“Maybe…”
I read his discomfort and sigh. “Okay, we can go.”
“No, it’s fine. I like being here with you.”
I smile. “And I like being here with you. Plus, we don’t have to throw-up watching Matthew and Sara for once.”
“That’s always cause for celebration. So, now what?”
“Um, I’m feeling better. Let’s try to see your past again.”
He agrees, and I take his hands. This time I shoot much closer to my target. “You took a pretty redhead to the prom.”
“Julie.”
“She’s beautiful. Were you two dating?”
“For over a year. She dumped me when I came here and she went off to conquer the world one pedicure at a time.”
“Cosmetology School?”
“Yup, and apparently that meant she couldn’t have a boyfriend. I’m still trying to figure that one out.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shrugs. “It wouldn’t have worked out anyway. As you know, they don’t exactly encourage outside relationships while we’re here. Hell, we’re not even allowed to have a phone.”
“They really like to isolate us.”
“They’re big on understanding ourselves and identifying with each other. They don’t want us distracted by the rest of the world.”
“But they don’t have a problem with interschool dating.”
He meets my gaze. “No, they basically encourage it.”
“That’s convenient.”
“Very.”
I clear my throat and look away. I’m not ready for this conversation yet. “We should probably get back. I didn’t realize how long it would take to get here.”
Chapter 11: Enemy
“You have to be kidding me,” Ben mutters when Clausen announces we should assemble in suite groupings for the morning activity. “The one day he actually shows up.”
Daniel makes no effort to seek us out, so the three of us join him on the far side of the gym.
“Hey, Dan. You want to go first? If you could be any flower what would you be?” Ben jokes, dropping down across from him.
“You can skip my turn,” he replies, barely acknowledging us.
I hate the force with which I study him. Once again I can’t look away even though every logical thought in my brain insists I should. If he notices, he doesn’t let on and continues to zone out.
“I hate suite bonding day. It’s such a waste of time,” Laura whines.
“What are we supposed to do, exactly?” I ask, joining the small circle.
“Basically the same thing as group counseling, but with just the four of us. We’re supposed to chat and hug and cry. As you can imagine, this is Daniel’s favorite day too,” Ben says.
