I gave her a polite hug in return but my mind was churning. I hated these false moments with her. She hated me, clearly, and I didn’t like her very much either. I pulled away and then chuckled, "God, I probably look a hot mess. I'm gonna go.” I stood up and left Jen sitting there, waiting for Kent who ran into me in the downstairs lobby.

“Elly, hey. Sorry about that. I just… had to get out of there.”

He still looked kind of pissed and I was glad he wasn’t pissed at me. At least I hoped he wasn’t. Maybe I’d interrupted a romantic evening with him and Jen. No, he’d said she was out with her mom.

“It’s okay. It was pretty tense in there. Your dorm room is way too small.”

He chuckled, and it made my belly feel warm.

“Yeah, tell me about it.”

“No time for cru—" Oh no, maybe I’d interrupted his private boy time. “Oh god, did I come stop by at the worst time? I’m sure you don’t get alone time very often and—“

He stopped me with his hand as he placed it on my shoulder. “Elly. Stop. You didn’t interrupt anything. I was playing a video game that’s all. I’m sorry I can’t keep talking about how awesome you are.”

I rolled my eyes, totally not believing him. “Whatever.” I nodded and smiled, not feeling it in my heart but I needed to show it for his sake. “Better go up there and patch things up with your girlfriend.”

“Yeah, I’d better or she won’t play with me.” I blinked at him and he shook his head, stuttering with embarrassment, “N-no! I m-meant video games!”

I nodded a couple of times slowly. “Right. Okay. Not my business.” I held my hands up innocently and side stepped around him.

He raked his fingers through his hair as he watched me go. “Elly! That’s not what I meant!”

“Go on. Go play with your girlfriend.” I shuddered as I walked out of his dorm. I didn’t want that image in my head. I closed my eyes as I walked a few steps. Rainbows. The beach. Crabs. CRABS! I opened my eyes and shook my head. I needed to go work out and sap the self-pity from my body.

Chapter Seven

I sat down next to Kent a few days later in Art History class. "Hey." I opened my notebook and uncapped my pen.

Kent didn't look like himself. It looked like he hasn't slept well in days. He had his notebook out like always, but he didn't have his pencil in hand. He turned his eyes towards me and offered a little smile. "Hey, Elly."

I looked him over and bent over slightly so I could get a better look at him. The bags under his eyes were huge. “What-are you okay?"