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I leave without a backward glance, slamming the door behind me.
Once I get to the communal bathroom on our floor, I change out of the dress and into my comfortable clothes.
Pausing in front of the sink, I study myself in the mirror. Despite the fact I’ve spent too much time crying tonight, my makeup hasn’t budged an inch. Jas did a hell of a job.
My eyes are a bit red and my cheeks are puffy, but it’s a miracle I don’t look completely busted down after what I’ve been through.
Maybe makeup has its benefits after all.
I trudge out of the bathroom, then decide to skip the elevator and take the stairs. I feel the overwhelming urge to move again. Obviously standing still isn’t my forte when I’m upset.
Why the hell were they in my room anyway? They should still be at the party. Especially Mandi, since she was hosting the damned thing.
Why the fuck couldn’t they hold their make-out session at his place? It feels like a total slap in the face.
Now that I’ve flounced out of there, it occurs to me that I have nowhere to actually go. See, if I had more friends, this wouldn’t even be an issue.
The library is an option since it’s open 24/7. And it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve crashed there due to roommate problems. I’m not really in the mood to go there right now, though.
Instead, I make my way outside to the quad. Due to the late hour and chilly temperatures, it’s deserted. I spread my jacket down on the concrete ledge of the circular fountain and take a seat.
Scrolling through my music app, I select the Tipping Purple album,Screaming Globes, then close my eyes. I sit quietly, letting the music wash over me as I try to forget this miserable night.
“Hey.”
When I open my eyes, I see Eli standing in front of me. He’s ditched his Halloween costume for jeans and a blue Oakmire Hockey hoodie.
“Go away,” I mutter.
“Holland, come on.” He shoves his hands in the front pocket of his hoodie. “We need to talk.”
“Why? Because you say we need to? Newsflash: I don’t have to do shit if I don’t want to.”
“Okay, okay,” he says, relenting. “Don’t talk. But I’m going to talk, okay?”
I pause the music on my phone, then cross my arms and glare at him.
Eli takes a seat next to me on the edge of the fountain. “Look, I know you’re pissed at me right now after what happened at the party. But you need to know that even if Mandi hadn’t asked me to dance with you, I was going to anyway.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I growl, tipping my head back. “Will you please just save this load of garbage? I can’t take this pity party anymore. Go find another sad sack.”
“You don’t have to believe me,” he says, ignoring my comment. “I get why you wouldn’t. But what I said to you, they weren’t just empty words. You looked amazing tonight, Holland.”
“Whatever. It doesn’t matter. That wasn’t me, anyway.”
He stares at me, looking confused. “What do you mean, it wasn’t you?”
“Never mind,” I mutter, waving a hand. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“I also wanted to explain what happened with Mandi in your room.”
“Oh, please don’t.” I hold up both hands in front of me. “The other night, I lost an hour and a half of my life listening to a very detailed account of your first make-out session with my roommate. I don’t need another one.”
“Well, that’s just it—weweren’tmaking out. The only reason I walked her home was because I wanted to talk to her.”
I glance over at him but say nothing.
“I thought about what you said. About how I shouldn’t lead her on, and how I fucked up the first time by kissing her when I wasn’t really into her.” He shrugs. “I thought I could talk to her and make it extremely clear that I don’t want a girlfriend. That we can only be friends. Though I’m really not that sure I want to be her friend, either.”
