“Well, it looks like you two are becoming fast friends,” I cut in, pleased with the way everyone seemed to be vibing.
“Yeah, we’ve discovered that we both like basketball players,” Bailey answered. “And we both think Instagram is the optimal tool to keep tabs on dudes, we’re both obsessed with hair care, and—”
“Does Alyssa also still watch animated Disney movies as well?” Janel asked with a sardonic arched eyebrow. Bailey made a face and huffed in annoyance.
“Um…I actually prefer live-action movies and TV series,” Alyssa answered sincerely, not yet comprehending the ongoing war between the other two girls, who ignored her and continued bickering.
“So I loveCinderella,Snow White, andSleeping Beauty. What’s so wrong with that?” Bailey folded her arms over her chest challengingly.
“Oh my God! You’re twenty-one years old!” Janel shot back derisively.
“And?”
“And there’s no Prince Charming coming to give you that fateful kiss that will wake you from your curse,” Janel teased her, and my eyes flew to Alyssa, who was now staring down at her knees and chewing her lip. She looked so tense and uncomfortable. I looked at her, my brow furrowing, and all at once, she leaped to her feet and raced into the kitchen.
Bailey and Janel ceased their back and forth, and I went after Alyssa to see what was going on with her. Walking into the kitchen, I found her leaning against the counter with her face in her hands.
Was she crying?
Alarmed, I went over to her and rested a hand on her shoulder.
“What’s going on, Alyssa?” I had held back on that question for too long. Now was the time to talk and figure out just what the hell had happened.
Bailey and Janel appeared behind me, both focused on Alyssa, who had started fully sobbing. When she pulled her hands away from her face, I could see that her eyes were filled with sadness.
She wept, her shoulders shaking with uncontrollable sobs… She was distraught.
“Oh my God… Are you okay?” Bailey cut in, just as worried as I was.
“N-no,” Alyssa stammered and wiped one cheek with the back of her hand as she tried to take deep breaths.
“Talk to me, Alyssa. Tell me what’s wrong,” I said encouragingly, rubbing her shoulder.
She let out another sob but then seemed to gird her loins and looked up to meet my eyes.
“He…” she began, and I assumed she was talking about Logan. “He did it…” She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to go on.
“He who? Your boyfriend?” Janel asked, and Alyssa shook her head.
“Who, then? Who are you talking about, Alyssa?” I pressed, nervous. A bad feeling had crept into my chest, and I tried in vain to push it away. Alyssa stared at me, looking mortified at what she had to say, and my body went stiff.
“Neil,” she said, her voice barely a whisper, and her eyes did not leave mine. My friends looked to me, worry all over their faces.
“Neil?” I echoed, confused, and Alyssa nodded. “What does he have to do with anything?” I continued, though I had a sick feeling that whatever I was about to hear wouldn’t make me happy at all.
“He…” she sobbed as I silently waited for her to explain. “He kissed me,” she cried, and it felt like she’d punched me in the stomach. My eyebrows shot up in shock, and I staggered back, shaken by this shocking revelation.
“He kissed you?” I repeated in a whisper, like I hadn’t heard her correctly.
“Yes,” she affirmed. “I was in the kitchen, just drinking a glass of water…” she said haltingly, but I still managed to understand her clearly. “I could feelhis gaze lingering on me, and I wanted to get out of there, but when I tried to walk past him, he grabbed me by the waist and…” She began to move her hands animatedly as I watched her, increasingly disconcerted. I didn’t want to believe what I was hearing. I thought about stopping her, about dismissing it as crazy talk, but I was determined to make myself hurt. I was determined to know what kind of man I had fallen in love with.
“Go on,” I prompted her, my voice breaking. I barely recognized the sound of it.
“He held me still, and then he kissed me really hard out of nowhere.” She burst into tears again, and I staggered back. My legs felt like jelly, and my head was spinning. My heart pounded in my temples. I rubbed my breastbone, trying to keep breathing.
“It can’t be true…” I murmured incredulously. At the same time, Alyssa’s gaze collided violently with my own to erase any doubts I might have had.
“It is,” she answered, with difficulty.
