“Fuck you! She’s not Zoe!” he grits, and I take a deep breath. I won’t let the others see us fighting, so I let it go for now. I give him some room to walk before I head the same way. I can’t believe he would record her. That had to be why Rowyn’s throat hurt so bad. She told me it was him, but I didn’t know the details, nor did I think there was a fucking video.
At the end of our junior year, before Zoe died, a video of us all together leaked around school. It was a whole thing. Our parents were involved. And that was an issue in itself, having Cynthia march through the school after just finding out that my father and Kade’s father have been sleeping together behind her back. Then that bit of information also made its way around school, which only put a target on mine and Kade’s backs. Having fathers who are gay and with each other automatically made us gay. After that, the school found out that Zoe was living alone with no parents. Her mom left a year before we took care of her stepdad. She never knew what we did, but that video got her sent to live in foster care. We made so many plans. We were never supposed to dorm here. Grayson had signed a lease for off-campus housing. These four years were supposed to be the beginning of our future, but that day was the start of everything changing. She only had a month left before she turned eighteen and twomonths until graduation, but no. We just had to come here and go to the clearing.
I kick the snow as I walk up the hill, wishing things were different, but it never will be, and now we all have this girl who came out of nowhere. It’s like history is repeating itself. Nothing makes sense anymore. It doesn’t matter how I feel or what I want. When we entered these fucking doors and became captains of our teams, it solidified what we were meant to do.
Taking out my phone, I shoot Rowyn a text.
Me:
Petal, where are you?
She usually texts back within seconds, but I’m left on delivered. Sliding my phone back into my pocket, I continue my walk back to school. Today was supposed to be fun, but it seems that anytime we smile, bullshit finds us. It’s like a curse. I still haven’t figured out who was chasing her through the woods that night, or whether she actually fell or was pushed. There are cameras in the clearing, but there were so many people coming and going, it’s hard to pinpoint who and when.
I stop at the concession stand for two hot chocolates and head to her room. I knock on the door, but she doesn’t answer. I set one of the cups down, take out my phone, and text her again.
Me:
Being invisible isn’t safe, Petal. Avoiding me and everyone else won’t fix the damage already done. It will blow over, and no one will care.
I look at her door one more time, then head back to my room for a shower. I better not find out that Kade recorded us in my room because I will kill him for it. As I walk, someone comes rushing up from behind.
“Yo,” Seymour hollers, and I glance over my shoulder as he catches up to me.
“What’s up?” I ask as he catches his breath.
“Lucy never made it back,” he states, and my brows furrow.
“Who the fuck is Lucy, and why would I care?” I ask, and he huffs.
“The naked girl.” He laughs, and my eyes widen.
“What do you mean she never made it back?” I ask, and he shrugs.
“Apparently, she didn’t make it out of the woods,” he states.
“Someone had to have seen her. Maybe someone helped her, and she’s fine,” I say, but he shakes his head.
“Nah man, rumor has it Hungry Hippo killed her,” he whispers, and I laugh. Full belly, bent over laughing, and he looks at me like I’m insane.
“First of all, who is Hungry Hippo? And secondly, there’s not enough time for that chick to leave the clearing with all those witnesses and be murdered without hearing her scream. Jesus, these idiots around here,” I say, still laughing.
“They are calling that big girl Grayson was with Hungry Hippo from that video,” he states, and I immediately stop laughing, and my fists tighten at my sides.
“Come again? They are calling Rowyn Hungry Hippo?” I growl, and he puts his hands up.
“Chill, man. I’m just letting you know what the word is. Her ex is pissed and he’s out for blood.”
“And what does that have to do with me?” I ask as I open the door to my dorm room, letting him inside.
“He’s gunning for the three of you and that chick,” he states, and I fold my arms over my chest.
“Is that so? Who is it?” I say, and Seymour’s eyes widen at my calm tone. He knows when I’m too calm that something bad is going to happen.
“Uh-yeah. But you didn’t hear this from me. Lucy’s ex is Rodney. Terrance’s younger brother,” he says, and I nod.
“Got it. Don’t worry. I won’t dime you out, bro. Anyways how have sales been? Do I need to make another pick up?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Not yet. Sales are up. But maybe in a few weeks,” he says, and I nod again.
