“That’s cold, Mr. Rowen,” Nathan said, smirking.
The other kids stared at me with wide eyes.
“What? Too soon?” I stared at them innocently.
Grace giggled, then slapped a hand to her mouth.
It was quiet for a moment, then everyone started laughing. Unfortunately, the laughter stopped as suddenly as it had begun when something scraped the door.
We couldn’t stay here for much longer.
I considered trying to get the kids out myself, but after just barely managing to help Lane leave, I couldn’t risk it.
The hallway outside the lounge was filled with movement, something dragging, then bumping against a locker.
Grace’s next breath came sharper.
She swallowed, keeping her eyes trained on the game.
Another sound came from outside, fingers tapping the door, then sliding away.
Grace’s chest hitched, her breathing becoming more difficult.
Ethan frowned, noticing something was up. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said too fast.
With how she struggled to get those words out, we all knew it was a lie.
The room went still again. The vending machine hummed. Pipes ticked somewhere in the wall… then another scrape of steps in the hallway.
Grace flinched, and her breathing broke—short, shallow pulls now, like she couldn’t get enough air in, no matter how hard she tried.
I crossed to her and crouched in front of her chair. “Grace, do you use an inhaler?” I was praying so hard to all that was holy for the answer to be no, I missed what she said. “What?”
“Yes, but it’s in my locker.” She whispered.
Shit.
“Where’s your locker?” I asked, dreading the answer.
“The freshman hall, second block. It’s number 113 and has a band sticker on the front.” Grace leaned her head back, still trying to pull air in.
Of course it was. The furthest hall from where we were.
“How bad is it? And be honest.” I knew the answer to my question, but I really didn’t want to go out there again.
“I can still—” she paused, drawing a breath that remained unfinished. “—I can still breathe.”
Ethan stood. “We’ll get it.”
“No,” I growled. “No one else leaves this room but me.”
He bristled. “You can’t do this by yourself.”
“I have to. You’re my responsibility.” I narrowed my eyes at him, daring him to challenge me.
Lane getting out was a fluke at best. The activity had picked up ever since I’d returned. There was no way I was taking another student out there.
