Chapter 24

The night was beginning to feel surreal and he yearned to be home, away from the noise and confusion that was banging at the back of his head like an unwelcome guest. Instead of heading to his car, Michael found himself pacing the field. He felt like a rodent on the edge of some glittering city full of lights and excitement where other beings lived—a place he could visit but not stay. He walked the familiar path down and behind the high school. The whole time he talked to himself, pretending Angel walked beside him, practicing what he would say, how he could explain his fears and anxieties. When he accidentally stumbled on a couple making out in a shadowy alcove of the school, they stared at him like he was crazy. He looked down at his feet, thrust his hands deep into his pockets, and kept walking until he faced the festival spectacle again. He had to find Angel, tell him the real reason he’d walked away, and hope they could move on as friends, partners, and…