Chapter 24

Shaun Smith

Tala’s crackling laugh immediately caught my attention. I immediately looked at the girl sitting next to Ridge and Chester. She was laughing so hard that she started crying. That was the first time I saw and heard Tala laugh. I should be happy because despite what's going on, she somehow manages to laugh.

But happiness was the last thing I was feeling. I was annoyed and irritated because I was not the reason for her laughter and somebody else managed to make her laugh. There was this inexplicable gut-clenching in my stomach, telling me that she should be next to me now, that I should be the one making her laugh and smile. I almost stopped myself from standing up and approaching them, pulling her away from the two.

“You have an upset stomach?” Kyndra suddenly asked, sitting on my right. Tyron was sitting on my left and sleeping.

I tried to take my eyes off of Tala and turned to Kyndra. “No, my stomach is fine,” I said.

Kyndra sighed. “I can see the way you look at her, yo