Page 65 of Your Side of the Offense

"We aren't, but if you have an in with her, just don't fuck it up," Caleb says

I furrow my eyebrows. "Are you saying you want me to…manipulate her into remaining in my life?" I hope that's not what they mean.

"Not manipulate, but strongly encourage to stay."

I lean onto the countertop with a smile.

"You guys do know she is still dating that idiot, right and she is hell bent on the relationship?"

"I'm sure you have ways of reminding her what she used to have. Ain't no way that mouth breathing idiot is good enough for her."

"We can't push her, or it will push her away." I try to reason with them.

"That's not what I mean." Jaden gives me a pointed look and my mouth drops.

"You don't mean…?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean."

I look around and they are serious.

"How do you propose I get her there in the first place?"

"You smart, think of something," Jaden says.

"You lot are immoral."

"No, we are in love." Caleb says.

I sigh as Harvey pushes plates to us and gives us our portions. We start eating. Well, they eat. I don't have the appetite at all. I have one forkful because I have to take my medication. Without it, everything is hard to do.

I think about what my friends just said. I get their point, but I don't think they understand that she won't cross that line. I mean, I want her to, but she won't.

"We will expect progress reports weekly, lover boy," Jaden jokes before he stuffs his mouth with a syrup dripping pancake.

"I am not doing that shit. I am not plotting against her." I take the orange juice and bring it to my lips.

"Whatever."

Harvey stays pretty silent on everything. Not contributing to the conversation.

When the others leave to go to their room, he looks at me. "Just…be careful, okay. She still isn't ours and…I don't want to see you hurt when she doesn't give you everything you hope for."

The next few days, I am back to square one. Sleep evades me. Coach gives me the bench for two weeks to look after my body and I am due for a medical exam before he allows me back in. It fucking sucks because without the games exhausting me, I have one less helpful way to sleep.

The worst thing though is that I keep lying to Summer. She has checked on me every second day and I am running out of lies. On one hand, I want to tell her but on another, it feels manipulative.

20

FRIENDS

Summer

The next week is pretty hectic. I have three assignments and by 5 p.m. on Friday after my test, I am ready for the chariot of Elijah to come for me. I have no energy for anything. Logan and his buds have a party tonight and I declined because I am not in the mood.

It's been such a long week that I haven't had time to physically check on Arch again. I know he's said he's fine, but I have a deep-seated need to want to see for myself.

Walking back to my dorm, I find Hazel's door open with music spilling out and a few voices and I go to her room. Gabby and Lin are seated on her bed.

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