I turned my back and slung my bag over my shoulder. All of a sudden she screamed and dropped to the floor. “Oh, shit! She hit me in the eye. It was on purpose. She hit me.”

A guy behind us started laughing. “Give it up. She wasn’t anywhere near you.”

Roberta was recording herself on the floor. The guy shook his head and it must have thrown off her dramatic recording because she shut it down. As I took off after class, I heard the remnants of Roberta’s fight with my defender.

“She could have hit me, though. She’s careless. Careless…”

I had put enough distance between her and me that I couldn’t hear her voice. I was going to have to thank that guy in the next class. How she found out I was dating Austin, or well, pretend dating, but actually may be real dating, I didn't know. But this was escalating in a way I was not comfortable with. I didn’t want to be chased out of school just because I had an unfortunate roommate. I had met a lot of people in my life, and none of them had been as unstable as Roberta. I was able to step onto the city bus to get home quicker.

When I got back to the apartment, I looked around before going inside. I didn’t see anyone, but didn’t love the idea that I was possibly being followed from time to time. She was making me paranoid and creating issues that weren’t even problems yet.

After saying hello to Barker, the doorman, I took the elevator up to our floor. Earlier I asked Austin about the tipping situation and he said that the maintenance fees of the apartment building took care of that. We only had to make sure to give nice gifts at the holidays.

When I got inside, both Axel and Austin were gone. I pulled out my phone and saw a text that had been sent on my walk back to the apartment.

AUSTIN: Took puppy for a walk. Endgame won’t be home.

The text was followed by a kiss emoji. I locked the door behind me and stood in the apartment alone. I had to handle Roberta somehow. She seemed to be escalating and getting more dramatic at the same time. It was a problem.

20

AUSTIN

Tinsley and Parker met me to walk Axel. He was a huge hit with them both. I was trying to work on his crotch slamming habit, but he was stubborn and quick. I warned them both to stay prepared to guard their loins. Once we all established a rhythm, we set out to stretch Axel’s legs.

“So Stars Unlimited was okay with Taylor?” Tinsley looped her arm in mine. I had always appreciated her for her directness.

“Yeah. They loved the pictures.” I shrugged. All I could see of her reaction was my own reflection in her sunglasses.