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“I forgot my text book.”
I take it off Bree’s desk before looking at her one more time. She looks disappointed in herself, but I’m too angry to care. All I was doing was trying to help, but maybe she was right. Maybe she doesn’t want to get better. I roll my eyes and shake my head before storming out of the room.
THE REST OF THE day is spent in utter mental torment. No matter how loudly I blast music into my ears, it won’t drown out my thoughts. Once it reaches seven straight hours of thinking about her, I grab my computer from the desk drawer and place it on my bed. If I’m going to get her to stop starving herself, I need to know what I’m dealing with.
As soon as it turns on, I open safari and go to Google – typing ‘anorexia’ into the box and clicking search.
Chapter Eleven
My alarm blares into my ear. The feeling of my computer is harsh underneath my head. I must have fallen asleep last night in the midst of my research. I never would have thought there was so much to learn when it comes to eating disorders. There are so many triggers and other disorders that go along with it, it’s overwhelming. However, one thing I learned for sure is that I fucked up by trying to get her to eat something as high-calorie as a muffin.
I take a quick shower before getting dressed for the day. I’m nervous to see Kayleigh but I know we need to talk after yesterday. Glancing at the clock, I see it’s already 7:15 and I need to get going if I want to get a minute with her before class starts.
The drive to campus is short and devoid of life, with most of the students not even being awake yet. Early morning classes are the most avoided amongst everyone here, though I can’t say I blame them. I park in a spot close to the building and get out. Jordan is at the door and greets me through a yawn.
“Get enough sleep last night?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Not really, but it is what it is.”
We walk into the classroom and my eyes immediately search for Kayleigh. Unfortunately, she’s not here yet. Her normal seat is left unoccupied and I start to wonder if she’s coming at all. It’s unusual for me to get here before her. I sit and wait, looking up at the door every time it opens, but she never arrives.
“Alright class.” Professor Bradley gets our attention. “Today we’re continuing to work on the projects. Remember, they’re due tomorrow by 8 PM
. No extensions will be granted.” He looks around until his eyes land on me, and the empty desk beside me. “Mr. Rivers, where’s your partner today?”
“Uh, she’s sick.” I cover for her. “Some stomach bug going around.”
He doesn’t seem to believe me, but nods anyway. “Please give her my best.”
“I will.”
Being as there isn’t much work I can do on my own, I take out my phone and start scrolling through Instagram. She hasn’t posted anything since a drunken photo of her and Bree at the party. A part of me considers texting my girlfriend to see if Kayleigh is okay, but that could end up opening a whole can of worms that is better left closed.
Instead, I look at my schedule for the day. My last class gets out at 2:30, so I figure I’ll go over to her place to finish the project right after. There’s no use going back to my place when I’m already on campus. I open my texts and send her a message.
Me: I’ll be there at 3 so we can finish our project.
She doesn’t answer, but then again, I didn’t really expect her to. She’s probably either mad at me for yelling at her, or embarrassed for getting caught. Either way, I know she isn’t going to cave unless I’m standing in front of her – and even then, I’ll be lucky to get anything but an attitude. I know from experience, that girl can be cold as ice.
MY LAST CLASS OF the day lets out and I can hear as my stomach growls. I haven’t eaten anything except for a bagel after sociology. I still have a half hour before I need to be at Kayleigh’s so I head to the deli. There’s a little bit of a wait but I don’t mind. I have time to kill anyway.
When I get up to the counter, I order myself half of an Italian sub. I glance around for something Kayleigh would eat, and find what I’m looking for when my eyes land on a bowl of fresh fruit. I grab that and two bottles of water. When they’re done with my sub, I pay for the meals and go back to my car.
The drive over to Kayleigh’s is nerve wracking to say the least. She is obviously against seeing me, so much that she was willing to skip class to avoid doing so. Although, she didn’t text me back with an excuse for why I couldn’t come there.
Knowing that we will be alone is bittersweet. Bree is at class and then plans on doing some ‘retail therapy’ with Taylor. I’m glad to spend some one on one time with Kayleigh, but I’m anxious because I know there won’t be any buffer.
I pull up to her building at 2:55 and park in the closest spot. I grab the bag from the deli and climb out, locking my car after I shut the door. The whole walk upstairs, my heart is practically beating out of my chest. Once I get to her room, I raise my shaking hand and knock twice.
The sound of footsteps come close to the door just before it opens. She doesn’t say anything, instead just walking back towards her bed. Okay, cold shoulder it is.
“Nice to see you, too.” I murmur. She simply hums in response.
When she turns around to face me, her eyes widen. “What is that?”
I follow her line of sight to the bag and then look back up, gauging her reaction. “A sub for me.” I pause. “And a bowl of fresh fruit for you.”
The tension leaves her shoulders. “Fruit?”
