Page 37 of A Wish for Us

“He’s taken a swing at one of the frat brothers. He hit East back.”

I pulled on my sweater. “Is he okay?”

“He’s bloodied. But he’s not letting anyone near him.” Matt paused. “I’ve never seen him like this, Bonn. He’s all over the place.”

“Where are you?” I grabbed my car keys. I briefly saw my face in the mirror. I looked awful. I threw my hair back in a bun and forced my tired feet to move from the room.

“The Barn.”

“What?” I asked as I made my way breathlessly to the car. “On a Wednesday?” I checked the time. “It’s three in the morning, Matt!”

“It was Cromwell. He wanted to spin. None of us wanted to miss his new set. He came back to the dorms earlier tonight ready to party, drunk as hell. East sent out the word and we all came. It’s been lit!” At the mention of Cromwell’s name, my breathing stuttered. He’d gotten drunk again. Nodoubt on the whiskey I’d seen him consume over and over again. “Bonn? You there?”

“I’ll be there in fifteen.”

I pulled out of campus and onto the back road that led to the Barn. With every mile, I fought to stay awake. I was getting more and more tired of late. I realized I’d been asleep for all of ninety minutes before Matt called.Cromwell…what has you so hurt?I thought. I hadn’t been able to get tonight out of my head. Now I had Easton to worry about.

Guilt assaulted me when I thought of my brother. Then dread, followed by absolute gutting pain. My hands tightened on the steering wheel. Tears clouded my eyes. I wiped them away before they could fall.

“Not now, Bonn,” I told myself. “Keep it together for Easton.”

I shook my head and opened the window to let in the fresh air. As I drove, I looked at the stars in the dark sky. They always made me feel better.

The lights of the Barn pulled me in. Drunk students piled out of the doors. Fast thudding music played, and I wondered if it was still Cromwell spinning.

Somebody waved their hands. In the glow of my headlights, I saw it was Matt. I pulled my car to a stop around the back, near an old silo. It was déjà vu as I got out of the car. I took a deep breath of air, ignoring the slight new strain it took to inhale. As I walked toward Matt and Sara, I saw a familiar pair of legs next to the silo.

I pushed past Matt to Easton on the grass. His eyes were rolling around in his head. I kneeled down. “Easton?” I slapped his cheek. I looked back at Matt. “What the hell has he taken?”

Matt shook his head. “Don’t know. Never saw him take anything but shots and beer.”

I ran my finger under the leather cuffs he always wore and over his scarred skin, searching for his pulse. It was beating fast, but not crazy.

His eyes opened. “Bonn.” He smiled, his mouth bloodied. I assumed it was from the fight. Easton’s face slipped from happy to torn in a matter of seconds. He pulled me closer. “What’s happening?”

“You’re drunk and, I think, high, Easton.” I took hold of his hand.

“No,” Easton said. Then he searched my eyes. It looked like there wasa moment of clarity in his gaze. “I mean, what’shappening?Withyou?” I stopped breathing for a second. He laughed once without mirth. “I know it’s something.” He cupped my head and brought me in close, touching my forehead to his. “You’re hiding something from me. I know it.”

Tears pricked my eyes as his rolled back again. Pain shot through me, and I wanted to scream. Instead, I turned to Matt. “Can you help me, please? I need to get him back to his dorm.”

“Bonn?” Another voice came from behind me. Bryce was jogging over to us.

“Hi, Bryce.”

“Everything okay?”

Matt hoisted Easton to his feet, but my brother’s weight was too much for him. Bryce helped prop Easton up. “Where to?” Bryce asked.

“My car, please.” I led them to my car and opened the back door. Bryce slid Easton inside and shut the door. Hit with a sudden wave of dizziness, I leaned against the car and put my hand to my head. I was too hot. As much as I was fighting it, I knew this was getting too much.

“Bonn? You okay?”

I faked a smile. “Yeah. Just tired.”

Bryce smiled at me and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. “I’ll follow you back in my car. I didn’t drink.”

I glanced at the Barn. “Were you on the decks?”

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