Page 61 of Dare To Fall

His eyes are troubled as he scans my face. “You’re white as a sheet, and you look like you’re about to faint. You shouldn’t be alone.”

My laugh sounds brittle to my ears. “You’re one of the last people on the planet I want with me right now.”

“Where are you going?”

“I-I don’t know.” My strength falters.

If I go to the tomb or the chapel, Eli will find me.

The thought of seeing him after what just happened makes me want to run in the opposite direction.

Garrett touches my arm lightly. “Come on. This way.”

“Why should I trust you?”

My phone vibrates in my bag, but I ignore it.

“Because I’m done with watching Travers tear strips off you. It’s not funny. He’s a fucking monster, and it needs to stop.” He gestures toward the other end of the campus. “I know somewhere we can go that he won’t think to look for you.”

The prospect of going back to my room leaves me feeling miserable.

What if he’s my blackmailer?

I hesitate for a heartbeat, before I nod, a reckless need to have control over something driving me. “Okay.”

Garrett leads me to the gymnasium and then around it. We end up at a side door which he opens. It leads into a storage area where boxes and spare equipment are housed.

“That door back there leads into the main building. It’s unlocked if you want to try it, if that makes you feel safe to be in here with me. There are some mats to sit on right next to it.” He points further in. “It’s pretty comfortable.”

I hug my bag to my chest and follow his directions. “I don’t think I can sit down.”

Garrett grimaces. “Shit, I should have thought of that. Maybe I can find a cushion. It might be gentler on your ass.”

There are empty beer bottles tucked away and other signs that the place is being used by students. When I reach the door, I push it open a crack and peek out into the gymnasium. There’s a class in session, a group of students playing basketball.

I leave the door ajar and turn back to him. “Why are you being nice to me?”

“I don’t like what Eli is doing to you.”

“Isn’t it the same as what you want to do?”

“No.” He rakes a hand through his hair. “I’d have never gone that far, and your room wasn’t my idea. That was Jace’s.”

I freeze. “J-Jace’s?”

“I think he was pissed you went off with Kellan at the Valentine’s Ball.”

He’s not talking about Monday night.

He glances around. “You hungry? I can grab something from the vending machine. I could do with a drink.”

I offer him a wobbly smile. “Not really.”

“I’ll bring you back something anyway. Just make yourself comfortable, okay?”

As he turns away, I call his name. “Garrett?”

He glances at me. “Yeah?”

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