trix
aths. One... t
way. I've been through worse
hall, the laughing still
ip, and started walking. My chest hamme
n, I think my legs made the
nd I ran, as fast as I could. My chest h
as I k
n't the
o this properly. The party noise was gone behind me now, which
dorm. Quiet. Empty. I was defini
c had gone a deep, patchy purple wherev
lly got it open. I didn't bother with the lights - I
the bathroom, flicked on the light
reflection. "At l
Ruined. I was more worried about that than my own
hower, everything els
ed, then pink, t
s were gett
estly, I hadn't expect
was going to
Our food server gave me a look I didn't need to interpret. And if that had been the end of it,
ink as me. Somehow, none of them
did their own thing - and I planned on doing exactly that. I'd al
. I sat watching everyone else, legs folded under me, the water catching the l
e something people had opinions about. Funny how fa
or really didn
looked up - Kai, was my firs
. C
ouch a strand of my hair, right
is gaze. He raised an eyebr
fun," he said, glancing toward Kai, t
lied, and
swim," he said. I glanced at him, n
. "My brother - he's good at s
practically taught every girl in this college how to swim at
" he y
the
and Kai waved off the girls, wh
i's voice came w
a beat too long, because he gl
" Cruz asked. I turned
said. I turned back to him -
he whispers starting, people glancing our way. At this rate, forge
were going to do that," Kai
to learn,"
t?" I
g toward the water, then back at me. "I'
e's a reaso
Um
ice cut in. He looked like a mess, bu
air?" he asked, sitt
ove in pac
olve coursework," Cruz said. I nodded. Isn't that a good thing
d. Cruz got up and moved beside him
sual," Kai said, and
on't know. But I also don't think
g on. Why did this feel normal
ng up again. "I'll be right back," he sa
z said, eyeing Bryan, who g
omething to eat," C
n?" Bryan asked, stil
nced a
y didn't matter. Not to
Yo
tin. It had only taken one
said, turning to look past me. And I k
ong," Bryan muttered, sta
g. Just kept watching
even give him a glance. I don't know why, but I thin
asked. I'd told myself I was going to
d to say out loud, but - what was I expecting, som
though?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "
already starting to forget these boys were
g to deflect. He gave that easy
d, nodding, the
He didn't respond, and I didn't look toward his dir
out the dres
he dress. That's w
rn." A vo
ing the girls, covered in water, hair drenched, his chest and ar
ered. He held out a hand
walking up. Bryan was beside h
teach her to
terested, though.
th the others, Kai?" Bryan said. I turned to
oved his hand aside. The attention around u
teach you instead," Bryan said. I turned to him. no expre
too, if Bryan's do
boys - what exactl
o worry, I can-" Kai st
, Trix?" Cruz said,
o a game centered on me. Choosing one of them j
something
you could
r faces. All of them, sh
/1/131489/coverbig.jpg?v=12a367d375e3d3f88f80755624f100f2&imageMogr2/format/webp)