Page 63 of Bound By Threads
What’s wrong today?
She glances away for a second, just long enough.
I reach past her, smooth and practiced, and swap the one on her tray for the one from my bag.
The brownie’s soft and sweet… and laced with enough weed to take the edge off the thoughts that gnaw at your bones. Perfect for getting answers without the other two butting in.
She doesn’t notice the switch, picking up her tray and walking away to sit with her friend, who saved them a table.
I step back into the crowd, another shadow blending into the edges of her world, and try to tell myself I’m only doing this to get her to talk. To let me in, even if it’s only to know why she cut us out.
She driftstoward the library after lunch like she’s on autopilot. Her head swivels from side to side as she walks, and when she reaches the doors to the library, she disappears inside one of the quiet study rooms.
I give her a few minutes to settle, then step in, closing the door behind me. She’s seated at the table by the window, her laptop open in front of her, headphones on.
Her mouth moves, and her eyes flick between the screen and her hands. She pulls the headphones off, turning them off and then on again.
I watch her panic.
“I can’t hear anything,” she whispers, voice rising with dread. She throws the headphones on the desk, ignoring thethunkthey make, and clamps her hands over her ears, breathing fast. “Oh my god… I’m deaf.”
Her voice breaks on the last word, and there are tears in her eyes.
I step closer. “You didn’t.”
She jerks, startled. I walk up beside her and press the keyboard gently.
Unmute.
Sound pours out of the laptop, and she stares at the screen like she’s seeing a ghost. Then turns to me, flushed and furious. “You think that’s funny?”
“No. I think you’re high.”
Her face twists, staring at me with disappointment and hurt. “What did you do?”
“You looked away. I swapped it for one of mine. It’s not going to hurt you, just make you feel a bit funny.”
“You drugged me.” Her voice breaks.
“I need answers.”
Scarlett stands, wrapping her arms around herself. “I… I never wanted to get high. Never wanted to feel what they felt. You… youviolatedme.” I flinch. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I want to talk,” I say. “Really talk. Without the defenses.”
She blinks at me like I’m insane. “You don’t get to demand that, Crew. You don’t get to waltz back into my life and ask these things from me. I owe none of you anything.”
“Scarlett—”
“Don’t.” She backs up a step, her voice wavering, lips trembling. “That’s not who I am anymore.”
“You’re still you,” I say, stepping closer.
Scarlett laughs. “You don’t know who I am now. It’s been two years.”
“I do. I always have. I’ve always loved you.”
I swear she stops breathing. “Stop.”
