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But not only that…something inside me ignited. I could feel the flames of whatever it was licking the insides of my stomach. That’s really the only way I know how to describe it.
I’m about to round the corner to see if I can pick Jus’s brain, when the door opens and a girl stops, her eyes on me. She has light blonde hair, blue eyes, and a small heart-shaped face. She has to be around the same age as me. Maybe Jus did get laid, and he’s found someone. Finally. Only he’s definitely punching.
“London, right?” she asks, her head tilting to the side.
My eyes fly behind her. “Yes?”
“I’m Halee! Jus is a friend of mine.”
“Oh, is he in?”
She shakes her head. “No. He’s out. I’m about to go see him, though. Do you want to join?” She seems friendly enough, and anyone close to Jus is a decent person.
I follow her back down the path I came, trying not to fill the silence with empty conversations.
“Hmmm, someone has left you with questions,” she hints, and I shift my feet to face her.
“What?” I don’t think she knows me enough to make that assumption, but I allow her to elaborate.
“I can smell it.” Her nose crinkles as she folds her arms in front of herself, her Prada puffer jacket expanding further. “It’s strong.”
Smell. She can smell my confusion?
Can she smell how much more confused her little omission has me?
“What school do you go to?” Maybe she goes to the same one Knight and Jus go to, and I can pluck the answers I want out of her. She seems like a much easier target than Knight.
She side-eyes me, the corner of her cherry gloss lips turning upward in a smile. “The same as Justice…” She pauses. “…and Knight.”
I stop walking, my hand reaching out to her arm. “Wait, you know him?”
She shrugs. “Yeah, we all do. Why?” She studies me closely, and I hate the way I find myself getting lost in her eyes. Almost like a form of déjà vu, where I’d seen her before, only I haven’t. “Look, I’m sure you’re a nice girl, but the Deveraux—well, anyone—are not what you’re looking for. I’d keep all of that to this side of the world.”
“What do you mean?” I blink up at her.
She flashes me a full-tooth smile. “Do you know what? How about I take you to a place where I know Knight will be?”
I follow her down the path, unease sliding into my veins. I don’t know who this girl is and she could be taking me anywhere. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my phone and open a text to Jus.
Me: Where r u? I’m with your friend.
It doesn’t take long before he answers.
Jus: I’m at work. What friend?
My heart trips in my chest as I realize I’ve most likely got myself into some bullshit, and now I need to dig my way out.
“Hey, so I think I’m going to head back.”
“Don’t be silly.” She stops, holding my stare. “You want to come with me.” Her tone is forceful, her pupils dilating. I blink back slowly as everything around me turns to slo-mo.
I shake my head out of my daze. “No, I’m good. Nice meeting you!” I don’t bother to watch as she blinks past her shock. I turn and pick up the pace back to Jus. Holy fuck, what is happening this morning?
I think of going to see Jus, at the least to ask who the fuck that chick was, but instead, turn the other direction to make my way home. I shouldn’t have left this morning. That’s where I went wrong, and now I kind of just want my best friend.
My phone vibrates in my hand, and without looking, I swipe to answer the call.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Lo.” At the sound of his voice, all of my muscles relax and I blow out a deep breath. Everything that’s been going on around me lately, I almost forgot about him. Not likely.
“Hey, Unc!” I don’t bother looking over my shoulder to see if the weird girl is following me. Cocooned in the safety of my uncle, I know I’m good here.
Happy.
Safe.
Protected.
“Just checking in on you, baby girl. How’s college treating you? You find a major yet?”
I sigh, pushing the elevator button to take me to my level.
“Not yet. I hope so soon. How is everything back home?”
“Eh.” I can imagine him shrugging his big shoulders. “Same old. Mr. Kent finally lost his license. The old fuck running too many red lights in town.”
I giggle, stepping into the elevator and pushing our level. “Well, I guess that’ll save a few lives.” He goes off about work and how many people are moving away from Sunshine Valley. It’s a small town nestled away in the mountains, and despite the name, it’s always doom and gloom.
