“Malibu Barbie with highlights brighter than the sun totally dumped that rat on her on purpose,” Delilah insists, crossing her arms tightly over her chest with a slight sneer on her face.
I scrub my hands over my face, cursing under my breath. “Fucking Adrianna.”
Delilah lets out a humorless laugh, shaking her head in disgust. “Of course. The classic pretty, popular, mean girl revenge.”
I sigh, unable to argue that. Not that I’m looking for excuses for Adrianna at all.
“I’m going to talk to her,” I say, determined. “This is bullshit.”
“Damn straight it is.”
I glance over at Delilah, appreciative of how protective she over her best friend. Not to mention, she’s headstrong and upfront. I’m surprised at how fond I’ve become of her and how we’ve somehow formed a bond over the semester.
The sound of running water stopping and paper towels being pulled from the dispenser make both Delilah and me perk up. A few moments later the lock on the restroom door clicks and the door opens a couple of inches, Olivia sticking her arm out.
“Hoodie, please,” she asks.
I hand her my hoodie through the crack in the door. A minute later the door finally opens and Olivia walks out wearing my hoodie, the fabric hanging loosely on her thin frame. Her old clothes are carefully cradled in her hands, so that she doesn’t touch any more formaldehyde, and her hair is thrown up in a high, messy ponytail.
I take a step toward her and run my hand up and down her arm. “You okay?” I ask, ducking my head to meet her eyes. My heart tightens uncomfortably in my chest when I see the dejection behind her eyes, but she tries to hide it with a soft smile.
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
“Do you want to go home?” I ask, knowing she probably wants to take a real shower.
She shakes her head. “No, I’m okay,” she insists. “I washed my skin at the sink for at least ten minutes so I should be fine.”
“You sure?” Even Delilah presses her.
“Yes,” she says, flashing us a smile that doesn’t quite meet her eyes.
Delilah and I both glance at each other, coming to some sort of silent, mutual agreement to let it go for now.
I hook my arm around Olivia’s shoulders and the three of us go back to the lab and take our seats.
Sitting down, I can’t help but let my eyes drift over to Adrianna’s table for a second, catching her and her three minions staring at us with scowls. Her green eyes sizzle with envy and her jaw ticks when she notices Olivia wearing my hoodie.
I turn back around and grab the mock final, writingBronxandFinchat the top. That puts a genuine smile on Olivia’s face.
We both glance over the skeletal figure printed out on the paper, filling in the answers where indicated, starting top, down. When we get to the scapula, I lean over and press a kiss to her shoulder blade, making her cheeks immediately burn red.
“Bronx,” she scolds in a hushed tone.
I grin at her cheekily, leaning over again to press a kiss to the edge of her shoulder. “Acromion,” I mumble against the fabric of the hoodie.
Her teeth sink into her bottom lip, eyes worriedly sweeping across the room to make sure no one is paying attention.
“I thought you liked studying like this,” I whisper teasingly into her ear.
Playfully, she pushes me away, but I swoop right back in, hooking my arm around her waist and resting my chin on her shoulder. I whisper the answers to her, causing her to giggle whenever my breath tickles her ear.
We finish the mock final and study for a bit before heading out with Delilah. As we walk outside, a flash of raven hair walking the opposite direction catches my eye.
“Hey, baby,” I cut into Olivia and Delilah’s conversation. “I forgot, I have Brennen’s water bottle he left at the gym this morning in my backpack. I’m going to go run to the café and give it to him,” I lie.
“Okay.” Olivia nods, pausing with Delilah on the sidewalk.
I lean down and press a quick kiss to her lips. “I’ll catch you in English,” I say, kissing the back of her hand and letting go of it before jogging in the direction I last saw Adrianna go.
