The Summer I Went Wild Chapter 3 Part 1
The Summer I Went Wild
Chapter Three
Part One
Landon
I blew out a puff of smoke and closed my eyes, savoring the sweetness of the nicotine running through me. Caleb’s eyes stayed glued on me, watching intensely—waiting for me to say something.
All I wanted to do was smoke.
“Come on, bro,” he said. “Say something. What did she just tell you?”
That was the last thing I wanted to talk about. We could’ve talked about the weather, or the beach trip Caleb couldn’t shut up about. I’d nod, throw in a few fake oohs and ahs, and finish this cigarette.
“Lo,” he tried again. “Tell me what’s up.”
“Nothing important, man.”
“That’s not how it looked. She left with eyes so red she looked like she’d been hit. When I asked her, she told me to ask you.”
“She came here to break up with me,” I said flatly. “And she left crying when I only said, ‘Okay.’”
There. Maybe now he’d leave me alone.
Instead, Caleb dragged a lounge chair next to mine and sat.
“Damn,” he muttered. “I knew something was off. From the way she left. And the way you’re sulking out here smoking.”
Sulking.
He thought I was sulking over Amanda. I’d been out here long before she showed up to tell me what a jerk I was.
“It’s not because of her.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Fine. He could believe whatever he wanted.
The sky mirrored my mood—dark clouds swallowing the sun, wind rushing in with the charged scent of rain. Lightning cracked across the sky, thunder rumbling low. It felt right. The perfect weather to smoke and watch everything fall apart.
“Just wait,” Caleb muttered. “She’s gonna tell everyone you’re bad in bed.”
He tried—and failed—not to laugh.
I almost smiled.
Almost.
Amanda was one of the popular mean girls on campus. I’d seen how she ruined people for sport.
I wouldn’t even blame her this time.
I wasn’t cut out for relationships. After Amanda, I was done with parties, with women, with all of it.
It would just be me and my law textbooks. Though I doubted I could stay away from temptation forever.
“People can think whatever they want,” I said.
If I cared about reputation, I wouldn’t be drowning in books, burning myself out until the words blurred together.
“We can’t let your rep tank,” Caleb said. “Let’s go to Jaden’s party. Find someone to undo whatever curse Amanda’s putting on you.”
“Nah.”
Even though numbing myself at a party sounded tempting, I couldn’t.
“That’s the fifth time you’ve said no,” he said. “What’s really going on?”
“Exams.”
“You study twenty hours a day.”
“That’s a lie,” I said, taking one last drag before crushing the cigarette.
“Not far from the truth.”
“After exams, I’ll go back to normal,” I muttered, reaching for another cigarette.
“You keep pushing like this, it won’t end well.”
I lit it anyway.
He knew. Of course he did. Everyone probably did. The mood swings. The aches. The numbness.
“I’m fine,” I said, forcing a smile.
He nodded, but the worry stayed.
Rain started falling. Cool droplets hit my face as the scent of wet pavement filled the air.
“That’s a little much,” Caleb said, eyeing the cigarette.
I inhaled deeply. “This is the last pack.”
I rarely smoked. Only on nights like this—when I needed to feel something.
“Last time I’m asking,” he said. “You sure you’re not coming?”
“Nope. I’ve got to prepare for the competition.”
He didn’t argue.
“So how’s it going?” he asked.
Terrible.
Art needed passion. Drive.
I’d lost both.
“Honestly?” I said quietly. “Not great.”