“No!” I blurt.
The single word, and the speed it comes out, have me wincing and Lucas clenching his jaw for half a second before nodding his head.
“Thank you.” My lips form into a thin line. “But I’m good.”
No longer able to handle how much smaller his room now feels, I turn around and yank his bedroom door open.
“See ya.” I feel the need to call out down the hallway, as if I haven’t already made a mess of this whole thing.
I make my way up to my apartment, shoes still in my hands because I couldn’t take the time to slip them back on.
The tightness in my chest doesn’t go away like I thought it would. My body shakes as I slam my door shut and fall to the floor. I don’t feel relieved. Not even close.
Seventeen
Denise
The sun is way too fucking bright for my liking. The courtyard is unnecessarily packed for no other reason than to piss me off.
Sarah and Bethany’s attention turn toward me once I’m close to the picnic table they’re sitting on.
“You look like shit,” Sarah greets.
Bethany slaps Sarah’s arm with her notebook, not bothering to be gentle.
I don’t bother to entertain any of it, instead flipping Sarah off and plopping my tired ass down onto the metal bench. Bethany is quick to offer me her cup of coffee and I chug the iced beverage down, hoping the quicker I get it in me, the sooner the caffeine will take effect.
I didn’t even bother to try and get some sleep after leaving Lucas’s apartment this morning. My body was still buzzing from the adrenaline and guilt flooding my senses. I just spent my time before classes lying down on my couch, staring up at the ceiling.
“You get mugged on the way here or something, D?” Sarah opens her mouth yet again.
“Sarah?” Bethany narrows her eyes at the brunette. “Shut up.”
I look down at my all too big shirt that’s strictly for sleeping and my sweats that are a size too big but decided to keep becauseof how soft they are. I brush away loose strands of hair that fell out of my ponytail and rub my eyes, knowing there’s dark circles, but not having bothered to put on any makeup before leaving the house.
This really is a new low for me.
“So…” Bethany clears her throat. “Lucas was looking for you last night.”
Sarah snorts. “All Lucas had to do was bribe Beth with Moose’s phone number and she folded.”
“You know if he was a kidnapper or some shit, I’m pretty sure he would’ve done something by now, so I think Denise is good.” Bethany tries to reason her way out of giving away my location to a guy.
“Guess you’re right,” Sarah laughs. “I’m starting to think Lucas is the only good guy in this stupid city.”
I rub my eyes and groan, my head tilting back. “Will you two shut up? I get it, okay? Lucas Callahan is perfect. That doesn’t mean we need to talk about him every five seconds.”
They both quickly shut up, the air around us growing quiet besides the light chatter from students nearby.
Sarah’s eyes narrow and the muffin she’s been picking at is long forgotten. “What’d the asshole do?”
Any other time I’d be happy to know that Sarah and Bethany are quick to be on my side, but right now I can’t stomach that kind of loyalty.
I shake my head. “I’m the asshole.”
The two quickly look at each other and then back to me, eyes wide. Sarah opens her mouth to say something but I hold my finger up, a silent command to keep her mouth shut.
“Look, I don’t want to talk about it, okay? I just want to sit here and drink this god-awful coffee and not talk about guys.”