“Seriously, Ella? Is that all you worry about? Your graduation? Did you say, Aly? Our Alyson?” Caroline repeated in shock.
“Yes! It’s pretty messed up right now. Don’t have the slightest idea what’s going on.”
“Oh my God! What did he do?”
“Who knows? I can’t say I am sorry. I’ve been waiting for four years for my graduation. Now this prick ruins it all for us.”
Caroline saw no point in challenging the premise. True enough, Ella had been looking forward to and fully enjoying graduation week. More than all of them combined. But still, the news of her friend Alyson being unconscious and Andre getting arrested from her place… All of it was piling on to form a terrifying possibility. Did she have something to do with it?
“Is Aly okay?” Caroline asked. That was the most pressing issue anyway.
“I think so. Last I heard she was in the hospital. Where have you been? Have you been hiding under the rock?”
“Crazy things are happening all around. Should we go to the hospital to see her? How did it happen with Andre?”
“Eyewitnesses and things like that. They say he was the one last seen with her like early this morning.”
That revelation was yet more shocking than anything else she had encountered that very weird morning. How could that be? Andre was in her room in the morning.
“Did it happen after the party?” Caroline asked, referring to the black-tie and mask gathering. That much she remembered about the night before. She and Ella had dressed up and gone to graduation celebration bash at a secret club. Exclusive to Harvard students and select invited guests. Before various groups splintered into their own small group parties. Her memory of how the night went didn’t extend past the beginning of the group party. They were drinking and dancing so much.
“That’s what makes it so weird. I mean, we were all there having a good time. No idea something like that could happen.”
Caroline made the quick decision not to say much more without clarifying her own contribution to how the night transpired. If Andre woke up with her in the morning, when did they come to the apartment? Did they arrive together?
“What are you up to?” Ella interrupted Caroline’s thought process, tracing the activities of the past evening.
“Just came back from a run,”
“Oh! You should have told me. I’d have gone with you. The guy last night was such a bore. Oh my God! I can’t believe that’s that last impression I will leave college with. Some dorky guy I have no idea how we hooked up. Were we that wasted?”
“Well, you were wild as per usual,” Caroline said.
“That doesn’t mean… It doesn’t matter. We have tonight and tomorrow.”
“Are you seriously planning on partying when your friend is in the hospital unconscious and Andre is in jail?”
“I mean, I don’t want her to die or anything. Still, I mean… I’m sure she will be alright… We have a graduation to celebrate, hun. Don’t forget that!”
“And Andre?” Caroline asked, unable to resist indulging in her frustration for the carelessness of her best friend.
“Didn’t you say you were with him? Maybe there is some kinda confusion. I mean, if he really did this stuff, who am I to say he didn’t deserve it? These guys feel like they rule the world. Well, I have a news flash for them. Not anymore. You saw Aly, though. It was like she had been saving herself for the last hurrah before graduation. I had never seen her drunk before last night.”
“I know. It was pretty crazy. Anyway, gotta shower.”
“Wanna do lunch?”
“Meeting the family. Sorry.”
“Okay, hun. Love you,” Ella ended the call.
Caroline had initially intended to distract herself from messaging back and forth with Jack. She decided she might as well meet him. What is the worst that can happen?
There was another message from him.
“I guess you’re either in grave danger or trouble. Either way. Can’t wait to see you tonight.”
Danger or trouble? What exactly did he mean?
