Page 13 of The Midnight Confessions: Part Four

Trent has mentioned he's an asshole and doesn't like him and probably for good reason.

Cassie is still in the bathroom and I grumble as I get ready for classes. I have gymnastics tonight and I was hoping to go for a run this morning.

I grab my phone and call Trent. “Hey,” he mumbles with a yawn and I smile.

“Any way I could convince you to go on a run with me… Right now?” He laughs and agrees, then we hang up.

I don't know why it took me so long to give him a chance. He's a good guy and nothing like the assholes I used to date.

I just wish Cassie would join us…

I grab my Airpods and a light zip-up jacket. The weather is starting to warm, but the mornings are still chilly.

Trent is there when I exit the building and he pulls me into a quick hug. His arms tight around me are just what I needed.

“Morning,” I mumble into his soft hoodie and he laughs.

“Morning, babe,” he mutters. I look up at him and he leans down to press a soft kiss onto my lips.

I sigh and he pulls away, then lets me go. “Want to tell me what is making you want to run this morning? Did something happen? A few of the guys were talking about something in the building, but I didn't want to talk with them. Alex is driving me crazy.”

I grumble, then lean down and start my stretches. I don't need to pull a muscle. “I guess Cassie had an episode. She woke up and decided to go downstairs to study. Something spooked her and she started screaming at ghosts, waking up the first two floors.”

Trent grunts and shakes his head. “I know that Cassie and I don't know each other very well, but do you think maybe if we all got off campus for a night she would talk to us?”

I think about it for a few moments then nod. “That might work actually. We could grab some dinner and maybe stay at a hotel. I don't care if all she does is scream at me. I just need her to open up. Get out of this numb state she's in.”

I glance at Trent and he pulls me into another hug.

“She's starting to scare me,” I whisper and he tenses.

“Cassie wouldn't…” he trails off, and I watch his eyes fill with worry. I shake my head, because no, she wouldn't, but then I think of the old Cassie and how she's not eating again.

“I don't think so, but something is definitely wrong. I noticed she’s not really eating, jumping at ghosts, pushing everyone away…”

“Then it's settled. We will get a room and try to get her to talk,” Trent grumbles and I nod.

“Okay, enough of this. I need to run. Clear my head,” I say, then start jogging.

Things are too heavy right now.

* * *

Three miles later, my chest is heaving and I’m starting to feel better. Sucking down water, I remember the plan. Now how the hell am I going to convince Cassie to come off campus with us tonight?

“You’re thinking really hard, Lyra,” Trent chuckles.

“What if she just won’t come out tonight?” I sigh.

“We’re going out for dinner tonight,” he begins. “Tell her we want to catch up as friends. There’s a great Italian restaurant in one of the hotels in the next town over. I’ll make sure there’s multiple beds, and we’ll just get away. Midterms are coming up soon, so it’ll be nice to hang out before this party I have to host. We all kind of need this break.”

“Cassie won’t be up for a party anyway right now, so that’ll work. Just a chill evening, yeah?” I reassure myself.

“Yes. We aren’t pushing, but I want to see what’s going on. If you’re worried, then so am I. No one gets to hurt my girls, not even yourselves,” he grunts, putting his arm around my shoulders as he walks me to the dorms.

What would it be like to really have both Trent and Cassie in my life romantically? Sure, it would be a lot to explain to Mark and Mom—but for her, I would try.

The more I think about it, the more I want it to happen. I just need to get through tonight, find out what’s going on with Cassie, and then find a way to get her to accept that both Trent and I need her.

---