioned for her to follow her outside.  Devon’s curiosity was getting thebetter of her.  She wasn’t going to miss a chance to talk to Hadley even ifDevon wasn’t sure of the circumstances.

They walked around the side ofthe building and stood in the alleyway facing the street.  It wasn’t exactlyprivate, but it was more privacy than they would get inside.  Plus, if Jenn sawDevon in the break room, she would likely flip, and Devon’s fifteen minuteswould be up.  Devon leaned back against the brick building and waited forHadley to say something.

“Hey,” Hadley said awkwardly asif she wasn’t talking to her best friend.

“What’s up, Hadley?” Devon asked,knowing there was something to this.

What was she going to askfor—money for her drugs?  Devon couldn’t help thinking the worst of Hadley,and it made her feel bad.  Hadley was her best friend, and Devon needed to actlike it.  Just because she was going through her own issues didn’t mean shecouldn’t keep trying to help Hadley.  It was something Devon could work toward,but it was another thing she had just as little control over.

Hadley sighed and looked down atthe ground.  “I didn’t know who else to talk to,” she whispered.

She sounded more like the Hadleythat Devon knew before she had found out Hadley was on drugs.

“About what?” Devon askedcarefully.  She didn’t want to scare Hadley off.

Hadley swallowed and fidgeted. “I’ve…I’ve been trying to quit.”

“That’s great, Hadley!” Devoncheered.

“I’m still working on it,” shesaid, fidgeting some