“Look, I want to get my car!” Jorden stared out the windshield.

“You are stubborn, aren’t you? Have it your way. I’ll take you to your apartment.”

“Thank you,” Jorden replied.

Neither spoke on the drive. Jorden contemplated other difficult moments with Alex. Her thoughts went back to the first time, a year and a half ago, when Uncle William died. Alex shut her out when she told him about his death. The second time occurred at the Twelfth Week Party for the OCS candidates, and the last time was on the visit to his family’s home in Albany.

Jorden kept quiet. When they reached her apartment, she quickly slid out of the car.

“Thank you. I won’t be long.”

Alex didn’t bother to answer. He stepped on the gas and backed out. Jorden watched him speed around the pool and turn right at the exit heading back to their apartment.

“He can’t make me sell my car,” Jorden murmured. Was he always this domineering? In the meantime, she looked around but didn’t see Darby or Emma Lynn’s cars. She opened her Volkswagen’s door. The heat blasted out like an inferno. She swore when she touched the steering wheel. After the heat dissipated, she rolled down the windows.

No one was at the apartment. She was disappointed; she had hoped to talk with at least one of her roommates. Entering the kitchen, she passed by the phone and couldn’t resist lifting up the receiver. She hesitated, but then dialed Matt’s number. No answer. Next she called Madison. Again there was no response. No roommates. No Matt. No Madison.

Jorden waited a half hour. Neither roommate returned. While waiting she went back to her bedroom and picked up some clean clothes. She thought about Alex; he wanted to leave Columbus midway through next week. She wanted to wait another full week. The thought of leaving Columbus made her feel sick. If only she could talk with Matt once more.

Jorden left a note for her roommates. It was three thirty when she drove by a phone booth. At the last second, Jorden made a sharp turn and pulled into the Shell station. She looked around and recognized the area. Their apartment was about a quarter mile away.

Jorden pulled open the phone booth, inserted change into the coin slot, and dialed Matt’s number. It rang six times. Frustrated, she was about to hang up when an out-of-breath voice answered.

“Hello?”

“Matt?” Jorden’s hand shook.

“No. This is Lyon. Matt’s not here.”

Jorden’s shoulders slumped. “Oh. Thank you.” She hung up. His roommate didn’t seem to recognize her voice.

A tapping sound startled her.

“Miss Marshall? I thought I saw your car.”

“Nora! You surprised me.”

“I ride my bike around here a lot. Our apartment isn’t far from here.”

“You’re right,” Jorden agreed.