Easy Sacrifice Read Free Page A

but he’s already such a big part of me.” Ty’s constantly on my mind. It’s more than a teenage crush. He’s more than that … He’s everything.
    She pats my knee and gives it a squeeze. “Sometimes, there isn’t a rhyme or reason for things, Jessa. But I hate to see you so hungup on someone who has appeared to vanish.”
    “I know.” I sigh and rest my head on her shoulder. “I just can’t get him off my mind. He’s always there. He left my life, but he never leaves my heart, and it hurts.”
    “Oh, honey.” She runs her fingers through my hair. “I wish I could say something to make you feel better, but the truth is mending a broken heart is easier said than done. One day soon, you’ll move on, but until then, try to remember him for what he was, okay?”
    “And what do you think that was?”
    “He was your savior, honey. He saved you from a horrendous situation. Maybe he wasn’t meant to be more than that.”
    She kisses the top of my head and heads back inside, leaving me reeling. No, she’s wrong. He was meant to be so much more. I just fear I’ll never have the opportunity to know for sure.
     
    * * *
     
    Our entire graduating class tosses their caps in the air, and I smile when I catch mine. Finally. Done. I’m done with this hellhole. I’m done with these judgmental people. Done with the stupid politics of this community. I’m fucking done.
    Kat, my only true friend, winds her arm through mine, and I hug her with my other arm. “Yay!”
    “I know, right. Yay!”
    We head over to where our parents and family sat excitedly through the two-hour ceremony. Everyone heads to a local restaurant downtown, and we park in succession in a parking garage. Our early dinner is happy and cheerful and celebratory. Kat’s leaving to go to New York to college, but I’m going to California. I need to get out of town for a while and see what else is out there. I’m sure I’ll come back eventually.
    Kat’s grandparents leave the restaurant the same time mine do, and her parents are quickly behind them. Mom and Dad stay a little while longer, but when Dad yawns, we all walk out together.
    “Oh, let’s go to that new yogurt bar! Ice cream sounds great!” Kat says excitedly. Vaughn just shakes his head at his little sister’s sweet tooth.
    “You three go on ahead. We’re tired, and he needs his blood pressure medication,” Mom says, tilting her head at my dad.
    “I actually have a date tonight, so I’ve gotta take off,” Vaughn says.
    “Of course, you do,” Kat teases. “My brother the player.”
    “Hey, I can’t help it; the ladies can’t resist me.” He hugs all the girls then shakes hands with my dad and heads to the parking garage.
    “Guess it’s just us.” I wink at Kat, and she smiles big; her beautiful white teeth are front and center, thanks to having an orthodontist for a dad. She could seriously be in a toothpaste commercial they’re so pretty.
    We walk to the little shop on the corner and indulge in a delicious treat. Kat gets chocolate on top of chocolate, and I get vanilla ice cream with Oreo.
    My mouth hurts from smiling so hard because I can’t believe we’re finally graduates. The past couple of years have been tough for me ever since that night with Derek. I told my parents as soon as I got home, but since it was his word against mine, and because his father was a judge, he didn’t get in trouble.
    He claimed that while we went outside to get some fresh air, we were mugged, and he fought off the attacker so I could run home. Ashley said I left willingly with him, and since she was the one who found him in the alley, the police believed their story.
    It didn’t make sense, though. Wouldn’t I have called the police? Wouldn’t I have been worried for Derek’s safety? They tried to tell me I was in shock.
    People started talking about me behind my back, labeling me a liar, a snitch, and a prude. I didn’t care—nobody was ever my friend aside from Kat anyway—but