Luna Who Stopped Giving In Chapter 04

Luna Who Stopped Giving In Chapter 04

The day before move-in, the Caldwells’ house was a mess.

Three massive suitcases lay open across the living room floor.

Mom stood over them with a checklist, going down it line by line.

“Sunscreen, bug spray, vitamins… oh, I still haven’t packed Lily’s skin care.”

“Mom, don’t forget that desk lamp.”

Lily was on the couch popping cherries into her mouth, pointing at the coffee table.

“I won’t. Caleb picked that out just for you. I put it right on top.”

Dad came out of his study holding a loaded debit card.

“Tuck this in Lily’s bag. I don’t want her running short on cash at school.”

I came out of the kitchen with a trash bag.

As I passed through the living room, Mom didn’t even look up.

“Amelia, run to the drugstore and grab some Band-Aids. Lily’s new shoes might give her blisters.”

“And drop off the dress Lily wore yesterday at the dry cleaner’s while you’re at it.”

I stopped.

The trash bag sagged in my grip.

“I don’t have time.”

Mom’s pen stopped. Her head snapped up.

“What did you say?”

I looked her dead in the eye.

“I haven’t packed yet.”

Marcus snorted from the couch.

“Pack what? Just shove your stuff in a bag. It’s not like you’ve got much.”

“Blackthorn’s five minutes away. You can always come back for whatever you forgot.”

I ignored him and walked to the front door to put on my shoes.

I opened the door and nearly collided with Caleb. His arms were full of bags.

He held up two campus ID lanyards.

One was pink, studded with rhinestones. The other was plain black.

“Amelia, where are you going?” he asked, stopping me.

“Taking out the trash.”

He held out the black lanyard.

“This one’s yours. Lily wanted the pink one, so I gave her that.”

“I’ll drive you both to campus tomorrow morning.”

“You don’t have much stuff, so you can help Lily with her pink suitcase.”

I looked at the black lanyard.

He had the same look in his eyes as the day he picked out that desk lamp.

He was so sure I’d take it. So sure I’d be grateful.

But not this time.

“Don’t worry about it. You guys go on without me.”

I stepped around him, tossed the bag in the bin outside, and went back in.

The next morning, I was up before dawn.

I grabbed my suitcase and eased the front door shut behind me.

The house was silent. They’d been up past midnight celebrating Lily.

Now they were all out cold.

The early autumn air had a bite to it.

I dragged my suitcase down the empty street, one wheel catching with every turn.

I got to the airport right at seven o’clock.

I printed my boarding pass and sat down at the gate.

My phone started buzzing nonstop.

Blackthorn’s freshman check-in had started.

In the family group chat, Mom had sent message after message.

[Amelia where are you?? I told you to help Lily with her luggage!]

[Don’t just disappear. Get to the south gate of Blackthorn Pack University. NOW.]

Marcus sent a photo of Lily posing with a huge smile in front of the campus gate.

[Lol someone’s jealous]

Then Caleb’s texts started coming through, one after another.

[Amelia, stop acting like this.]

[Which dorm are you in? Lily’s bed is set up. Come help her organize her desk and closet.]

[I’ll take you guys out for sushi tonight. My treat. Call it my way of making it up to you, okay?]

The boarding announcement crackled over the speakers.

“Now boarding all passengers on the flight to Boston…”

I stared at Caleb’s last message. My way of making it up to you.

I tapped his name.

Opened his contact page.

Hit Block.

Then I went back and blocked every Caldwell in my phone. Every single one.

I stood, picked up my beat-up suitcase, and walked to the gate.

Outside the terminal windows, a plane lifted off the runway and climbed into the open sky.