Then she really kicks me out, and I go.
It’s still early when I enter the dorm to get changed for class, but everyone seems to be up and about already. Excited voices echo through the corridors. I feel people’s eyes on me as soon as I enter the building. They know what’s going on. I can tell.
The news of Reed’s arrest spread faster than I thought it would. Half the city knows about it, not just our classmates. Which shouldn’t be that surprising, considering Reed is the principal’s nephew. Still, I would prefer it if they’d all keep their mouths shut and mind their own business.
“Jase!” I stop when I hear Skye’s angry voice. She comes straight at me, dark hair flying like a cloak behind her. Her eyes are flashing with fury. I instinctively back away, but I’m too slow. She pushes my chest so hard that I stumble.
“You’re such an ass!” she hisses, continuing before I can ask why. “It would have been nice if you’d contacted me even once. One tiny message would have been enough! Like telling me you were still alive. You dropped off the face of the earth for days! I was imagining the worst!”
“I’m sorry.”
“You can’t talk your way out of it, you... wait, did you just apologize?” Her eyes go wide, and I have to grin.
“Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t get in touch. I was with Zoe and...” I shrug in a way that somehow encompasses everything I can’t say.
Her gaze softens into a look of concern. “How is she?”
I fish my room key out of my pocket and open the door. “All right. She’s strong.”
She’s stronger than any other person I know.
Skye follows me as I walk inside. I toss the key on my desk and grab my dance clothes out of the dresser.
“It’s all a fucking mess, isn’t it?”
“That just about sums it up.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” she asks carefully, and I turn to face her. She’s leaning on my desk, her hands gripping the edge, her head tilted.
“No.” I can’t talk about it. Not now. “But thank you.”
“Of course. If you change your mind, let me know. This can’t be easy for you.”
I clench my teeth and shake my head. No, it’s not.
Skye steps away from the desk and comes toward me. Before I can react, she pulls me into a strong hug. “It’s okay, Jase.”
I want to shake my head again, but she’s right. My shoulders relax, and then I return her embrace. For a long time. Until Skye lets go of me.
She smiles gently. “The two of you can do this. It’s all going to be fine.”
I nod, because I need to believe it. It’s all going to be fine.
* * *
The day goes by without me paying much attention to what’s going on around me. No one talks to me about Zoe. I can tell I’m still being observed, but no one asks questions. Maybe it’s because ofSkye, who doesn’t leave my side and gives a dirty look to anyone she sees whispering about me.
During the pas de deux class, it occurs to me that not only is Zoe missing, but Charlotte is too. I ask Skye about her, but she only shrugs. Charlotte hasn’t been seen all week, but no one knows anything about it.
I’m just glad I don’t run into her. Otherwise, I would probably break her fucking neck.
Late in the afternoon, I’m walking back down the hall to my room, lost in thought. I want to shower and change before I go back to Zoe, and I notice too late that my parents are standing at my door, apparently waiting for me.
Crap.
Dad’s leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. He’s wearing a black wool coat over a dark gray suit and looks totally out of place here. Mom is standing slightly apart from him, nervously wringing her hands. I notice that she’s lost weight. She’s thinner than usual; her face has gotten narrower, and her cheekbones stand out even more than usual. There are dark circles under her eyes.
My instincts tell me just to turn around and leave, but I’m done avoiding them. This has to stop. When they see me, Mom’s eyes tear up, and she sighs with relief. “There you are,” she says, taking a step toward me. “We were worried. You haven’t been in your room for the past few days.”
