Page 14 of Elusion

“Do you need a ride to class?” I ask.

“No, I don’t. You really should stop wasting your time. I have a car. If I wanted to drive, I would.” She steps inside and shuts the door but opens it right back up. “Thank you for lunch,” she says.

“Anytime, beautiful.”

The door closes again.

Since waiting outside in the dark for Callie after her study group might send the wrong message, I sit in her well-lit hallway instead. I’m on my phone, not paying attention, when she’s suddenly stepping over my outstretched legs. There’s not even enough time to stand up before she disappears inside.

Another round to Henders.

I head back down the hall, worried I might be pushing this whole thing too far. A shout stops both my train of thought and my body before I reach the bottom of the stairway.

Felicia bounds down after me. “Come tell her good night.”

“I don’t know. I—”

“Trust me,” she says, grabbing my arm.

Before I can further protest, she drags me back up, not letting go until we’re in front of Callie’s bedroom. I sigh and knock.

No response.

When I turn around, Felicia’s giving me the most encouraging smile. It’s this type of behavior that makes for an excellent sidekick.

The suitemate who can’t keep her eyes to herself, Jess, is studying on the floor in front of the couch. I kneel next to her and steal the pen from her hand along with a piece of notebook paper. She leans in closer than necessary to watch me write,Need anything? Water? Snack? Company? - J.

“All the above,” she says, raising an eyebrow.

Less than subtle but easy enough to ignore.

I fold up the note and slide it under Callie’s door. This time, when I knock, a shadow appears in the strip of light at the bottom, followed by the crinkle of paper. I watch the shadow, expecting her to shout an answer, but the note reappears instead.

No.

Then, from the other side of the door, “But thank you.”

Always so polite.

“All right, beautiful,” I say, flipping the paper over. I use the wall to write down my number before slipping it under the crack again but only partway. “If you change your mind, let me know. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The note disappears, and after a few seconds, so does the shadow.

“See?” Felicia hooks her arm through mine as she walks me out. “You’ll get her tomorrow, champ.”

Right. Tomorrow.

I drive home for the first time since seven in the morning, parking under the tree after ten. Johnny and Gavin stand on the back deck, smoking. I haven’t seen either of them since I ran out of the party last night. I let my bag drop from my shoulder when I reach them.

Johnny checks his phone. “We thought you’d died.”

“Negative.” I sit on the top step of the deck and lie back, putting an arm over my face to block out the porch light. “I’m trying to hook up with Callie.”

“Who?” Gavin asks.

“Coconut chick,” Johnny says. “I’m confused by your use of the wordtrying. As in you’re making an effort to hook up with her?”

“Hook up with who?”

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