“Arey’allon the same team?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m onRed, she’s on Blue.”
Nodding, she pointed to astaircase to her left. “For Ninth Red, you’regonnatake the stairs over there for the West Wing. You’re on the fourth floor.”Then, she peered around me to Molly, her smile softening just a bit at thecowering girl. “For Ninth Blue, you’re in the East Wing. You’ll take the stairsdown the hall and to the right.Alsoon the fourthfloor.”
Molly gripped my arm tightly.“We’re in separatewings?”
The woman’s eyes were full ofsympathy and understanding. “Same floor, though, honey.”
She didn’t get it, though. Shedidn’t know that we had walked into school together, up the stairs together,and into the same classroom together every single school day sinceKindergarten. She didn’t know that leaving Molly to navigate the halls byherself wrenched something in my heart and made me worry for her.
“You’ll be okay,” I told Molly,masking my concern with an assuring smile. “I’ll find you after school.”
“What if you can’t?” Her eyesflitted over the massive crowd around us, swarming with both confusion andpurpose.
“Let me worry about that.”
She was a bundle of nerves andapprehension as she swallowed and barely nodded her head.
“Yougottago before the bell rings,” I said.
Her eyes flooded and swam in apool of fear and anticipated loneliness. “Will you walk me to my homeroom?Please?”
“Molls,” I sighed, shaking myhead. “I wouldn’t make it to my class before the bell rings. Come on, you cando it. Okay?”
I didn’t wait for her reply asI gave her a quick hug and headed to the stairs, thinking it’d be easier towalk away first. But the emotion rolled into my throat as a boulder andwouldn’t budge.Maybe I should walkher, I thought.Maybe it didn’t matter if I was late—it was onlythe first day, for crying out loud. Lots of people get lost on their way, I’msure.
Deciding it wouldn’t be a bigdeal, I glanced over my shoulder. “Molly!” I called out through the studentscrowding behind me, but it was too late.
I’d already lost her.
***
Somethingflimsy and soft hit my head, snatching me away from my reverie. “Chad. Have youbeenlistenin’ toanythingI just said?”
Iglanced at the t-shirt at my feet and then lifted my gaze to find Molly’s.“No,” I replied honestly.
“Oh,my God,” she groaned. Her arms flipped out toward her three open, emptysuitcases on the bed. There was also a smaller bag beside them full of hertoiletries and hair products and another packed with makeup. At least six pairsof shoes were scattered over the blanket, as well as a nest of wires andchargers for her electronics.“I’mtrynafigure out what the hell to bring! Can youpleasehelp me?”
Ishrugged. “Bring whatever you want.”
Shesighed impatiently and thrust a hand into her curls. “Maybe I should just askMorgan …”
Mollyhad called me earlier to help with the packing crisis, and I came, because shehad asked. But this was less of an issue for me. I always just threw someclothes and a couple pairs of shoes into my two duffle bags. My toothbrush,laptop, headphones, and various chargers then went into my backpack. That wasit. The guys and I shared toothpaste, shampoo, and soap, and it was Ty’s turnto supply the toiletries. But I understood her dilemma; she had never set outto travel for so long before, and I did want to try and help.
“Wait.Hold on.” I crossed my arms and widened my stance, assessing the mess on herbed. “Well,first of all, you don’t need to bring yourwinter coat. Where the hell do you think we’regoin’in the middle of the summer?”
“Idon’t know! I wasn’t sure …” She worked her thumbnail between her teeth.
“We’retourin’ the States, not the Arctic. Get rid of it.”
“Okay.”She spoke with relief as she nodded and plucked the coat from the footboard. Iwatched it be cast aside, sailing across the room and onto the floor. “Whatelse?”
Iwaved a finger toward the pile of shoes. “You definitely don’t need all ofthose.”
Herhead tilted to one side and a look of utter distaste masked her face. “You’rejokin’, right? You do realize you’retalkin’to a woman?”
“Idon’t care what you are,” I laughed. “You don’t have the space for all thoseshoes on the bus. Pick like, two pairs. Sneakers and sandals.”
