Todos os capítulos de The Day He Called Me a Leech, I Left: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 8

From that day on, I started deliberately cutting back on how often I went to find Sebastian.I thought stepping back and staying quiet would let things blow over. But the Parasite label had already become a silent plague, spreading fast through the school.In math class, someone behind me talked at a volume just loud enough for me to hear:"Look. That's her. The leech.""How does she even have the nerve to keep following Sebastian around?"When I went to the library to find materials, passing a few rows of shelves, someone deliberately raised their voice:"Move. This book isn't for leeches.""You only know how to trail after Sebastian. Can you even read that?"I even went to the cafeteria to buy a sandwich, and the woman at the register looked at me with this strange, appraising stare.Like she was looking at some parasitic germ clinging to a popular kid.The worst part was the sorority.Chloe had just started a social club for senior girls. A few girls I'd been on decent terms with, a

I ran all the way back to the old house my grandmother left me, through the freezing rain and wind.Not surprisingly, I came down with a raging fever that night.My head pounded. My throat burned with thirst.Half-delirious, I got a call from Sebastian."Hey, Maya? You home yet?"The background was loud, clinking with fancy restaurant music and laughter."What's up? I'm kind of busy.""Sebastian, I have a high fever..."I barely got the words out, unsure if he even heard me."What?" He asked again. "Can you speak up?"Before I could try again, Chloe's voice came through the line."Sebastian, our appetizers are here. Cut my steak for me—""Coming." Sebastian called back, then said to me, fast, "Alright Maya, I've got stuff going on. Gotta go."The call cut off clean.In the end, it was Mrs. Rivers next door, Sebastian's mother, who came over with a lemon cake she'd baked. She pushed the door open and found me passed out.Her face went pale. Without a word, she drove me straight to the h

Life in New York flew by.Before I knew it, I'd adjusted to Columbia's brutal course pace. The café business stayed steady, and I got more and more skilled. I even developed a few seasonal specialty drinks that became popular with the students and professors nearby.Mr. Smith happily raised my hourly wage."Maya, you're amazing." He patted my shoulder with a grin. "I wish you were my daughter!"I smiled politely and kept steaming milk, my hands never stopping.Life finally seemed to be on track.Until that afternoon, when an unwelcome guest walked into the café.Sebastian had lost a lot of weight. His eye sockets were sunken, stubble all over his jaw. Nothing left of the sunny, dazzling football star from the field.The second he saw me, a light sparked in those dull, hollow eyes."Maya!"He nearly lost control and lunged forward to hug me.I stepped back hard, neatly avoiding him from behind the wide wooden counter."Welcome. What can I get for you, sir?"I used my standard, practiced

Sebastian got sick.After that night of pouring rain, he came down with a high fever and was admitted to a hospital in Lower Manhattan.I heard it from the café owner.My hand paused for a beat on the coffee cup. Then I calmly hung the cloth back in place."No need, boss. I have a seminar."The owner sighed."I was young once too. I always thought I'd never regret anything."But the one who should regret? It was never me.The next afternoon, Mrs. Rivers came to the café.She looked worn down. The moment she saw me standing behind the counter, her eyes went red."Maya... I finally found you."She reached out instinctively, wanting to hug me.I stepped back half a pace, polite, keeping the distance. I gave a slight bow. "Mrs. Rivers. It's been a while."She looked a little awkward."Maya, Sebastian's father and I know everything that happened at school. Sebastian was an idiot. If we'd known, we would've made him protect you."I stayed silent."But Maya, he's paid enough for his mistakes.