“What’s up?” Evie says. When she sees the girl she scowls. “Who’s that?”
Brody clears his throat. “This,” he grabs the girl’s hand, “is Scarlet.”
“Hi!” the girl says with a perky voice. “I’m Scarlet Fox.”
“Pleasure,” Evie says, and she stares at the girl’s feet as she steps into our room. I can see from the grim look on her face she doesn’t like it. Sometimes she gets a little territorial. It’s weird, but I like weird.
“I’m Autumn Blakewood,” I say. “And this is Evie Carder.”
Scarlet smiles gently, but seems confused when she sees Evie’s unwelcome, snarly face.
“I’m going out with some friends. Catch up a bit. Wanna join me?” Brody says.
“No thanks,” I say, and I shut my book.
“Why not?”
“Because I need to study and get all my homework done.”
Brody chuckles. “It’s only been a few days since the first trimester started. There can’t be that much work. Besides, you have the rest of the year to study. C’mon.”
“No, I really need to get this done,” I say, frowning.
“We’d love it if you’d come,” Scarlet suddenly says, as if she has a say in the matter.
“Brody …” Evie says, glaring at him.
I know she means she wants him to put a leash on her, and it makes me chuckle a bit. I know Evie hates dolls. Especially when they wear dresses. They’re her pet peeve.
“Don’t you want to enjoy college life?” Brody says.
“We do. In our own way. Without make-up, and dresses, and parties,” Evie says.
Brody squints at her. “By locking yourselves up in your room?”
“I just want to keep up so I don’t fall behind later. Nothing wrong with that,” I say.
“You did that in high school, too, and look what happened to you then.”
“Hey, don’t put that on her. It was not her fault she got teased!” Evie says. Teased is the understatement of the year. Bullied is more like it.
“No, neither was it my fault; I tried to protect her.”
“Guys … don’t fight, please,” I say, sighing.
“Well, why won’t you try something new? I don’t want you to have to live through that again. If you can socialize with the crowd this time, maybe you can enjoy college life a little more.”
“I’m already enjoying it,” I say with a smile, hoping he’ll stop asking me to do things I don’t want to do.
“What’s it to you anyway? Why are you so intent on getting her to go with you?” Evie says, frowning.
“Look, I just want to help out, all right? But whatever. Scarlet and I will just go together then. We’ve got plenty of other friends to hang with.”
“Yeah, you go have fun with the popular crowd,” Evie scoffs.
“Evie,” I say with furrowed brows, and she rolls her eyes.
“Thanks, Brody. I appreciate the offer, but Evie and I really want to study.”
“Okay … Well, see ya then.”
“Bye!” Scarlet says, chirpy, and I smile at her because I don’t know what else to do in an uncomfortable situation such as this.
We wave at each other, and Brody wraps his arm around Scarlet. My eyes widen. As they leave, I notice his hand is on her ass.
Evie throws her pillow across the room and lets out an annoyed moan.
“Oh. My. God. Was that his girlfriend?” I stammer.
“Seems like it. I can’t believe he wants someone like that.” Evie closes her eyes and lets out another groan.
“Hmm … maybe she isn’t that bad. I mean, we don’t know her, really.”
“True …” Evie mumbles. “Still, I don’t get why you still hang out with that guy.”
“Brody? Why not?”
“He’s turned into a total ass.”
“No, he hasn’t.”
Evie points at the door. “Well, what do you call that then?” She rolls onto her back and stares at me from her bed. “He thinks he’s all that now that he’s part of the popular group. And he’s trying to pull you with him.”
“It’s not that bad. He just wants to help.”
“By making you remember your shitty time at high school?”
“He’s just trying to convince me, that’s all.”
“Don’t make excuses for him,” she says, sitting up. “I’m trying to help you, too, and I’m telling you that he’s changed.”
“Maybe …” I say, opening my textbook again.
“I don’t like those people he’s hanging with. Ever since we’ve been here, he’s done nothing but ‘socialize,’” she says, making quotation marks with her fingers. “I don’t think he’s studied at all.”