There was no way I was going to ask what I wanted to ask now. Little did they know, I wasn’t spending my spring break with them nor this fucking guest. If I wanted to keep my sanity, my best bet would be to stay at my apartment and spend time with Xavier.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Zaria hadn’t really said much to me since the incident with Dio, and I felt bad. I felt like an ungrateful daughter, even though it wasn’t the case. I was running on high emotions, and she got caught in the crossfire. We were approaching spring break, and Dio and I were nowhere near back together. I didn’t see him on campus. His dorm had changed, so I couldn’t find him there. When I asked Streets and Beans, they acted as if they didn’t know, so now I was about to go on a hunt to find him myself.
The knock on my door let me know that Paige and Alyse were here. I quickly ran to the door to answer. “Hey y’all!” I said excitedly.
Alyse smiled as she stepped inside. “Looks like someone is in a better mood.”
Paige came in behind her, crossing her arms over her chest. “Girl, you look like you're about to go rob somebody. Samara, what the hell do you have on?” she laughed.
I glanced down at my outfit. “What? I need to wear all black. I’m going to go find Dio. I know he’s somewhere on that fucking campus.”
Alyse’s pointed finger moved up and down as she asked, “And you think dressing like that is going to give you superpowers to find him? Samara, look, you two love each other, and it will work out. Be patient.”
I sucked my teeth. “Are y’all going with me or not?”
Paige nodded. “Fine, but I’m not changing my clothes.”
“I’m down. But...” Alyse paused. “Let’s not forget the last mission we were on. I’m not trying to do that again. Samara, you killed—”
Paige turned to her. “Don’t say it.”
We hadn’t spoken about that day since it happened. Shooting Keith was self-defense, not only for me but for them. Hell, had I not, he would have killed Paige. I tried tossing that day into the back of my mind. Alyse bringing it up stirred something in me. So much had occurred with me since I had been in Toussaint, which included a death. I thought I was sane for the most part, but now I was thinking about the mental break I knew I needed.
“I’m thinking about traveling abroad for the summer,” I blurted out.
They both smiled. “That’s great, Samara. Is it for school?” Paige asked.
I nodded. “Yes, but I don’t want to leave with me and—”
“He would love this for you, together or not. I think you should do it. This is what’s best for Samara, not what’s best for Dio, Chevy, or Zaria,” Paige added.
I knew she was right, but the thought of taking this trip while on bad terms with Dio didn’t sit right with me. The truth was, I couldn’t see myself with anyone else, and if I left and came back and Dio was with someone, the inner Samara Calloway would kill her.
***
I was now back on campus searching. Paige, Alyse, and I decidedto split up and would call one another if we spotted him or his line. I figured he shouldn’t be hard to find, considering the yard was pretty dry. When I saw Jesaiah walking toward the parking lot with a duffle bag in his hand, something told me he was going to where Dio was. I lurked a ways behind him while trying to text Paige and Alyse to let them know I was going to follow him. He was moving fast, as he had now gone to the parking lot. My feet picked up the pace, but then I was stopped.
“Why are you following him?”
Of course, she would come to me. “Okay, now you're stalking me,” I said to Apple.
She looked me up and down. “No, I’m not. I’m going back to my dorm,” she hissed.
I tossed my hand on my hip. “Are you? Is it because of Jesaiah? You can have his ass. I don’t want him. Now move out of my fucking way.”
I went around her, and she moved in front of me. “Then why are you following him?”
I blew out a heavy breath. “Apple, I don’t know what your problem is, but I warned you, and if you don’t want me to act, I suggest you move.”
Closer.
“Is your boyfriend pledging? If so, you need to let him go through the process. How can he be great or achieve his goal of becoming one of the Orange and Black when you’re on his ass? Pledging isn’t for you to understand, but it is for you to respect. So no, this is not about Jesaiah. This is about protecting the legacy of a ritual that has been happening for decades, and it’s people like you who don’t respect it.”
When I saw him get in the car and drive off, I became irritated.“Girl, leave me the fuck alone. I respect whatever they're doing. However, I also know that darker things are going on beyond thoseGreek life doors, Miss Gray and Gold. What I saw at that party was evil, and maybe I don’t understand, but I also have a man on that line whose soul is darker than the Greek life. Now, if you don’t move and allow me to do what I need to do, this school and the legacy you’re protecting will be burned to the fucking ground.”
She rolled her eyes. “You nosey girls get on my nerves. Come on. Don’t ask any questions. Don’t say a word, and whatever you see, you cannot react. If they find out you're out there, it’s my ass, and whoever your man is, he’s going to get the worst.”
