"Hey, Heather," he says.
“Uh.” I glance pointedly at the row of stalls. “This is thegirls’bathroom, you know.”
“Oh!” His eyes widen like he didn’t realize it, although I don’t know how that’s possible. “Sorry!”
And yet he still doesn’t leave.
“Hey,” he says. “Are you studying with Abe right now?”
The question is almost as strange as the fact that Victor doesn’t seem to be making any motion to exit the ladies’ room. Why is he asking me about Abe? I don't think I’ve seen Victor exchange two words with him. “No…”
“Do you know where he is?”
I shake my head. “I'm not sure. Back at the dorms, maybe.”
“Sorry.” He rubs his hands together. “I thought you two were an item.”
“We are.” Sort of. “But he’s… He’s not here.”
“Okay…” Victor considers this new development. “Well, when you see him, can you tell him I’m looking for him? And it’s, like,important.”
I frown at Victor. He’s wearing jeans and a T-shirt, and I can’t help but notice how painfully skinny he is. He’s shifting betweenhis sneakers, squeezing his shaky hands together. He looks more anxious than he should, considering we don’t have any exams this week.
“Is everything okay?” I ask him.
“Just struggling a bit. You know.” He lets out an odd-sounding laugh. “Anyway, make sure you tell Abe I’m looking for him. Please?”
I am troubled by the note of desperation in Victor’s voice. “Okay,” I agree.
What is going on here? He sounds the same way that Gerald/Harold guy sounded in the parking lot when he wanted to talk to Abe. Abe seemed so baffled when that happened. But now, I wonder if that was all an act.
What is my boyfriend hiding from me?
15
Our final examis tomorrow morning.
I’ve still got a few hours left in the evening until I’m too tired to think straight. The exam should be in the forefront of my brain right now, but all I can think about is Abe. I can’t stop wondering what he’s hiding from me and why he refuses to tell me the truth. Until I get an answer, I’m not going to be able to focus.
My only choice is to confront him.
I’m going up to Abe’s room, and I’m going to offer him an ultimatum: the truth or I walk. Simple as that. If Abe cares about me, he’ll make the right decision.
I hope.
I felt so sure of myself when I composed my plan to confront Abe, but as I walk up the stairs, it occurs to me that I’ve never successfully talked anybody into anything in my life. I’m a complete pushover. That’s why I always try to bring friends with me shopping, so the saleslady won’t talk me into buying half the store. How am I going to be strong enough to force Abe to tell me what is obviously a really big secret?
And then there’s the other side of the coin. If he does confess, maybe I won’t want to hear it. What if he really did kill someone? What then?
But no. It can’t be that. Itcan’t.
I knock on the door to Abe and Mason’s apartment and wait patiently for the sound of Abe’s heavy footsteps. They don’t come, nor does the sound of Mason’s comparatively lighter footsteps. The inside of the dorm room is completely silent.
It hadn’t even occurred to me that Abe wouldn’t be home. But of course, it’s the night before the big exam. Everyone is at the library.
I clench my fists in frustration. It’s Abe’s fault that I can’t focus, and now he’s not even home. What now?
On a whim, I rest my hand on the doorknob. I hadn’t really expected it to be unlocked, but then the knob turns under my palm. I apply some gentle pressure, and the door swings open.
