“It’s the first class of the semester, Ax. I can’t just—”
“Grab your shit, Lexi. I need to fucking talk to you.”
I stare at him for a long moment. Then I sigh, turn, and walk back into the classroom.
Everyone’s still staring. The professor pauses mid-sentence.
“I’m so sorry,” I say, walking to my desk. “It really is a family emergency.”
I grab my bag, my notebook, shove everything inside. Lean close to the professor and whisper, “Sorry. Thank you.”
He nods, waves me off. “Take care of it. You’re not missing much. Check your email later.”
“Thank you.”
I leave. Axel’s already in the distance, and I run to catch up.
We’re crossing the quad when he says, “We can’t talk on campus.”
“Then where are we going?”
“I don’t know, Lex!” His voice rises. A group of students on the grass turn to look. He lowers it, hisses between his teeth. “This is so fucked! We need somewhere we can talk openly without getting in trouble.”
I think for half a second. “How about behind the rink?”
He stops walking. “Jesus Christ.”
I shrug. “What? It’s private. No one goes back there.”
“That’s where—” He doesn’t finish. Doesn’t need to.
“Exactly. Come on. Let’s go.”
He follows. Reluctantly.
The alley smells the same. Rotting garbage, piss, something metallic that might be rust or might be blood. The dumpster is still there, rusted and dented. This is where Koa beat the shit out of him. Where I watched from the shadows, helpless and terrified.
Now we’re standing in the exact same spot.
Axel leans against the brick wall, crosses his arms. “So. Tell me. Tell me fucking everything, Lexi.”
I shrug, softening my expression. “I’m saving your ass!”
“By getting involved with him?”
“I made him a deal.”
“You did what! No! No! No!” His face goes white. Then red. Then something beyond rage. He shoves off the wall, gets in my face. “Do you know what you’ve done?”
“I know exactly what I’ve done—”
“No, you don’t! You have no fucking clue!”
“I’m getting you out! Don’t you see that? You have a problem. You need to get clean, Ax!”
“I’m clean!” he shouts.
“Bullshit. Come on. Don’t fucking lie to me.”
