's
op thinking a
of her body when she pinned me there. The anger in
efore I could finally breathe, my b
I haven't seen you properly
ry. Coming?" I
dy wal
leftover tension from earlier. When I looked up and saw him coming
e straight into a hug. "There you are," h
you yes
k just enough to look at my fa
day."
n't pu
ing in the world and took me toward the open grass near
g, living their normal first weeks. For a few
his lap, thumb slowly b
quiet,"
adju
and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.
d to settle me completely.
he said carefully. "A
tened. "People
mething
ourtyard. Or the panic attack. Or the way s
ats people," I said finally. "
ful with her, Ivy. She's not
scared
rried smile. "I know.
kiss to my forehead, then lowe
gentle
into him, into the life I was supposed to wa
was s
see Ava
partially hidden by a group of stud
m
e and the way he had just kissed m
her express
just anger
harper a
my gaze for a long, heavy second, then looked at
answer, she just kept staring at the two of us and just
he left behind
oticed m
's wr
quickly. "Just tho
Let me buy you food before you
ull me up a
feteria, my mind kept replayin
ust j
ust a
g closer
act moment, that she didn't like
gh I still thought she was arrogant and cruel,
looked away
ays were with trays clattering, people shouting across
ordered a hundred times over the last year of long distance video
d to m
arly practices abd how my roommate Tessa was alre
sed to make the distance between us feel smaller. Tod
myself it had nothing to do with short buzzed hair and sharp blue eyes. But the memory of the wall kept sli
our fingers together again. His thumb br
ewhere else
m h
looking at
t people watching. It's weir
alfway back to the residence hall, kissed the top of my head, and promised to
o straight
retch where I'd found Ava on the ground the day before. I told myself I was just
nce in my pocket.
who it was be
ked comf
e wo
xplan
d stared at the screen. Part of me wanted to delete it. A
ke you had som
ame almost
d." S
say
h for me to start walking again. When the next
over
orr
our las
librar
completely unaware that the most dangerous gir
nore it, to block the number, to go back to the safe, simple life waiting in
I typed
in
to my pocket like that would keep the co
f Ava's stare from the walkway. The way her mouth had tightened when Adri
me like I alread
couldn't admit that some traitoro
nto the room. Tessa was carried away on her bed with
ped my bag, sat on the edge of my mattress, an
t mine, the sound of her voice when she told me to stay awa
wanted from me tomorrow
up and that scared me more tha
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