‘You weren’t there, how could you know? You don’t know everything, you don’t know anything about me.’ She’s speaking fast, her hands flying around in front of her, eyes wide and manic, and I’m struggling to follow.
‘It’s not like we’re exclusive and it’s not like he was trying to hide anything from me and I never should’ve said that to Jenna, it was so fucking rude. She’ll tell Alice and she’ll hate me too and it’s impressive, really. I messed up everything I had in one evening. Well done, Mia, well done.’
Oh boy, she’s crashing out big time.
‘Hey, Mia, you’re right. I don’t know what happened,’ I say gently as we march on, side by side. ‘But it can’t be all that bad?’
‘It’s not just tonight, it’s everything,everything!’ She’s still gesticulating wildly, ranting like she didn’t hear a word I said. ‘My folks knew I wouldn’t be able to cope on my own and they were right. I suck at my job, I can’t make friends, I’m even strugglingwith my classes. I never should’ve even applied, my dad told me not to. Don’t overreach, don’t step outside your comfort zone. I’m not good enough for this place. I should’ve stayed home, I should’ve known better.’
‘Mia, stop.’
When I step in front of her, she walks right into me and looks up, blinking, like she didn’t realize I was there.
‘Talk to me,’ I beg, desperate to hold her but too afraid. She seems so fragile and I want to protect her but not break her. ‘Whatever is wrong, let me help you.’
‘Why?’ She hears me this time. Her voice is plaintive and her eyes wide. ‘Why would you want to help me? You’re Ethan Taylor and I’m—’
‘Mia Meyers. You’re Mia Meyers.’
‘Congratulations,’ she says with a bitter smile. ‘You know my name.’
Stepping out of the lamplight, she slips back into the shadows and leaves me alone with that gut punch. I watch her stumble away, the slides on her feet no good for stomping, and when the footpath forks off in two directions, one leading to the river, the other to our dorm, she takes an unexpected turn.
‘Wait up!’ I yell. ‘Where are you going? Carpenter is that way.’
‘Leave me alone, Ethan,’ she shouts back, veering off towards the river.
But there’s no way. I’m not leaving her by herself in this state, anything could happen.
‘Fine. If you won’t talk to me, I’m just gonna walk behind you for a while.’
‘Do what you want, I don’t care.’
She doesn’t look back at me, not once, but I can hear her mutteringto herself. I don’t care what she says, someone is to blame for this meltdown and when I find out who, I’m going to kick their ass. Unless it’s Jenna, because that girl would definitely be the one to kick my ass. But if it is, I’ll sure as shit let her know making someone feel this way is not okay.
When we reach the river, Mia slows down and I hold back, waiting to see what she’ll do next. One second she’s standing, facing the water, the next she drops to the ground in a crumpled heap. I’m at her side before she hits the grass.
‘Hey, hey, you’re safe, I’ve got you,’ I say as she falls against my chest, not fighting when I put my arms around her. There’s a warm tang on her breath I’m not expecting.
‘Have you been drinking?’
‘I don’t drink,’ she replies. ‘But I had one whiskey and it was disgusting. Why would anyone ever drink that for fun?’
Even in the middle of a meltdown, she still makes me want to smile.
‘Beats me. Now, you want to tell me what’s going on?’
Her eyes, her beautiful blue eyes, fill with tears and I’m equal parts rage and heartbreak. All I want to do is fix things.
‘I told you, I messed up.’ She rubs at her wrist but her bracelet isn’t there, the delicate silver one with the heart-shaped clasp. ‘I’m pathetic. I never should’ve come here.’
I stroke her hair, giving her room to breathe, room to speak. Even though I want to correct her so badly, talking over Mia isn’t going to help. All I can do is be here and wait. So that’s what I do, I wait. Keeping her safe until she’s ready to speak.
‘It started with Oliver,’ she says finally, words muffled against my chest.
I knew it. That douche is the reason she’s upset and now I get to kill him.
‘What did he do?’
