“Well, that’s his problem.”
She sighs. “I know.”
It’s quiet for some time, and I go back to reading the same page as last time, just to make sure I read it well enough to remember.
“Look, I’m sorry. I know he’s your friend, and that you’ve known each other for God knows how long … I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
She looks up at me and smiles.
“Don’t worry. I know Brody and he knows me. He wouldn’t do that.”
“I hope you’re right,” Evie says, and she props up her pillow. Then she starts to laugh. “Did you see the look on her face when she saw me? Priceless.”
I chuckle. “You looked like a hibernating bear who got disturbed in her cave. Not a pretty sight.”
“Awesome!” she says, smiling widely.
“You really like scaring people off, don’t you?”
“Hell yeah …”
Shaking my head while laughing, I turn the page of my textbook and try to read the next sentence, but I can’t get Brody and that girl out of my head. I want to believe my own words and think everything will be all right, but some part of me also believes Evie. I know he’s changed. And it’ll probably only get worse. Can I deal with it?
Evie and I have been studying at the library all day. After Brody came by, I told her I really couldn’t concentrate and that I needed to be somewhere where we couldn’t be disturbed. Or be distracted by weird thoughts. I have been having those a lot, lately. Especially about Hunter.
She went to our room earlier, because she was tired, but I stayed so I could do some homework ahead of time. I like being prepared.
After I jot down the last notes about Hamlet, I pack my stuff and make my way through the halls. It’s already late at night, and it’s dark outside. I hurry to my dorm and try not to make a noise as I walk up the stairs. Shuffling through the hall, I freeze when I turn a corner.
There’s a guy in the shadows.
He’s leaning with his head against a door only a few feet away from my room.
I straighten my glasses to make sure I’m not imagining things, but it’s real. Swallowing, I stay put and stare at the guy, who’s just slumped forward, barely moving. Who is he? What’s he doing here? Should I leave?
My heart races in my chest, and my muscles are tense. I know my body is preparing for flight or fight. My instincts tell me to make a run for it, but I know that’s absurd. He could just as well be a student, someone who’s drunk or had a rough night. Maybe I’m exaggerating.
Besides, I want to go to bed, and my room is just up ahead. It can’t be too difficult to pass him, can it?
Shuffling, I press my body against the wall and start to walk. I slowly step forward, trying not to make too much noise. I don’t want him to turn around. Actually, I’m hoping he won’t notice me at all.
But it’s too late now.
“Leave me alone.” The voice is gruff and croaky, full of unspoken emotion. It sounds familiar.
Inching closer, my eyebrows tighten together as I try to see who it is. If I can reach my room safely. If he’s dangerous or not.
It surprises me when I hear him sniff and take in short breaths. Is he crying?
“Stay away,” the voice repeats, and the more I hear it, the more I recognize it.
My jaw drops open, and I stare in confusion. “Hunter?”
His head lifts up from the wall and one look at his shiny gray eyes tells me it’s him.
“Leafy?” he says, his lips parted in a way that make me focus on them.
His hand drops to his side, and he turns around to face me, still hiding in the shadows of the light. But I don’t need any light to see the redness that clouds his eye. The patch of skin underneath is swollen, and the rest of his face is white. Too white.
“What’s wrong?” I say, gazing at him. He looks sick, and I’m immediately worried about him. Even though I know he’s been an annoying jerk to me in the past, I want to help him.
“Please just go,” he groans, and he points at my door.
“Are you okay?” I say, and I bend my head so I can look into his eyes, but he turns his head away so I can’t see. Is he trying to hide something?
“Don’t come closer.” His voice is getting thicker by the second, as if it’s hard for him to talk.
When I look into his beautiful eyes, all I see is hurt. He looks broken. Beaten. As if he’s been to a funeral or something. His face is dark and dreary, full of grief. But not the type of grief that comes with death. I just can’t place it.
I wonder if anyone’s ever seen him like this. It’s like he’s been crying all day and has been trying to hide it from the world. Like he’s been hiding himself.