I see Alex and Bay coming up the steps behind me. “Yes. No. Okay. Yes. Nothing.”
Bay and Alex chuckle at my concise answers. “Did you overextend in training, Summer?” Alex asks with concern on his face.
“Not really. I fell asleep without doing stretches, taking ibuprofen, or applying the arnica cream. It’s my fault. I’ll be fine,” I wave him off.
“Shit, Sunshine, I never thought. I should have woken you up,” Seb says, mumbling to himself.
“Not your fault. I’m a big girl. I know better,” I reply, patting his arm.
Alex pulls his backpack forward and starts digging around in the front pouch. “Here, take some acetaminophen with the ibuprofen. The combination will work better.”
“Thanks, Alex,” I smile. I remove my water bottle from my bag Seb is holding and take the pills. “Let’s go inside,” leading the way up the steps. The guys are all watching and hovering close. I debate pretending to fall, but that’s probably too mean.
All three of them follow me to my locker. “Guys, really, I’m fine. Go get your books sorted,” I wave. They all reluctantly leave as I put my gym bag inside my locker and switch my texts.
As I’m about to shut my locker, someone leans on the locker next door. I glance up briefly.
“Hey new girl.” It’s Ben from yesterday.
“Hi,” I say back, not looking at him anymore.
“Did you know Iwas new this year, too? We should stick together so I can show you around,” he says, leaning closer. This guy is still giving me weird vibes. He seems nice enough, but a look at his eyes and I see they’re still not matching his emotions.
I step back into a broad chest. I’m not reacting, and I smell citrus, so it must be Seb. I arch my neck to catch a glimpse of his face. “She has friends to do that,” Seb says. He’s glowering at Ben.
“You can never have too many friends. I’ll see you in gym, Summer,” Ben waves, walking off.
I turn around to face Seb. “Who is that?”
“Not a good guy, from what I know. He started here in January. He doesn’t run with a good crowd. I’m texting Nick. He’s been trying to befriend him since he got here. That’s never a good sign.”
I gaze at him in puzzlement. “I don’t follow.”
“Remember I told you Troy helped him get away from his dad? Well, his dad was into a lot of awful shit. He’s a criminal who will do just about anything to make money.” Seb explains Nick’s dad is out of state, but Nick has a reputation coming from the life he led, so people trying to befriend him are usually part of that world.
“Oh, I’ll stay clear of Ben.” I don’t need any complications in my new life.
“You do that, Sunshine. Come on, it’s time for class.” Seb walks beside me as I hobble along to class, counting the almost normal gait as a win.
The biology lecture is short today, and soon Alex and I are studying fruit flies. “So how long have you and Reesa been together?” I ask.
“Since the beginning of sophomore year.” Alex replies, focusing on the microscope to study the fly’s details.
“That’s a while. You guys must get along well. She seems like a nice girl,” I reply. I’m taking detailed notes as Alex confirms his findings.
“Reesa gets along with everyone, and yes, nice is a good word to describe her,” he replies without emotion.
What an odd way to talk about your girlfriend, I think, but Seb said they had a complicated relationship. “How was the fundraiser last night?”
“Tedious with the same food and people as every other fundraiser.”
“It sounds like you really enjoy going,” I joke.
“Wouldn’t miss one for the world,” he deadpans, looking up at me from the microscope.
I chuckle at that. “Is it common for you to go to these types of things?”
“Twice a month, sometimes more. I attend for my father when he is unavailable. His business contacts are important to him and to the family. With us being old Southern money, someone is expected to attend.”
