Storm: Book 2 Read Online Free PDF Page B

stringing this along. I feign my interest.
    “And?”
    “You should go. I think it would be cathartic for you.”
    “I don’t want to be in the same room as that man.”
    “Well Brynn, I just though you should know. I thought you wanted to know. To, you know…get closure.”
    “I’ll get closure when he’s in a casket and not seeing mom anymore.
    “Fine by me. I texted you the information anyways.”
    “Thanks, but I’ll pass.” I pause. “Aunt Vera, I just want to say thanks for you know—”
    “You’re going to have to tell her yourself. I’m not going to keep it to myself. It’s not fair to her.”
    Aunt Vera, who got a call from the university hospital about my overdose, said she wouldn’t tell my mom about it as long as I get help and would tell her myself.
    “I know. I want her to get better first and then I’ll tell her. I promise.”
    “And how are you doing? You taking care of yourself?”
    “I’m fine. I’m done with that stuff. Honest. I’m going to a peer group to talk about it soon.”
    “Good. I’m not going to act holier than thou and say I didn’t dabble in a few things in my day, but I just know that stuff will end up catching up to in the long run.”
    “I know.” I look at the clock. “Can I talk to you later? I need to start studying. Thanks again. If you talk to mom, tell her I love her.”
    “Okay. I’ll talk to you soon.”
    I close my laptop and still can’t get over how Chase dumped me like I was nothing. I reach for my water bottle. It’s empty. Empty like my life. My life is a mess in every way I know possible—even ways I never knew were possible. And the only bright spot that I did have, is now gone. That’s my life. Total darkness. I get a sliver of sunshine or a shred of goodness here and there and then it’s back to hopelessness. I only get a taste of what it’s like to feel good. Maybe I should just drop out and live on the beach and learn how to surf. Those people always seem happy. The only person I knew that could help me cope was Chase and now he’s gone. I’m alone. Everyone back home was so proud of me, saying how Los Angeles would be my oyster and this is my big break. I’m disappointing all of them. And LA doesn’t seem like the oyster I thought it would be. I’m at a school with thousands of students in a city of millions of people, and I’ve never felt more alone in my life.
    I swallow hard and plop back onto the couch. I grab my psychology textbook and open it to the first page. It’s blank. Just like my life. I stare at page for what seems like hours.
     

Chapter 6
    I’m sweating bullets. I sit in the lounge area next to my dorm lobby, sitting Indian style on throw pillows among a circle of girls discussing issues affecting their lives on campus. One girl speaks about meditation and how it’s helped her with her alcoholism another girl discusses her newfound sexual discovery with another woman. Another thrashes out about the hatred of her mother. I thought this was supposed to a group about upliftment and positivity. Coming here only leaves me deflated.
    Ever since I passed by the group a few days ago, it had been gnawing at me to go. I don’t normally do shit like this. I’ve been here for forty-five minutes, listening, bouncing back and forth in my head whether I should speak. What would I say? Would I make a fool out of myself? I don’t know any of these girls. The girl, Amy who is the head of the organization said no words were shared outside of the circle.
    I always hated public speaking, but with everything that was happening I had to let shit out before I explode. Or harm myself. Or start using again. I don’t even know why I came. I hate sharing secrets. No one keeps them anyways. Why couldn’t we meet in a more private area? This is the place where guys come to play dominoes and plug up their video games on the big screen television in the corner of the room. A group of guys holding two liters of orange soda and two