The Death of Susan Mississippi by Sequoia Gallatin (first e reader .TXT) 📕

in at where i'm huddled in the corner of my room, wiping at my tears. He sighs and sits down next to me.
"Whats wrong, Maya?" He asks, wiping a tear off my cheek. "You've never acted like this before. You're always so strong. You know, i've only ever seen you cry once? Why are you crying like this now? Whats wrong? Please tell me? I want to help you." He wraps his arms around me but I just shake my head.
"You wont understand." I say, crying again. "You wont understand!" I push him away. "You wont understand!" But he wont listen, he just sits there gazing at me and I want to feel that warmth again but i'm too upset to. "So whenever she's not here you look at me like that but when she is i'm just easy to ignore? Am I some joke to you? Do you just like messing with MY feelings?"
He stares at me. "What are you talking about?"
"Why is it whenever she's here i'm just like some second person you have along for the fun. Did you know that you use to ignore me at school? We're supposed to be BEST FRIENDS Brian! Does that mean ANYTHING to you? Do you even CARE anymore?" I glare at him. This time he jumps up.
"Listen, i don't know what the hell THIS is about but I can tell when I'm not needed anymore." Before I can say anything he says, "I'm out of here. Goodbye maya. FOREVER." Then walks out.
"I love you" I whisper once he had left then sit down and cry again.


I look out the window and see Susan laughing at something that Brian said, he's smiling at her, then he pulls her to him, says something then kisses her, passionately. I sob and fall into the corner. I hear the door open and somebody steps inside.
"Maya?" I hear a familiar males voice.
"In here!" I call. I hear footsteps padding across the floor and then see Elliott standing in the doorway.
"Hey" He says. "You okay?" I shrug. "You really like Brian, don't you?" I study him for a minute then say,
"I've known him my whole life and I never thought i'd fall in-love with him but, yes, I do love him. But he's made up his mind. We've gone our separate ways now. And thats just how its supposed to be."
He laughs, shaking his head. "No" He says, "I don't think thats how its supposed to be." He comes and sits down next to me. "Listen, now i'm not an expert on relationships, but me and Brinny have been together for three years" Brinny is his popular, hot girlfriend. "But I can tell that you two care for each other. You just wont admit it… To each other. But please, come with us? Its really important to my sister, and me. This could rid us of all the bad animals and people. It will make this place the beautiful place it was ten years ago. You know how its been really bitter ever since. PLEASE, you don't have to get along with Brian but Please, if not for us then for your own town and the people you love." I look out of the window and see him pushing her on the swing, their laughing together. I can tell that she makes him happy, maybe its best this way, and at least I wont feel so sad because were not friends anymore. But will that stop me from loving him? No, of course not. But Elliott's right, I have to do this for my town and family and friends. I take a deep breath then nod.
"Okay," I say, "I'll do it. But not for you or Susan or Brian, I'm doing this for my town and the people I love." Even though I do love Brian, more than I should.
He nods. "Thats more than we could ask for. Come on, pack up some stuff then we should go." He leaves while I pack. As it turns out, while I was gone Brian had taken Catherine to my parents. I am grateful for that. I finish packing then walk outside. They were all laughing but they stop when they see me. Brian, I love you. I cant help it. I believe I will ALWAYS love you, I think to myself. He looks up and his expression hardens when he sees me.
"Maya, we need to talk." He says, nodding toward the side of the house. I sigh, then put my stuff down and follow him. He stands there and watches me.
"What do you want, Mace?" I say, meanly I agree but i'm really hurt. Watching him making out with Susan is really painful and now I have to keep all the pain inside because i'll be riding in a car with all of them for a while.
"I understand now why you were so mad. You are in-love with me. And you were jealous of Susan." He says, smirking. I stare at him, how was it that he was so spot on? But now i'm even angrier because he's smirking at me. I turn and try heading back but he grabs my hand and pulls me back to him, his face softening. He looks like the old Brian I know and love. "You're not alone, maya. I'm here for you i always was and always will be. And,"He says as he turns and starts walking back, "Just so you know, I've always loved you too." Then he walks back and i just stand there trying to absorb what he had said. Then their all in the car and Elliott's honking his horn.
"Come on, morris!" He yells, honking it again. Susan and Brian laugh as I hurry toward them. My eyes meet Brian's and he smiles at me. I hop into the backseat next to him. Elliott and Susan sit in the front, Elliott starts the car and off we go.
Chapter 2: This is how love feels

We sit there, Brian playing with my hand. I look up at him and his lips curl into a smile as his eyes meet mine.
"You're beautiful, you know that, right?" He whispers in my ear. I feel his fingers at the back of my neck. "I love you."
"I love you, too." I tell him. He looks ahead, his eyes sad.
"Im sorry for being so mean to you. I wonder, is this how love is supposed to be?" He looks at me, wanting for me to answer his question. I shrug.
"You are the only person i've ever really been in-love with. And maybe it is, since thats what happened between us."
He nods. We sit there for a while in silence.


We finally get there.
"Okay, everybody out." Elliott says. "Were setting up camp tonight then heading to the canyon tomorrow." We all get out. Brian puts his arm around my shoulders.
"How exactly are you the boy who can see things others can't?" I whisper, he shrugs.
"I do sometimes see things other people dont." He shrugs again. "Guess its just a talent." He laughs and squeezes my shoulder. I smile up at him. Finally, he loves me. We grab our bags, and head down the hill towards our campsite. We set up two tents. One for the girls and one for the guys.
"Okay," Elliott says after we finish putting up the tents. "We need a fire now. Come on Brian lets go find wood, the girls will start dinner." They head off to find the wood.
"So," Susan says as we get the food out of the bags. "My brother told me that you saw me and Brian…" She stops talking but i know what she's talking about. I nod. "Listen, Maya, I know it looked bad but it wasn't like that. I'm not in-love with Brian." I nod stiffly and smile at her a bit.
"Thanks" I say.


We sit in silence.
"So," He says finally interrupting the silence. "How long have you been in-love with me for?"
I look at him.
"Since we were five and you gave me that lollipop because, and you said this, 'You looked so lonely and sad. I want you to have this I can get another one anytime.' And then you kissed my cheek and ever since then I've loved you." I told him.
"Oh," He said, looking down at our entwined fingers. I nodded, knowingly.
"I understand." I say, smiling at him. "You don't have