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“I have to,” she says, eyes filling with tears. “If I don’t, I’ll lose my scholarship.”
“You’re kidding me?”
“No,” she says, shaking her head. “I wish I was. And the upcoming test is forty percent of my grade. He announced that yesterday. It was only supposed to be ten percent, but he redid the syllabus. Quinn, I’m never going to pass that test.”
“You can, you’re super smart.”
“I don’t understand any of it,” she says, tears streaming.
It feels as if I’m being ripped in two. I don’t have time for this, but Savannah is my friend. My best friend; I can’t leave her hanging. She needs me. Except tonight I have plans to try and further my attempts to return to Duncan.
“You probably only need an hour or two of good study. You’ll be fine,” I say.
“No,” she sobs. “You don’t understand how bad it is. Quinn, I know you’ve been really busy with,” she waves an arm and looks around the room, “everything you’re uhm doing but I need you. I don’t ask for help often, but right now I really need it.”
Damn it. She’s right. I can’t ignore her.
“Of course, Savannah,” I say. “I was going to, uhm, study tonight anyway. I’ll move that to tomorrow.”
“Thank you!” she squeals, her voice cracking as it hits such a high pitch as she jerks up and down on my arms until I’m certain she’s about to dislocate them. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Right,” I say.
She’ll be on her own when I return to Duncan. The least I can do is help while I’m here. Damn it, I’ll have to call Bridgette. I hope it’s not a problem for her to reschedule.
ChapterTwo
Bleary eyed,I stare at Savannah across the small desk littered with discarded coffee cups and crumpled pieces of paper. She rubs her sunken eyes, takes a deep breath, then nods before rattling off the formula.
“Perfect!” I exclaim. “You’ve got it.”
“I do?” she asks, eyes widening.
“Yes, that was right.”
“Oh thank God. Quinn, I couldn’t have done this without you.” My phone alarm sounds and we both jump. “Wow, we made it right on time. I have to get to class.”
She stands and sorts the piles of books into a stack, gripping them to her chest.
“You got this,” I say.
“Thanks to you, I think I do. I don’t know what I would do without you, Quinn.”
A sharp pain slips through my ribs and into my heart and a lump forms in my throat. I’m going to miss her. I wish I could tell her. Say a proper goodbye, but even if she didn’t think I was crazy she’s got enough stress without me adding to it.
“Yeah,” I say, trying to force a smile, but my lips are too heavy and only manage a slight grin. “Well. You know. Go, before you’re late.”
She shifts the books to one arm and embraces me with the other.
“Thank you, again. You’re the best.”
The door to my dorm room closes behind her and I drop onto my bed. It’s hard to get my breath because there’s a massive weight on my chest. The room sways, and for a moment I’m seeing double as dark shadows creep in from the corners of the room. I knot the blankets in my hands until the room steadies and a rush of air fills my lungs at last.
Checking the time on my phone, I sigh heavily. I don’t have time for a nap; my first class is in thirty minutes. I set the Keurig in motion, then slip over to the communal bathroom where I quickly shower. I don’t take time to wash my hair, but the slightly better than lukewarm water is bracing enough to wake me up, for a while at least.
Wrapped in a towel, I rush back to my room and grab the waiting cup of coffee. One quick sip, then dress. I fumble a lid onto the cup, grab my books, and race to class. I’m late, again, which Professor Haggis isn’t going to ignore.
I pause at the door, listening to him pontificating about the meanings of Shakespeare’sMidsummer Night’s Dream. Bracing myself for the blasting to come, I open the door only wide enough to slip inside and try to sneak over to my chair. Doom comes quick; Haggis is nothing if not observant of a late entry to his lectures.
