Mom:Why haven’t you responded to my last few messages?
Quinn:I’m here if you need me.
Noah:Yo, what’s up. Mom’s messaging me to ask if I’ve heard from you.
Dad:Why won’t you respond to your mom?
Mom:If you think this is funny, it’s not. Call. Me. Back.
Wes:If you don’t want to talk to me, at least talk to Quinn.
Scott:Can you call Mom? She’s blowing up my phone.
Noah:Dude, is everything ok?
Wes:Is it the speech? Do you need help? If that’s what’s freaking you out, there’s only one more to go. Let me help you…
I pause on the message, my chest knotting. The speech. Tossing my phone aside, I drag my laptop onto the bed and pull up my student email. I type in Professor Markham’s address and do what I should have done nine long weeks ago.
I drop the class.
Maybe this is rock bottom after all.
Ivy,
I received your email last night, and I am very sorry to hear about your desire to drop Public Speaking so late in the semester. Would you be open to talking through your options before you make your final decision? My office hours are Mon-Thurs 3-6. Please stop by any time. I hope everything is okay.
Best regards,
Professor Markham
I squintagainst the afternoon sunlight, ducking my head to stare at the ground. It’s the first time I’ve been outside in days, and all I want is to turn around and crawl back into bed.
“Ivy?” My head snaps up. Ben and Kaden are standing a few feet away, and I feel their eyes wandering over me with concern. I wish I could retract my head into my shell like a turtle. “How…how are you?” asks Ben. “It’s been a minute.”
I force a smile. My cheek twitches with the effort. It takes a couple tries to get the words out right. “I-I’m good. You know. How are you guys?”
“Just busy with the end of the semester,” says Kaden.
“You catch that nasty flu that’s been going around?” asks Ben, earning a look from his housemate.
I tug at the collar of my jacket. I’m overdressed and sweating, but that’s what I get for not checking the temperature before stepping out into the world. “No. Why?”
“Just, um, wondering.”
“Has Wes…have you and Wes hung out recently?” asks Kaden. His eyes seem worried. I know I look pale. I know I’ve lost weight. I know I have dark circles under my eyes that even makeup can’t cover, but there’s nothing I can do about any of that. I’m battling much bigger demons. “He seen you at all?”
“We have class together,” I tell him.
Well, we did.
Kaden’s frown deepens. “Oh.”
I point my thumb toward the Foundations building. “I should go. I have a meeting…”
Kaden nods. “Oh, yeah. Sorry to keep you.”
Ben smiles at me, as friendly as the day we met despite everything that’s happened in the past couple weeks. “I hope we see you soon, Ivy. We miss having you around. I know Wes sure as hell does.”
