He Wrapped Me Up for His Crush. Now I Live in His Head. Chapter 04

He Wrapped Me Up for His Crush. Now I Live in His Head. Chapter 04

At dinner, Mom noticed something was wrong.

“Avery, did something happen at school?”

She cut up my potato, concern in her eyes.

I shook my head.

“No.”

My voice cracked.

I quickly lowered my head and stuffed a bite of potato into my mouth to hide it.

“Then why aren’t you eating? Your eyes are swollen.”

Mom put down her utensils and looked at me seriously.

“Did you fight with Logan?”

Logan.

Hearing his name felt like a needle in my heart.

“Just tired from studying.”

I lied.

I didn’t want Mom to worry. I didn’t want to explain the humiliating details.

Dad frowned.

“Don’t push yourself too hard. Health comes first. It’s the weekend tomorrow. Have Logan take you out to relax.”

“Mrs. Hayes mentioned you two haven’t hung out in a while.”

Logan.

Again Logan.

In everyone’s eyes, we were bound to end up together.

Childhood best friends. Same neighborhood.

Our families already assumed we’d date eventually.

I used to think so too. Until Harper transferred in.

Her father was new money in Lakeview.

She was beautiful, got good grades, played piano, danced, and was cheer captain.

From her first day, she became the center of attention. The star of the school.

Guys orbited her. Girls envied her. Teachers loved her.

Everyone treated her like Queen Harper.

Logan fell for her instantly. After that, she was all he saw.

He’d arrive early to save Harper a seat. I used to save seats for him.

He’d drive across town to buy her breakfast just because she mentioned wanting a sandwich from that café.

He’d do anything to make her smile. Including hanging me from the flagpole.

“I’m full.”

I put down my utensils and practically fled to my room. If I stayed longer, I might cry.

I closed the door, and the tears finally came.

I cried quietly, covering my mouth so Mom and Dad wouldn’t hear.

I opened my computer and started looking up transfer paperwork. I needed to leave.

Leave this place that made it hard to breathe.

Most importantly, leave Logan.

Leave all the humiliation and mockery.

Briarwood had a great college-prep high school.

Aunt Claire taught there.

She’d asked me during sophomore year if I wanted to transfer.

I turned it down then. I didn’t want to leave home. I didn’t want to leave Logan.

Looking back, it was ridiculous.

The person I couldn’t bear to leave had no problem hurting me.

My phone rang. Logan.

I hung up.

He called again.

I hung up again.

After a dozen times, he texted.

“Stop sulking. Want to go to the amusement park tomorrow?”

“You’ve always wanted to go, right?”

“I’m sorry, okay?”

“Avery, don’t be mad.”

“I bought your favorite mango cheesecake.”

“Should I bring it over now?”

I didn’t reply.

Mango cheesecake?

He thought a dessert could fix everything?

He kept texting.

“Avery Collins, don’t push it.”

“It was just a prank. Why so dramatic?”

“Harper already apologized to you.”

“What more do you want?”

“If you keep ignoring me, I won’t bother anymore.”

“Avery!”

“You’ll regret this.”

I laughed coldly.

When apologies failed, he started threatening. That was Logan.

Always the center of his own universe. Always expecting the world to revolve around him.

I blocked him. The world finally went quiet.

The moon outside was full. When we were kids, we’d sit on the back porch looking at it together.

He’d say, “Avery, doesn’t the moon look like pizza?”

I’d say, “It looks like a plate.”

He’d reply, “I’m hungry. Everything looks like food.”

Then I’d give him the candy from my pocket.

Those days were so good.

Too bad we could never go back.