AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 26
Astrid
I wake up early. And I’m a little weirded out by my dream about Pierce. I lie there in the quiet and think about what’s happened in the last few days. I hated him the most out of all the boys I’ve ever met. He was cruel, but I was a match for him. I was crueler, turning him into a fool by starting my own fight club when I was tired of hearing him say no.
But that kiss. I trace my lips with my tongue. He’s as stubborn as me, and I’m glad he’ll keep trying until I finally say yes.
I hear a noise that sounds like sniffing, and slowly, I realize that Roni is awake. My body goes stiff as I listen to her cry in her bed. I really wish she didn’t still miss Terri. I didn’t realize how deeply she was hooked on him. I guess it’s the same way I felt when Wyatt refused to speak to me. The way I would watch him, hoping he would even just acknowledge my presence with a dirty look. It was something.
She sniffs again, and I don’t want to move. I don’t want her to know I’m awake listening. I lie there and gradually fall back asleep. When I wake up again, Roni is gone. Her bed is made, and I check the time. I’m going to be late for class. No breakfast today. I’m out the door, zipping my skirt up as I hurry down the stairs.
Instead of paying attention in economics, I think about everything that’s happening. I glance over at Charlotte as she daydreams out the window. I wonder if she’s even thinking about Terri. She looks at Bryce, and the answer is no. Bryce catches my eye, and I turn around quickly. I look back, and Charlotte is staring at me, not glaring. She’s lost in thought, and I motion for her to check her phone.
Charlotte: Meet me after class.
I look back, and she nods. We have to talk, and it has to be today.
We walk along the path, heading nowhere in particular, and somehow end up at the dining hall during the freshman lunch period. We watch a few kids pairing up, and there are two girls that resemble us. Not identical, but the same overall look. The blonde has long hair and wears pink pumps and ankle socks with her uniform. The brunette has short hair, a nose ring, and smoky eyes. They laugh at some guy who walks past them, and then they follow him in.
“Déjà vu,” smiles Charlotte, turning toward me. “So, what happened at the hospital?” Charlotte places her finger under my chin and closes my open mouth. “You shouldn’t be surprised. Bryce told me what happened. It sounds awful. I’ve never had a guy drug my drink, but they’ve tried to get me drunk.”
“Did he tell you who?” I ask weakly.
She shakes her head. “No, he didn’t tell me details. Bryce wouldn’t. He told me you had been to the hospital over the weekend, and Dad was there flipping out.” She shudders, or maybe she’s cold.
“You want to go inside?” I point toward the faculty building, and we walk over in silence.
“There’s a new exhibit,” she says, walking into the gallery space. The walls are covered from floor to ceiling with abstract art. I walk over to a canvas filled with squiggly lines in primary colors.
Charlotte stands next to me and screws up her face. “I prefer representational art,” she says, “Don’t you?”
“It’s okay,” I reply, “but I want to talk to you about Terri. How’s that going?”
Charlotte presses her lips together, and a look passes over her face that’s undecipherable, except it’s not happiness. “Well, I’m going to his grandmother’s for Thanksgiving.”
It should’ve been Roni. “That’s nice,” I reply, “Have fun, I guess.”
Charlotte’s brow wrinkles, and she changes the topic. “I called Dad after what happened to you. I offered to help you out.”
“In what way?” I ask, frowning at her. I can’t imagine Charlotte helping me in any of the situations I’ve found myself in. She’s tried to help, but this is beyond her scope.
“Just to talk to you,” she says, “If you had someone to confide in, well, maybe I could be the voice of reason.”
“And what did Howland say?” I ask.
“He was indifferent, but I insisted that I should help.” She stares at the painting she dislikes. “I like having a sister. And it’s my job to be your keeper. Well, not exactly that. Not in a bad way.”
I sigh. “I have to tell you something.” I keep my head down, avoiding her gaze. “Remember when you said Bryce and I should sleep together? Well. I don’t think we’re going to get that out of our systems.”
“That’s odd because I heard you’re with Justin now,” she replies.
“I am, in a way.” Our gazes meet as they reveal something uncomfortable. “Wyatt said that they discussed me. I didn’t understand what he meant.”
Charlotte’s face turns to stone, and she has to make herself look away. “Sometimes people have arrangements, and they share.”
“Share what?” I ask.
She scowls, walking toward the next canvas. “Oh please, Astrid, don’t be so dense.”
