“That’s private,” I mutter, and Taryn looks like she wants to keep pushing, but the bell above the door rings. One of my regulars, Jimmy, walks in and I thank goodness for the distraction I sodesperately need.
After a couple of hours, the corners of my mouth tip up as Jimmy flexes his forearm in the mirror, the fresh ink leaving his skin red, but the contrasting, stark-black lines very much apparent.
“Dude, this looks sick!”
“I’m glad you like it. It’s your last session, and I was able to get you out a bit earlier.” He looks over his shoulder and nods at me, and I hand him the aftercare paperwork, even though he’s a pro at this point. Walking with him to my door, we shake hands, and he approaches Taryn to pay. Shoving my stuff in my bag, I grab it and lock my tattoo room this time, making a mental note that I can’t trust them around my private things, given that they don’t have any sort of respect.
Storming toward the front door, not looking at either of them, a hand is placed on my shoulder, and I turn around to see Bobby. He opens his mouth to say something, but I stop him.
“Don’t.” I leave the shop, wanting to cool off slightly. Crossing the street, I make my way toward my dorm, hoping the walk helps. Finally reaching my building and turning the corner, there’s a couple talking, and they pull away slightly. I notice it’s Chase and his new flavor of the day, but I ignore them. As I approach our door, I see it’s wedged open with one of his shoes. I push into the room, kick the sneaker out of the way, and the door slams shut behind me. I sit on my bed, wanting to be alone.
My eyes fill with tears from the pent-up emotions and I’m practically shaking from them when I hear a knock.
“Liam?” Chase asks, and I scoff at his tone. “Dude, I don’t have my key, open up. I need to talk to you.” He jiggles the handle and my leg bounces up and down. I want him to be as far away as possible. “Li—”
“Go away, Chase,” I struggle to say in a calm tone, and a deep breath comes from outside the door.
“Look, I get you’re mad at me. I shouldn’t have pried, but Bianca is leaving, and I think—”
My heart picks up when I hear her name, but it makes me want to shut down even more. “I don’t care what you think, just leaveme alone.” The knocking ceases, and while Chase isn’t my favorite person, I get he’s trying to be helpful ... in his own stubborn way.
“She’s probably still in line at the parking garage. If you man up, you could catch her.” He finally leaves, and I put my hands in my hair, bring my head down, and take deep breaths.
Why? Why is she still getting to me? It’s been five years, but it feels like yesterday when we promised that we would always be there for each other. I look over at my keys, Chase’s words staying with me even after silence fills the room.
You can still catch her.
My heart and mind fight with each other. It’s almost as if I can hear what they’re saying.
Go, talk to her.
Stay, let her leave.
I make the choice. Grabbing my keys, I close the door before running toward the parking garage on the other side of campus. Everyone looks at me in confusion, but I don’t care. I need to see her again, talk to her, just something.
I’ve been given something I’ve been craving for five years, and my heart doesn’t wanna let it go.
I cut behind buildings and skirt around some bicyclists. I almost run into a skateboarder as I see a bunch of freshmen waiting for their cars. I try looking for her blonde hair, that specific ash blonde she’s dyed it now, but it’s nowhere to be found.
I crash into someone and turn to apologize before those all-too-familiar watercolor eyes lock with mine. Her eyes widen and my mouth curves the tiniest bit.
“You’re still here.” I breathe out, my chest bumping up and down as I struggle to take in some air, while she stares at me. A man waves at her roughly and my heart cracks slightly. But not before a woman wraps her arm around him and I recognize her as Ms. Kate.
Bianca twists her lips. “Look, I get this is unconventional. I’ll stay out of your way, and you stay out of mine.”
I take a deep breath as her words spark ones from long ago.
“Then maybe we shouldn’t be friends anymore.”
My brain makes fun of me, proving that I’m right.
I made a fool of myself, again.
My reply dies the moment the guy—I assume something of Ms. Kate’s, given he wasn’t around when we were still in each other’s lives—grabs her forearm, surprising both me and her.
He looks me up and down snobbishly. “I apologize for her.” He smiles after, but the underlying irritation he has is obvious. I’m not sure whether it’s directed at me or her, but I don’t like it. The grip doesn’t seem like he’s hurting her, but shock is all over her face when facing him. “I willnotbe late because of you,let’s go.” He emphasizes the last two words, but before I can do anything, they walk off while he changes his grip.
I back away when I very clearly see Ms. Kate hug Bianca, slightly concerned, before she shrugs it off. The protective feeling doesn’t lessen even when they all begin to walk away and Bianca never looks back.
