But that fantasy was quashed as I studied this doppelgänger of Rune.
This Rune’s light was dim, nothing glittered bright. It was obscured by shadow and mired in darkness. It was as though the boy I had loved had been cast aside in Norway.
Deacon’s car pulled into the driveway of Rune’s house. I saw Rune’s cell light up in his hand, and he slowly made his way from his room and sauntered off the porch. He walked with a careless swagger toward Deacon and Judson, who jumped out of the car. He slapped them both on the back in greeting.
Then my heart cracked in two. Avery slid out of the back seat and hugged Rune hard. She was wearing a short skirt and cropped top, showcasing her perfect figure. But Rune didn’t hug her back—though that did nothing to lessen my pain. Because Avery and Rune, standing side by side, looked so perfect. Both tall and blond. Both beautiful.
They all piled into the car. Rune got in last, taking shotgun, and then they rolled away from our street and out of sight.
I sighed as I watched the taillights fade into the night. When I looked back at the Kristiansen house, I saw Rune’s pappa standing at the edge of the porch, gripping the railing, staring in the direction in which his son had just departed. Then he lifted his face to the office window, and a sad smile spread on his lips.
He’d seen me.
Mr. Kristiansen lifted his hand and gave me a small wave. As I waved back, I saw a look of utter sadness etched on his face.
He looked tired.
He looked heartbroken.
He looked like he missed his son.
I returned to my room, lay back on my bed and pulled my favorite photo frame into my hands. As I stared down at the beautiful boy and the smitten girl staring back, both so in love, I wondered what had happened in the last two years to make Rune as troubled and rebellious as he appeared to be.
Then I cried.
I cried for the boy who was my sun.
I mourned the boy I once loved with everything I had.
I mourned Poppy and Rune—a couple of extreme beauty and even quicker death.
Poppy
“You sure you’re okay?” my mama asked as she stroked my arm. The car rolled to a stop.
I smiled and nodded my head. “Yeah, mama, I’m good.”
Her eyes were rimmed with red and tears were building in her eyes. “Poppy. Baby. You don’t have to go to school today if you don’t want to.”
“Mama, I love school. I want to be here.” I shrugged. “Plus, I have history fifth period and you know how much I love it. It’s my favorite class.”
A reluctant smile pulled on her mouth and she laughed, wiping her eyes. “You’re just like your mamaw. Stubborn as an ox and always seeing the sunshine behind every cloud. I see her personality shining through your eyes every single day.”
Warmth blossomed in my chest. “That makes me real happy, Mama. But I mean it, I’m truly okay,” I said sincerely.
When Mama’s eyes filled with water again, she shooed me from the car, pushing the doctor’s note into my hand. “Here, make sure to hand that in.”
I took the paper, but before I shut the car door, I ducked down to say, “I love you, Mama. With my whole heart.”
My mama paused and I saw the bittersweet happiness spread on her face. “I love you too, Pops. With my whole heart.”
I shut the door and turned to walk into school. I always thought it was strange, arriving at school late. The place was so quiet and still, kind of apocalyptic, the total opposite to the rowdiness of lunch period or the mad dash of students in between classes.
I made my way to the school office for Mrs. Greenway, the secretary, to process my doctor’s note. As she handed me my hall pass, she asked, “How you doing, darlin’? You keeping that pretty head of yours up?”
Smiling at her kind face, I replied, “Yes, ma’am.”
She winked at me, making me laugh. “That’s my girl.”
Checking my watch, I saw that my next class had only been in session fifteen minutes. Moving as quickly as I could to avoid missing anything else, I rushed through two sets of doors until I arrived at my locker. I yanked it open and pulled out the pile of English Lit books that I needed for my class.
I heard the door at the end of the short hallway opening, but paid it no mind. Once I had everything I needed, I shut my locker door with my elbow and headed for class, wrestling with my many books. When I looked up, I stopped dead.
I was sure my heart and my lungs stopped working. Standing about eight feet in front of me, seemingly as glued to the spot as I was, was Rune. A towering and fully grown Rune.
And he was staring at me. Crystal-blue eyes held me in their trap. I couldn’t have turned away even if I had wanted to.
Finally, I was able to find a breath, and filled my lungs with air. Like a jump lead, the action caused my heart to beat, to beat furiously under the stare of this boy. The one, that if I was being honest with myself, I still loved more than anything in the world.
Rune was dressed as he always had—black muscle t-shirt, black slim-fit jeans and black suede boots. Only now, his arms were thicker; his waist was toned and leaner, tapering in at his hips. My eyes traveled to his face and my stomach flipped. I thought I had seen all his beauty as he stood under the lamplight last night, but I hadn’t.
Older and more mature, he was quite possibly the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. His jaw was strong, perfectly defining his Scandinavian face. His cheekbones were prominent, but not in any way feminine, and a light dusting of blond stubble graced his chin and cheeks. The constants, I discovered, were those dark-blond eyebrows furrowed over his almond-shaped bright-blue eyes.
The eyes that even the distance of four thousand miles, and a timescale of two years, could never erase from my memory.
But that gaze, the gaze that was currently boring through mine, didn’t belong to the Rune I knew. Because it was filled with accusation and hatred. These eyes were glaring at me with unconcealed contempt.
I swallowed back the pain that was clawing up my throat, the pain of being on the receiving end of such a hard stare. Being loved by Rune brought the heady sensation of warmth. Being hated by Rune was like standing on an arctic ice shelf.
Minutes passed by and neither of us moved an inch. The air seemed to crackle around us. I watched as Rune’s fist clenched at his side. He seemed to be mentally warring with himself. I wondered what he was fighting inside. The look on his face grew darker still. Then, behind him, the door opened, and William, the hall monitor walked through.
He looked at Rune and me, serving up the excuse I needed to break free from this too-intense moment. I needed to gather my thoughts.
William cleared his throat. “Can I see your hall passes?”
I nodded and, balancing my books on a raised knee, went to hand mine over, but Rune shoved his in front of mine.
I didn’t react to his blatant rudeness.
William checked his pass first. Rune had been picking up his class schedule, that was why he was late. William handed back Rune’s pass, but Rune still didn’t move. William took hold of mine. He looked at me and said, “I hope you feel better soon, Poppy.”
My face paled, wondering how he knew, but then I realized the pass had said I’d been to see my doctor. He was simply being kind. He didn’t know.
“Thank you,” I said nervously and risked a look up. Rune was watching me, only this time his forehead appeared lined. I recognized his expression of worry. As soon as Rune saw me staring at him, reading him correctly, the worry was quickly replaced by the scowl he had previously worn.