trix

aths. One... t

way. I've been through worse

hall, the laughing still

ip, and started walking. My chest hamme

n, I think my legs made the

nd I ran, as fast as I could. My chest h

as I k

n't the

o this properly. The party noise was gone behind me now, which

dorm. Quiet. Empty. I was defini

c had gone a deep, patchy purple wherev

lly got it open. I didn't bother with the lights - I

the bathroom, flicked on the light

reflection. "At l

Ruined. I was more worried about that than my own

hower, everything els

ed, then pink, t

s were gett

estly, I hadn't expect

was going to

Our food server gave me a look I didn't need to interpret. And if that had been the end of it,

ink as me. Somehow, none of them

did their own thing - and I planned on doing exactly that. I'd al

. I sat watching everyone else, legs folded under me, the water catching the l

e something people had opinions about. Funny how fa

or really didn

looked up - Kai, was my firs

. C

ouch a strand of my hair, right

is gaze. He raised an eyebr

fun," he said, glancing toward Kai, t

lied, and

swim," he said. I glanced at him, n

. "My brother - he's good at s

practically taught every girl in this college how to swim at

" he y

the

and Kai waved off the girls, wh

i's voice came w

a beat too long, because he gl

" Cruz asked. I turned

said. I turned back to him -

he whispers starting, people glancing our way. At this rate, forge

were going to do that," Kai

to learn,"

t?" I

g toward the water, then back at me. "I'

e's a reaso

Um

ice cut in. He looked like a mess, bu

air?" he asked, sitt

ove in pac

olve coursework," Cruz said. I nodded. Isn't that a good thing

d. Cruz got up and moved beside him

sual," Kai said, and

on't know. But I also don't think

g on. Why did this feel normal

ng up again. "I'll be right back," he sa

z said, eyeing Bryan, who g

omething to eat," C

n?" Bryan asked, stil

nced a

y didn't matter. Not to

Yo

tin. It had only taken one

said, turning to look past me. And I k

ong," Bryan muttered, sta

g. Just kept watching

even give him a glance. I don't know why, but I thin

asked. I'd told myself I was going to

d to say out loud, but - what was I expecting, som

though?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "

already starting to forget these boys were

g to deflect. He gave that easy

d, nodding, the

He didn't respond, and I didn't look toward his dir

out the dres

he dress. That's w

rn." A vo

ing the girls, covered in water, hair drenched, his chest and ar

ered. He held out a hand

walking up. Bryan was beside h

teach her to

terested, though.

th the others, Kai?" Bryan said. I turned to

oved his hand aside. The attention around u

teach you instead," Bryan said. I turned to him. no expre

too, if Bryan's do

boys - what exactl

o worry, I can-" Kai st

, Trix?" Cruz said,

o a game centered on me. Choosing one of them j

something

you could

r faces. All of them, sh