Ransom(9)

“I don’t know. I’m probably taking classes this summer.”

Her look of horror almost makes me laugh out loud.

“Classes in the summer? Are you insane?”

I don’t answer, keeping my eyes firmly on the professor. Maybe Paige will get the hint.

She doesn’t. “You have to have a summer. It’s like, human rights or something. Taking classes would be way too depressing.”

I make a noncommittal noise. The lease on my apartment is for a full twelve months. I’m not exactly looking forward to summer school, but if I stay here and take classes, I won’t have to go back to my dad’s place. And missing the first semester already has me behind the rest of the freshman class.

“That’s all the more reason for you to come with us,” she says, her voice firm. “I’m not going to take no for an answer, Daisy.”

I have a sinking feeling she isn’t joking. How am I going to get out of this mess? “I… um… I really can’t. I’ve got some other—”

“Have you ever been on a road trip before? With your friends, I mean? ’Cause it’s like, my very favorite kind of trip. Seriously, Daisy…”

I know that she’s still talking, but in my head, I’m hundreds of miles away. I’m in the back of a van, smushed between Daltrey and Lennon’s amplifier, while Cash tries in vain to navigate the unfamiliar streets of Pittsburg. Daltrey calls out a steady stream of abuse, making me laugh, while Lennon moans from the front passenger seat. He always got the worst motion sickness. I wonder how he’s doing now, since their road trip has morphed into a full-out cross-country tour.

“Daisy?” Paige whispers, nudging my arm. “You okay?”

I shake my head, dispelling the memory. “Yeah.” I hunch over my notebook, scrawling down every word I can make out from the professor’s lecture.

From the corner of my eye, I see Paige lean back in her chair, her eyes still on me. But she doesn’t press and, eventually, her attention falls to her own notebook. I release a relieved breath. It’s been a long time since I let myself wallow in those memories. Seeing all those pictures yesterday really sent me for a loop.

When the professor finally releases the class, I’m hopeful that Paige will leave without talking to me. Surely she can see that there’s something not quite right about me. It usually takes most people much less time than this.

Apparently, Paige is not most people. “Look,” she says, standing and throwing her bag over her shoulder. “You should come have dinner with us tonight in the dorm. We’ll order takeout or something, and Karen and I can talk you into coming with us.”

I can’t figure out why she’s trying so hard. Though I’ve made an effort not to be rude, I’m clearly not reciprocating her friendliness. I’m just too awkward, too damaged to be of interest to her. So what’s going on? A shiver runs through me. Could this be part of some kind of joke? Does she know?

My curiosity is strong enough to risk making eye contact. I look up at her, searching her face for any sign of malice or judgment. “Why are you trying to convince me? I’m obviously not… not the most social person you’ve met this week. If you guys need someone to split costs, I bet there are a hundred girls on campus more… that you’d have more fun with.”

She watches me for what feels like minutes. Just as my panic is about to get the best of me, she smiles. “I don’t know, Daisy. I just get the feeling you could use a little fun in your life. And maybe some people who are nice.”

I’m so floored by that comment that I can’t even formulate a response. Before I manage to close my gaping mouth, she pats me softly on the shoulder.

“See you tonight? 306 Hale. Say, seven?” She grins. “Karen gets cranky if she doesn’t eat on time, so don’t be late.”

Then she turns on her heel and heads to the door, leaving me to sit and stare after her, wondering what in the hell just happened.





Chapter Five


Daisy





I spend the rest of the day trying not to have a panic attack. Paige’s words set off something inside me, and I have a terrible feeling my life is about to head into majorly complicated territory.

When I feel tears welling at the sight of a pair of girls giggling together in my trig class, I finally give up and pull out my phone. I’m going to need a session with Dr. Jacobs if I have any hope of making it through the week without a total breakdown. Her receptionist works me into the schedule without a hassle, another benefit my father has arranged.

I make it through the rest of my classes then hop on a city bus. Dr. Jacobs’s office is located on a bustling downtown street dotted with restaurants and retail spaces. I try to enjoy the spring sunshine as I make my way from the bus stop to her building.