The Suitcase They Threw Out, The Ticket I Bought To Leave Chapter 06

The Suitcase They Threw Out, The Ticket I Bought To Leave Chapter 06

Hunter was so distraught he skipped New Student Convocation entirely, wandering across Duke’s campus. His Orientation Leader tried reasoning with him over and over, yet nothing could pull him

away.

Mr. and Mrs. Grant kept calling, but Hunter ignored every call. Before he knew it, his feet carried him to the tree inside Sarah P. Duke Gardens, bringing back the promise we’d made long ago.

He slumped down onto the stone ledge around the tree’s base, knees drawn tight, gaze vacant.

“Hunter?”

Nadia had heard everything. Worried sick, she’d slipped away despite her roommates’ attempts stop her and tracked him down.

At the sound, Hunter’s face lit up, convinced it was Wally. His hope shattered when he saw it was Nadia. “Nadia? Why are you here?”

A flicker of hurt crossed Nadia’s eyes. She quickly forced a smile, thin and unconvincing. “I heard what happened with your sister. Maybe she’s mad about how much time you spend with me. Back then, the two of you were so close I could barely get a word in edgewise.”

“It was never like that between us. We were just friends. Wally knew how I felt about her.” Hunter buried his face in both hands, running both hands through his hair. “We made a wish right here under this tree, that we’d stay together forever. Why would she break her promise?”

“Who really knows?” Something calculating flickered in Nadia’s eyes.

Her carefully done makeup made her look sweet, perfectly masking the calculating look beneath.

“Wally spent almost all her time locked in the library or cooped up in her room. Maybe she’s fallen for someone else. Feelings change.” She sighed softly. “I wanted to say this yesterday, but I didn’t want to hurt you. I think she’s lost interest in you. She’s always been shy, so she’s avoiding you

instead of saying it out loud.”

She lifted the hem of her dress and sat down beside him, gently rubbing circles across his back. “Don’t be so broken-hearted, Hunter. If Wally doesn’t want you, I’m right here.”

Hunter barely registered what Nadia was saying.

He stared blankly upward and noticed one spot among the treetops where leaves were missing. His eyes flared. “Wally and I hung our wish tags here. If she sees ours, she’ll remember everything we

had.”

Ignoring the maintenance ladder leaning nearby, he scrambled straight up the tree trunk, digging through thick foliage. “Not this one… not this either…”

After what felt like hours, he finally located their wooden tag. Three years of wind and sun had faded most of the ink, yet the line Stay with Wally forever still stood clear.

The sun blazed hotter. Beneath the tree, Nadia sweated profusely, her foundation melting and streaking across her cheeks. Hunter never glanced down at her once.

“Hunter!” Nadia called out sharply.

Hunter paused. “Thanks, Nadia. Once I sort everything out with Wally, I’ll treat you to dinner.”

Nadia froze where she sat, looking utterly foolish.

She had never felt so humiliated in her whole life. Growing up, her parents doted on her; teachers and classmates adored her. Nobody ever brushed her off like this, and certainly never for Wallace.

This had happened twice already. Once when SAT scores came out, and now this.

For the very first time, resentment toward her own sister burned inside her.

Burning with anger, Nadia scrolled down her contacts until she found my name and fired off a string of bitter texts.

[Wallace, are you enjoying watching Hunter fall apart over you?]

[Come out right now, or I’m telling Mom and Dad everything!]

[Quit playing games. They’ll lock you out of the house for good.]

Three messages sent. A bright red exclamation mark popped up next to the fourth.

I’d blocked her. Nadia flew into a rage.