“There. Gone.”
No more Ayan.
Though I still hear him mocking me with his plan for his entire fraternity to fuck me on Thriller Thursday. I shiver, grabbing the throw off my chair and wrapping it around me.
As the light of the day fades, my nerves rise.
I waste hours trying to copy my notes. But nothing is sticking. I give up and call Apollo, but when he answers, it’s so loud, I can barely hear him.
“Sorry, tulip! Wait just a second!” A long pause later, heavy music dampens slightly as he huffs like he’s out of breath. “Okay, sorry. What’s going on?”
“Did you leave a lollipop in the freezer?—”
“Dude! Seriously? Not in here! I can’t deal— I’m sorry, Scout. Wait! Don’t take my fucking phone?—”
The call ends.
Too afraid to stay alone, and too scared to walk by myself, I call the one person whoshouldbe up for a babysitting task.
“Evie?”
“My babe. Can I do something for you? Need a body hidden? A hooker for the night? A baggie of drugs? What is it?” Just the solid but insane sound of her voice settles me.
“I need you to come to aDeltaparty with me.”
“On my way. Text me your new address.”
Before I end the call, I glance around the apartment. “Uh, Evie?”
“What’s up?”
“Can you bring a gun?”
There’s a long silence. Then, a slow, deranged chuckle. “Never without one.”
With a hurried flick, I turn off all the lights, then part the blinds. I stare out the front window like a spy on a sting operation. A shadow dances across the sidewalk. My breath falters. Headlights shine, illuminating everything in the parking lot until the darkness fades into nothing. AloudHummer surges into the lot, blaring hip-hop music.
Out of it pops my friend. Wearing a black tutu, a leather jacket, and neon-green streaks in her ponytails. Oh, and tall fuzzy boots. Crossing her chest is a set of shiny gold bandoliers. I asked for a gun, but hopefully she’s not bringing an automatic.
She spots me immediately, like she can sense others watching her. I flip on the porch light and wave her inside.
As she reaches the threshold, I grimace and grab my jacket. “I meant for you to besubtle.”
She shakes her head, a glimmer shining in her light-blue eyes. “I tried subtle. She tasted funny. Come on!”
We stroll toward campus, and Evie remains silent, for once. Almost as if she’s waiting for me to explain what’s going on without urging me. But I can’t say it aloud. Not without sounding crazy.
“Sorry, I’m just in jeans and a T-shirt. Underdressed for this, probably.” I can hear Ellis telling me I need to try harder.
Evie’s gorgeous smile brightens as she stares into the night. Her made-up face glows under every streetlamp we pass. “Babe?Everyflower is gorgeous, no matter the color of the petals.”
A soft grin curls my lips. “Apollo calls me ‘tulip.’”
Her shoulder bumps mine, and she points out a divot in the concrete to avoid. “That’s adorable. Is that why you decided to go to aDeltaparty instead of staying inside like a dork tonight? Is Apollo a bad influence on you?”
“No. Maybe…” I glance behind us, but it’s only cars and a few students hurrying toward center campus and the coffee shop. “Ayan used to leave me lollipops on my desks for our classes.”
Evie groans and rolls her eyes, stumbling dramatically. Clutching her abdomen like she just burst her appendix. “Please, darling. Please tell me you aren’t getting back with him? Envisioning that pencil-dicked trout while fucking yourbruteof a husband. Disgusting, Scout. I disapprove.”
