"Fine! I'm sick, but Saige, I was just helping us both get what we wanted and—"
"This isnotwhat I wanted!"
"Will you please just listen to me?"
"No!"
He takes a couple of steps toward me, and I move backward until I hit the wall.
"I know you're mad at me, and I know I deserve it, but I didn't do what you think I did, Saige. I didn't send that video—it was someone else."
"Bullshit! There's never been anyone else; it was you the entire fucking time!" I sob. "You win—you're better at this than me. I'm not a sick person; I can't beat you. You got me. Just…fucking leave me alone, Elias."
"Saige, I love you. I don't want to win—I just want you."
"You said there was no such thing as love, remember? You're only as good to people as what you can do for them—youtaught me that."
"I was wrong. I love you."
"Stop fucking saying that!"
"It's true, Saige. It's so fucking true. I love you so much; I wouldn't do that to you."
"Irefuseto believe that this is love! This is a fuckingillness, Elias. You killed animals!"
"No…no, the squirrel was already dead. I found it in front of the parking garage. And the others…those were just pictures I found online. I didn't kill any animals."
"You just what? Carried it around in your backpack and scooped its guts out with a spoon? Or did you use your bare hands?"
"…I don't think you really want the specifics."
I shake my head. "You make me fucking sick." I turn to the door, but he darts in front of me, blocking the exit.
"Saige, you kissed me. You ran your fingers through my hair, and you held me. You don't hate me."
"Please stop talking!" I cry.
"I would doanythingfor you—don't you see that? I can make you happy, Saige. I promise I hadnothingto do with that video. You think I want anyone to see you like that?"
He reaches for my cheek, and I bat his hand away. "You're a fucking liar! You need to get the hell out of my room."
"I can't," he says. "I'm sorry. Not until you tell me you believe me."
"I willneverbelieve you!" I slip on my shoes and then grab my bag and keys from the desk. "Move."
"Where are you going? I'll go with you, okay?"
"I don't care—I just know I'm getting the fuck away from you! Fucking move!"
Elias shakes his head. "No, Saige. I'm sorry; I can't."
Fuck this.
I take my keys and bag and jump out the fucking window, running around the back of the building toward the parking garage. It's a lot easier for me than it is for Elias because I'm not a fucking giant, and when I turn the corner, he's still trying to climb out.
"Saige, wait! It's not safe!" he shouts.
Fuck that, because it was always him. I was never unsafe. "Fuck off!" I shout over my shoulder before I turn into the alleyway toward the garage, hoping he doesn't know the shortcut.
