Page 77 of Red Zone

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Jaxon laughs and stands, grabbing his bag. “Try not to burn the place down while I’m gone.”

“No promises.”

He claps me on the back before heading toward the locker room.

I sit there for a minute longer, the echo of Beck’s sadness and Jaxon’s stability lingering like static.

Everyone’s moving on. Healing. Building something and working towards a future.

I’m still figuring out what the hell to do with the pieces I’ve got.

When I finally decide to head back to the house, Jaxon’s already hit the road with Madison, Beck’s off doing whatever sad-boy soul-searching he needs to do, and all of our other housemates are gone. Campus feels weirdly quiet for a November afternoon.

Then again, most people have families to see. Just not me.

I toss my duffel into the back of my Jeep and slide into the driver’s seat, but I don’t start the engine. Just sit there for a second, thumb hovering over my screen.

I’ve had the same contact open for the last three minutes, grinning at the updated contact name.

Princess

I scroll up and reread our messages from last night before sending off another text.

You part of the PCU ghost town yet or still pretending to be productive?

It doesn’t take long.

Princess: Still here. Working.

I grin, relaxing into the seat.

Of course.

So you’re just…alone in your apartment with sad girl playlists and a pint of ice cream you didn’t share?

Princess: You say that like it’s a bad thing

Princess: alone = peaceful

Princess: ice cream = essential

Princess: music = 5 Seconds of Summer. Obviously

So basically you’re living the dream

Minus the part where you’re alone

Princess: Some of us like being alone

Princess: Less mess, less noise, less…people

ah yes

but have you considered

being alone…together

Three dots appear. Pause. Disappear. Reappear.

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