I skim the article. There isn’t any new information in it. Mostly it goes over his last few days on campus, which were pretty normal. The writer interviewed professors in his engineering program and Emma Coffey, his ex-girlfriend (or, from what it sounds like, one of his many ex-girlfriends). Looking at her picture on the second page, I’m not sure I’ve seen her before. But then again, I am not sure I’d rememberher if I had. There is nothing that stands out about her. She looks like any other white Canadian university student with long, honey-colored hair. Emma claims that she and Jay were together for a few months, and she saw him on campus the day before he went missing. She said he probably took off because he was caught dating too many girls at the same time.
I chuckle to myself. If I were investigating this case, Emma is where I would start—a woman scorned. I’ve seen enough crime shows to know that either love or money is the motive for most crimes. I also doubt that Jay Hoque, with his devil-may-care attitude, would run away because a girl discovered he was unfaithful. He was a known player, so why would he care?
I shake my head as I toss the paper back into the recycling bin. There’s no reason to obsess over the guy because I’m in his old room. I have a tendency to overthink things that don’t matter to me, which is actually a great trait for a journalist. But I don’t want to get too fixated on Jay Hoque. The whole situation is weirding me out, and I’d like to be able to sleep in his room.Myroom.
After unpacking everything, I head to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. It sucks I don’t have my own bathroom anymore. No one acknowledges me there, or in the hallway. I may as well be invisible.
Maybe moving was a mistake. At least I knew people in West Hall. I could have lived with Mia and not talked to her. Or maybe we could have worked it out. I hate this feeling of being all alone. I’ve been feeling it a lot since Mia met Lance. Even for Christmas—we both went home to Alderville, but Mia came back to Toronto early to be with Lance and his friends, and I spent New Year’s Eve with my parents.
But I’m not going to fall into despair. This is my chance to start fresh ... make new friends. Focus on me for a change.
When I get back to my room, my phone buzzes with a notification. It’s late—past eleven o’clock. I leave my bathroom caddy on my desk and unlock my phone.
It’s ResConnect. Jay Hoque is messaging me again.
Heart racing, I sit on my bed to read his message.
Jay:Why are you still here? Kegan says no one else is assigned to this room, but I just got home and you’re on my ResConnect again.
Jay:If this is a prank, it’s not working. Stop.
I stare at the message. What.The hell.Is going on?
Why is Jay Hoque messaging me? Why is he existing at all? And who the hell is Kegan?
I have to agree with Jay, though, or whoever it is. This is a terrible prank. And in very bad taste, too, because the person the prankster is impersonating isliterallya missing person. Could it be Mia? Evenshecouldn’t be this heartless. Maybe Lance? Or his sister, Taylor? I wouldn’t put it past them.
Or maybe lines are crossed in the app, and even though the message says it’s from Jay Hoque, it’s actually someone else?
Aleeza:Who are you?
Jay:I’m the person who was fucking promised no one would be moving into this room. It’s supposed to be a single now.
Aleeza:No, I mean what’s your name? What room? I think ResConnect is glitching.
Jay:East House room 225. I’m Jay Hoque. It says your name is Aleeza. Why are you here?
I inhale sharply when I read the name Jay Hoque. This isn’t crossed wires. Clearly, it’s a prank.
Aleeza:Yes, I’m Aleeza Kassam. First Year Journalism. I had to leave my other room because of a bad roommate, and this was the only empty room in the school.
Jay:Well, it’s not fucking empty. I’m right here. I was at the office today and Kegan told me no one else is assigned to this room.
Aleeza:Who’s Kegan?
Jay:Kegan works at campus housing! He told me I have no roommate and yet I come back and you’re listed as assigned to Room 225.
My breath hitches. What is going on? Is Kegan the guy I talked to in campus housing today? The one who had déjà vu when I told him that Jay had shown up on my ResConnect?
Also ... where did Jay say he is right now?
Aleeza:Where are you? Like at this moment?
Jay:I already said I’m in room 225. You’re going to have to stay in your bad roommate situation because you can’t come here.
Aleeza:Like are you inside the room right now? East House, third floor, room 225?
Jay:You sure you’re a journalism student? Reading comprehension doesn’t seem to be your strong suit. Yes, I’m here right now, sitting on my bed under the window.
