Renee’s POVEric stands with his jaw slack. His eye twitches. Jasper gives my hand a slight squeeze, a simple way of telling me that our plan is working. I look up at Eric and feign confusion.“What’s the problem?” I ask innocently. Eric snaps his jaw shut and his eyes harden.“I don’t believe you,”
Renee’s POVThe next morning I wake up to the blaring sound of the smoke detector going off. I shoot upright in bed and scramble to my feet. Only after I become briefly oriented do I smell something like burnt pancakes.I relax a little as I head down the stairs, tugging my bathrobe tight against me
I laugh out loud at the text, until I hear the familiar high-pitch whines of Mia behind me.I turn around and see her and Eric walking out of the building. Mia is looking straight at him, going on about something that I can’t quite make out while Eric stares straight ahead, looking at nothing. Until
Renee’s POVIt’s been a couple of months since Mia and I hatched our deal, I must say she’s being loyal to her word. I don’t know I would expect it to be any different, if there’s anyone who doesn’t want Eric finding out who I am more than myself, it’s Mia.Fall has taken place of summer. Green leav
Sometimes I really let myself get into character and pretend that I’m dating Jasper for now. Debbie has warmed up to him enough, she doesn’t even look up from her workbook when Jasper took my hand in his.“Sorry,” Jasper says sheepishly and goes to pull his hand away. I guess he caught me staring.“
Renee’s POVI'm lying in bed staring at the blank white ceiling. Early morning spreads across the room and hues of deep blue. I check my alarm clock next to me, it's barely 6:00 in the morning. I told my head to the other direction where Jasper lay beside me lightly snoring.I’ve since moved him up
Luckily, Debbie didn’t ask too many questions. I told her that we both are very busy at work and need some time apart to which she replied that she hates work. I laughed and told her it’s what’s paying for her treatments.Now I’m driving her to school and we’re singing along to the radio. This feels
Renee’s POVI can’t see this correctly. Debbie is laughing with Nilo, not at him. I don't think I want her to be a bully or anything, but I don’t think I want her friends with Nilo either.I think about marching over there right now, and putting a stop to all of this, but Jasper puts a steady hand o
that I’m about to learn it’s not. I toss my phone aside and go for my laptop tucked inside my work bag. “You’re working?” Emily asks. I don’t answer her, I can’t. I’m too focused. I sign into my works database and pull up our network that tracks our global ratings. “No,” I gasp. “Well, if
It’s late. I’m tired. Yet the crowd outside Emily’s house continues to buzz with energy. The closer I get to the window, the more I can pick up on the undercurrent of anticipation, so I stay far away from the window. The crowd rotates through a series of chants. Each other be more annoying tha
The man approaches Eric, who remains in his seat, clearly not seeing the man as a threat. Though I can’t hear what they’re saying, I can gather the conversation well enough based off their loose hand gestures towards the house. Just then the stranger looks up and smiles knowingly at Emily and
This is not like Eric. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t the tiniest bit impressed, still it’s not fair of him to do this. I haven’t moved from the couch, despite Emily’s efforts. “Just hear him out,” she says stifling a yawn. By now we could have watch both of the movies we wanted to. I sha
this out for him so he can hear how crazy it all sounds. Eric nods. “Like I said, I’ve realized my mistake and besides I thought she was dead before. That doesn’t mean a day didn’t go by where I didn’t think about her, where I had to shove the ache in my heart way down,” he locks his eye son t
Emily’s POV Why do they make you pick between sharp or easy to use when buying a razor? Why not both? I throw both in my basket, unable to make a decision. Whatever one I don’t like Renee can have the other. Who knows how long she’ll stay. The market is busy for a Friday afternoon, but I g
“Of course your donation is what got me here in the first place,” I say trying to save face. “Thanks,” Jasper says letting me know he knows what I’m doing. “I’m happy for you, regardless how you got here, it wasn’t because of me or Eric- it was all you,” he says and pride swells up inside me. Ja
Renee’s POV A week passes and Emily and I fall into a rhythm with one another’s schedule. It helps that Emily’s guestroom comes with a guest bathroom. Every morning we both wake up at seven, get ready for the day and meet in the kitchen. Whoever is there first starts making breakfast for the bo
Emily is waiting for me on the driveway of her cottage-like home. She lives in a very rural area, far away from the city. Her quaint and simple living is almost an ironic stark contrast to her bold and loud personality. She wraps me into a hug and it’s only then do I realize that I’ve been crying.