I shake my head. I won’t tell him. Not now. Maybe not ever. Some secrets are best kept in the dark.
“That’s okay,” he accepts. “You don’t have to tell me now. But you’ll talk eventually.”
He continues watching me carefully.
“That was a significant PTSD episode.”
My breath stutters. How the hell doesheknow that?
As if reading my mind, he adds, “Johnny used to get them, too. He’s a lot better now. Hasn’t had one in a while. If you won’t talk to me, maybe talk to him.”
He stands, brushing off his hands, then grabs my purple backpack from the ground.
“Come on.”
“Where are we going?” I croak.
“Home.”
“What? I can’t skip class. It’s my first day!”
“You’re not skipping.” He’s already walking. “We’ll tell the nurse you’re sick. Then I’ll take you home.”
With no better plan and no energy to argue, I follow.
The halls are blissfully empty. The afternoon classes have already started, and the silence is a relief. Instead of heading to the front office like I expect, Axel veers toward a door nearby and opens it, ushering me inside.
“Nurse Kelley! My favorite lady,” he calls in a flirty tone.
The nurse looks barely older than us, brunette, early twenties at most. She lights up at the sight of him.
“Axel Harrington! What are you doing in my office?”
“This is my cousin, Lina.” He flashes those stupid dimples. “She’s not feeling great and needs to go home. I should be on her emergency contact list. Can you write us a pass?”
“Axel,” she says, clearly torn. “Youknowthat’s against policy. Even if you’re over eighteen, students aren’t supposed to check out other students.”
Then, she finally looks at me. Reallyseesme. My puffy eyes. Mascara-stained cheeks. Pale face.
“Oh, you poor thing!” she says, her voice softening. “Is she actually sick?”
“Of course she is.” Axel puts a hand over his heart. “Do you think I’d lie to you?”
“Please,” she scoffs, typing at her computer. “Youliveto lie to me. Hold on.”
After a beat, she clicks through something on her screenand sighs. It’s the familiar sound of defeat.
“Alright. You’re cleared. But this is a one-time thing, Axel. Don’t make me regret it.”
“I would never… You’re the best!” he winks, guiding me out of the office and leaving the nurse with pink cheeks.
“Suck-up,” I mutter.
Axel barks a laugh.
“I won’t deny it.”
We head back to the car. Him? Cool as a cucumber. Me? A nervous wreck.
