I’m not ready for that.
And somehow, I don’t think she is either.
Maybe after everything settles down, it’ll be time.
Until then, I’ll think it, and mean it, and show her.
18
PANDORA
“Indie movie night, next Thursday evening at eight,” I repeat, to make sure I’ve got the info right.
Carly peers over my shoulder as I type the event into my calendar. “It’s over at the Geller building. They’ve got a screening space.”
I stop in the middle of the tunnels to read the nearby sign, which says the Geller building is in the direction we just came from.
I’ve figured out how to get from my dorms to my classes and the caf, but anywhere else? I’m going to need a map.
“Who else is going?” I ask. “You invited Samantha, right?”
Carly nods. “Of course I did. Although, I haven’t seen her much lately. Is she doing okay?”
Isshe doing okay?
How am I supposed to know? I have no idea whatokayeven means.
Case in point, I can hear mocking whispers in the tunnels, and not about Keegan.
A few days in, and the entire school is still talking about it. I’m over the moon with how well that went off.
So why the fuck am I hearing whispers? Why wasI getting the impression that there were eyes in my dorm room? Why do I think monsters have been scratching at my walls?
Something to worry about later.
Carly frowns and stares down one side tunnel. “Isn’t that…?”
I follow her gaze, then quickly jump to the side before Samantha can barrel straight into me.
“Whoa! What’s the rush?” I ask, grabbing Samantha by the arm.
She yelps when I touch her, her eyes going wide and darting in my direction. There’s briefly sheer animal fear in them before she recognizes me and relaxes slightly. “Don’t grab me like that,” she hisses, trying to jerk her arm away from me.
I hold on to her. If she wants to use some of the martial arts moves I’ve shown her to dislodge me, she’s welcome to try.
But when I look closer, I notice that her eyes are red.
My grip tightens as anger rushes through me.
“What happened?” I demand.
“Nothing! Let go of me,” she snaps. “Carly, tell her to let go.”
Carly purses her lips and puts her hand on my wrist. “Let up a bit, Pandora? But you should talk to us, Samantha.”
I do not let up, because I’m pretty sure the moment I let go, Samantha is going to rush off.
“It’snothing,” Samantha insists. She twists her arm in one of the ways I’d shown her, trying to break free of my grasp, but I anticipated it and move with her to keep her from succeeding. “It’s just people being stupid.”
