'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