With furrowed brows, I say, “What? He would never do that. That’s not like him. At. All.”
“Tell that to the girl who ran past me, bawling her eyes out.”
I bite my lip. “I think we just need a good talk.”
“And you think that’s going to help?” One of her eyebrows lifts.
“We’ve been friends forever, he’ll listen to me.”
She sighs. “Look, Autumn, I get that you were best friends and all, but Brody’s really changed. And it’s not for the good.”
“Maybe if I can talk some sense into him he’ll …”
“Don’t count on it.”
I look down at the floor, mulling over my idea to talk it over, get this cleared up and out of the way. But Evie’s words ring true. She’s not one to make this stuff up. I know for a fact Brody’s changed, but I still think I can get through to him. I shouldn’t give up until I’ve tried.
“If you really want to do it, I’ll come with you,” Evie says, and she hooks her arm around mine.
I smile. “Thanks.”
“What would you do without me?” She winks, and it makes me laugh.
We go downstairs and into the student lounge. Brody’s sitting there with his supposed ‘friends,’ who don’t fit at all with what I had in mind for his friends. They’re skinny, well-built, have smug faces, and some of them have girlfriends hanging on their laps. I don’t remember Brody being like this, but now that I see him sitting there with Scarlet by his side, pretending he’s all that, he seems different than before.
They’re talking loud, and I can barely hear what they’re saying, because they’re all yapping through each other’s conversations. They’re also smoking, even though that’s not allowed, but it doesn’t smell like tobacco. It stinks, and I feel like I’ve just entered a private party.
Evie coughs, creating a distraction, and the group stops talking. “Hello?”
“Hmm … fresh meat,” one of the group members says. “What do you want?”
“Yeah, fuck off,” another one says, and they all chuckle.
“Shut up!” Evie yells. “I’m not talking to you.”
Brody calms down his peers. “Autumn, Evie?” he says. “What are you doing here?”
“Uh, hello? This is the student lounge room. Everybody’s allowed in here.” Evie taps her foot on the floor.
The group Brody’s with laughs at her, and her tapping speed increases.
“Obviously.” Brody looks annoyed by her comment. “What can I do for you?”
“What can I do for you? Boy, you sound like a real gangsta, don’t you?” Evie says.
“Don’t call him that,” one of the guys cautions.
“Or else?”
“Evie,” I say, and I put my finger on my lips. “Let me handle it,” I whisper.
She crosses her arms and puffs. “Fine.”
Clearing my throat, I say, “Brody, can we talk?”
The group bursts out into laughter. “He doesn’t have time for you,” one of them says.
“We’re busy, can’t you see?” another one says, and they lean forward, looking bored and annoyed.
“Stop being such assholes!” Evie screams. “Or I’ll …”
Now they all stand up. “Or what, bitch?”
The relaxed mood has suddenly changed to a darker, scarier mood, and I’m not sure if I still want to talk to him. Heck, I’m not even sure if I should stay here one second longer. I don’t feel safe.
“Or nothing,” Brody says. “Look, girls, I’m sorry, but I don’t think this is the right time.”
“Yeah, fuck off,” one of the other guys says. “Like you’re even welcome anywhere. Fat ass.”
Now I have to hold Evie back before she charges in to start a wrestling match.
“What did you say?” she screams.
“Stop!” I yell.
“What, huh? What d’ya wanna do? Wanna fight?” one of the guys says to her, and he tilts his head in contempt.
“Fuck you! Fuck you all!” Evie screams, and she jerks herself loose from my grip. “And you too, Brody! Autumn’s your friend, and you’ve been treating her like shit.”
“What? What did I ever do?” Brody says, holding up his hands.
“C’mon, Evie, let’s go,” I say, and I usher her out of the room with trouble. “They’re not worth it.” I can’t deal with this right now, so the best solution is to cut it off.
“Damn right they’re not worth it!” she screams, but I hope they can’t hear her.
I push her up the stairs and pull her into our room. I have trouble containing her, because when she gets started she’s like a bull with horns, ready to charge.