Page 93 of The Unravelings

“Good!” Wade says, perking up instantly. “Starts at noon and goes until about six. I have to head down there now to help set up.” He grins, getting to his feet, and pulls out his phone. As he takes a few steps, he taps at his screen a few times, and a grin spreads across his face. “Well, I’ll see you later, Oli. Simon, wish you’d reconsider.” He clicks a few more times on his phone and stops abruptly, furrowing his brows. “You guys see there was a big explosion by the docks last night?”

“An explosion? What kind of an explosion?”

Great. Add that to my list of bullshit to investigate. I wonder if JJ knows anything and will tell me. Or if I can contact Carter, who always seems to be bored, and have him find me some information.

Wade clicks something again and shrugs. “Looks like they lost a storage facility. One of those buildings down there that takes in shipping imports and shit.” He whistles to himself. “Damn. They lost everything. It’s all over the SlamApp, too.” He shrugs and tucks his phone into his pocket. “Whatever. See you guys later.” He waves and leaves as quickly as he can, booking it out of the room and slamming the door behind him.

I slip my phone from my pocket, groggily unlock the screen, and sign into SlamApp. Sure enough, pictures of the fireball that lit up the sky early that evening fill the screen, the ocean as its backdrop. My breath shudders at the sight of the buildings and the massive docks resting in the water.

I remember that place.

I went there with Hux, JJ, and Mack. We played on the docks, laughing like kids do. Mack even fell into the gentle waves of the seawater. He got so much shit from Franco for daring to get wet when he had to get back into his car. So we walked with Mack all the way back to the mansion. It only took an hour or so, but it was the most fun I had had since moving to Greenwood. Even with Mack sending me dirty looks and griping about being wet.

Now, what I can only assume is that one of Franco’s buildings is destroyed beyond recognition. Pieces of metal siding, concrete, steel, and other building materials lie on the ground. Broken glass is scattered nearby.

It’s ruined, and I can only assume this is the start of something dangerous against Franco.

“You’re nuts,” Simon grumbles, drawing me out of my head. I peer up at him from my phone screen, almost confused by his words. “How can you let them stick a…a…” He covers his mouth with his fingers, shaking his head. “Needle,” he hisses before slumping back into the couch.

Right. The blood drive. Poor Simon and his fear of needles.

“Don’t think about it,” I encourage him, finishing off my coffee, feeling ten times better already. Maybe this is what I needed. Caffeine. Company. Not thinking about my doom. I wave a hand, trying to reassure him. “I’ll be fine. I’ve done it before.” His face turns even paler, drowning out any color he has on his face and neck. “Besides, you can hide in our dorm.” I shrug, getting up from my seat and beelining it to the Keurig. More coffee is a must. Especially if I’m going to come face-to-face with needles and blood draws.

“Ugh,” Simon says dramatically. “I’ll stay here and hold down the fort. Maybe I can convince Daniel to stop by.” A grin slowly moves across his lips, and he sits up. “While Wade is away, Simon will play.” He wiggles his brows, quickly typing a message into his phone.

“So, Daniel seems nice.” I quickly grab my refilled coffee mug and reclaim my seat on the chair.

Simon smirks at me. “He does, doesn’t he? I-I,” Simon stammers slightly, sitting up straight. “I think he’s someone special, you know? Something more than…” He gestures with a blush on his cheeks. “Well, you know. He’s… We’re…together. He’s my boyfriend.” At those words, Simon blows out a breath and fans his face. The reddish tint that showed up on his cheeks a moment ago darkens, spreading to his neck and ears. “Oh my God, I have an actual boyfriend.”

“You deserve the best, Si.” I smile, taking another drink of my coffee. “Besides, he seems really into you!” From what I can remember, at least. I remember his face and smile. Even the way he laughed at Simon’s jokes at the party, but beyond that, I don’t remember much about him.

Simon shudders on the couch, looking at his phone with a greenish tint taking over his face. He blows out several breaths like he’s attempting to settle his stomach again.

“Si? You okay? You aren’t thinking about the needles again, are you?” I ask slowly, taking in the way his posture drops and his head flops back onto the couch with a groan.

“Well! I am now,” he hisses, dramatically throwing his phone onto the couch with a whine. “Oli, Daniel invited me to the blood drive. He’s volunteering there today.” Instantly, he’s sitting up with his elbows on his knees, running his fingers through his dark hair. “I’m going to die. Absolutely die, Oli,” he dramatically whines again.

I roll my lips together, holding back my laugh. “Si, you’re not going to die. Tell Daniel you’re not feeling well or…”

“Oh, Snickerdoodles,” he groans, sucking in a breath. “I can do this. I can totally march through that needle-infested blood drive and say hello. That’s… That’s not too bad, right?” He cringes slightly, looking even more green and pale. “You know what? I’m just… I’m going to lie down for a bit and—” He doesn’t wait for me to answer before he bolts from the couch and heads straight into his room, shutting the door behind him.

“Have a good nap,” I call out to the closed door as Simon thumps around, doing God knows what in there.

Once my coffee is gone and the caffeine has worked through my veins, I rinse the mug and put it in the small sink, then return to my room feeling a lot better.

Hangover who? I don’t know her. Well, not right now, at least. I’m sure I’ll keel over and collapse in bed later.

But for now, I’ll survive. I have to survive. Everything.

Oli: I have to give blood today…

Jordy: Don’t you do that once a month?

Oli: Ugh.

Oli: Your jokes really aren’t that funny, Jordan.

Jordy: I think I’m fucking hilarious, Olivia.