Aeryn struck the punching bag in front of her, ignoring the fire in her throat and arms. People stopped after the first few rounds, but she continued to jab.
Her friend Jules had given up fifteen minutes earlier, pacing to steady her heart. She now sat on the floor with her legs splayed out, unscrewed her bottle cap, and tossed it on the hardwood floor. Despite her exhaustion, Jules wouldn’t leave the gym without Aeryn. They were friends, but they weren’t so close that she had to stick with Aeryn until the end. If Aeryn wanted to indulge in boxing to take her mind off of things, why did it bother everyone else how long she went at it?
Jules crossed to the other side of the gym where her bag lay. “You’ve got five minutes till closing time,” she said.
The hip-hop beats ricocheted off the blue walls, but Jules spoke loud and clear. Aeryn pretended that she heard nothing, sparring every now and then. Why couldn’t she wipe away the image of Amir from her head? All those wires and equipment…they made her stomach lurch.
She punched harder. Get out. Get out. Get out of my head. Her heart thumped in her chest, and her arms and legs had turned into jelly.
“Aeryn.”
The music stopped. Silence occupied the gym save for Aeryn’s rapid breaths and her fists thumping against the punching bag.
“Give it a rest, or you’ll wake up with sore muscles and curse me for not stopping you.” Jules’ sneakers squeaked against the waxed floor as she neared her. “It’s ten-thirty.”
A few more punches wouldn’t kill Jules. Besides, no one came to kick them out yet.
“Aeryn, let’s go. If I get home late, I’ll sleep late. And if I sleep late, you know I’ll wake up late. And then my dean will give me detention again. You don’t know how awful she is.”
Aeryn didn’t bother to check, but it was Jules’ style to deliver this rant with a hand on her hip. She gave it her all in these last few punches. After her final blow, she steadied the punching bag and let out a sigh. “Okay. I’m done,” she said, her voice hoarse and dry.
Jules squealed. “Finally.” She ran over and wrapped her arms around Aeryn.
“What are you doing?” Aeryn asked.
“Hugging you?” Jules stepped back once she saw how stiff Aeryn had gotten. “That was a terrible choice on my part because you stink.” She pinched her nose. “Take a shower when you get home, Miss Rider.”
“Of course I stink. I’ve been here for two hours.” Aeryn tossed her gloves inside her bag, hoping Jules would forgive the harshness in her tone. She snuck a glance, but the tall blonde wasn’t fazed.
“Are you driving home?” Aeryn asked as she unraveled the white wrap from each hand.
“No. My mom took the car today because my dad took her car. And his car…well, let’s not even talk about what happened.”
Jules liked to dramatize for effect, so Aeryn played along. “Why?”
“It got stolen! I mean, seriously?”
“That’s horrible.” What would Maia say when she’d walk in late? Was she ready to face all her sister’s questions? It was worse when Maia asked if she was okay as if she were a fragile glass figurine. Sure, her life wasn’t on the best terms, but at least she wasn’t moping around. She was doing fine.
“Are you listening?”
Crap. Jules said her dad’s car got stolen and then, she didn’t know. “I—”
“You weren’t. You were lost in thought again. I wish you’d tell me why. I thought we were friends.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ignore you.” She’d been saying that a lot, but it was true.
Jules squeezed Aeryn’s shoulder. “It’s okay.” She smiled, handing a water bottle to Aeryn. “Better hydrate.”
Aeryn chugged the water down. “Thanks.”
Jules smiled, and Aeryn forced a smile back before she zipped up her gym bag and tossed it over her shoulder. “Let’s go.”
When the girls exited the gym, a rush of cool air welcomed them.
“That feels so good.”
Aeryn nodded and glanced both ways before crossing the street to the train station. Near the entrance, murmurs from the train platform replaced the usual silence.
Jules tilted her head to the side. “Wonder what all the ruckus is about down there.”
“Beats me.”
Jules locked arms with her shorter friend and tugged her down the stairs, but Aeryn pulled back. “You go. I’m not coming.”
“Why? Aren’t you going home?”
Aeryn shook her head.
“Is everything okay?”
She sighed. Why did Jules ask so many questions? They spent four years boxing together as “gym buddies” as Jules had put it, and Jules was reliable, but Aeryn didn’t want to talk right now. She wanted silence. She also didn’t want to share that she’d been suspended from school. Technically speaking, she was asked to stay home, and it wouldn’t even go on her records as a formal suspension. Still, embarrassment forbade Jules from knowing that her anger had gotten the best of her. Again.
“You can tell me what’s wrong. Maybe I can, you know…help. That’s what friends are for, right?”
How could Aeryn explain that Jules couldn’t help? That no one could help? That if she were numbing on the inside, there was nothing anyone could do to chip it away. She shook her head again. “It’s nothing. Please, just go home.”
“Fine.” Jules pouted, turning toward the stairs. “Don’t tell me. I’ll just walk down those stairs, catch the train, and stay up all night. And if I do fall asleep,” she said, sneaking a glance at Aeryn, “I’ll just wake up with nightmares. But don’t you worry. I’ll convince my conscience that I did right by leaving my friend here without listening to her problems. I’ll just—”
“Oh, shut it.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re such a drama queen. Instead of boxing, your hobby should’ve been acting.”
“Well, I would make a fabulous actress, Miss Aeryn Rider.” She tossed her hair back.
“Okay, Miss Jules Wyatt. Go home and get your beauty sleep,” she joked, hoping Jules would forgo her curiosity and wish her goodnight.
Jules’ laugh echoed through the deserted streets. “I will, I will. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Jules. Get home safe,” Aeryn said, happy her wish was granted.
“Thanks. You too.” She saluted Aeryn and chuckled when she shook her head. After their goodbye, Aeryn lingered by the railing. It was so easy to make Jules smile. The girl was full of life. Why couldn’t she ever do that? What’s left of your life? a voice said to her. She ignored it for now, her body and mind too tired to dull away on upsetting thoughts.
She took a good look around her and savored the quiet that night brought along. Across the street, the lights from the gym dimmed, which meant it had to be eleven o’clock. Maia was sure to be disappointed when she got home. Or if she was lucky, Maia would’ve fallen asleep while putting the twins to bed. Keep dreaming. Her sister would be waiting right there in the living room, arms crossed and ready to lecture her. She wished the whole Amir situation hadn’t occurred. It broke Maia. Why couldn’t her family stop getting smaller and smaller?
Her throat tightened as if she’d choke any minute on a stone lodged in her throat. What was she doing out here, anyway? Feeling sorry for herself? She shook her head, but the minute she turned for the train station, she could’ve sworn she had seen a woman exactly like her—brown, wavy hair that bounced with each stride. The woman headed into a blue Chevy parked at the corner of the street. It hadn’t been there five minutes ago.
She blinked twice, but the woman was still there and very much, not a delusion. Aeryn raced to the corner. She picked up her pace when the woman headed into the passenger’s seat and shut the door.
Aeryn took a deep breath. As she braced herself to knock on the window, the car pulled out of the curb. “Hey, wait!”
Want to read the rest of this chapter? You can follow Aeryn’s story in Mission Rider!
SHARMIN AKTER 