Page 143 of Vying Girls
‘Yeah, I fucking know, Elly.’ I don’t need to look at the clock to know we’re out of time.
With a growl, I shove up off the bed, throwing my strap to the ground as I rush to get ready. My gaze snaps to Tilda with every quiet sob. In my periphery, I see Elly’s hands curl to fists.
When our eyes meet, I throw a hand in the direction of the bed. ‘We can’t leave her like this, man.’
Elly looks around helplessly. ‘We’ll get Nic.’
I scoff. ‘Yeah, that’ll fucking do it.’
‘I’m fine,’ Tilda sobs behind her hands.
Dressed, I crawl back onto the bed. ‘Don’t know who you think you’re lying to.’ Hand gripping her shoulder, I lean my head next to hers. ‘One hour and we’ll be back. One hour and we’re all yours, okay?’
She nods into my pillow. ‘I’m good. Really.’
She’s so clearly fucking not but with nothing else for it, I get up reluctantly to allow Elly to say goodbye. Except she doesn’t, remaining by the door just staring. There’s not much of an expression on her face which says a lot for someone who usually wears a smile.
I fucked out my anger, but Elly hasn’t. Maybe she’s not even angry, just sad. It was her bed Tilda snuck out of. Elly doesn’t do anger like me and Nic.
I nod my head, gesturing her from the room. Quicker we get these presentations done, the better.
CHAPTER 24
Elly
Half an hour later, we’re sat on plush chairs outside a nondescript classroom, the echo of students sounding in the foyer below. It’s a long drop and I had to prise Haz from the edge after she spent a suspicious amount of time peering over the stone balustrade.
She sits restlessly beside me, idly watching our course mate enter the room, both legs jiggling where she leans her elbows.
‘Nervous?’
She squints across at me. ‘What?’
‘For the presentation.’
‘Oh.’ She gives a curt headshake. ‘No.’
Thinking about Tilda then. Same as me, the vision of her curled-up, crying body lancing my heart with the acutest feeling of guilt I’ve ever felt. Should have gone to her. Should have held her, kissed her, brushed away her tears, instead of stewing in my own betrayal. Some girlfriend I am.
‘Think she’s alright?’ I say quietly.
Haz frowns. ‘No.’ She sighs, slamming back in her chair. ‘What’s taking so fucking long? I should be nearly done by now.’
I shake my head, wishing we were done too. It’s been a crappy day all round, to be honest. I woke up to a call from Nan saying Grandad’s having issues with his colostomy bag again. The pain, the constipation. It was only after hunting the house up and down, seeking out Tilda for a little selfish comfort, did it sink in that she was gone.
The lodge was locked, so I assumed no one had absconded with her in the night. Nic was at her tent, as per, leaving only Haz who isn’t the best person to deal with in an emergency, especially where her girl’s involved. Too angsty, too angry. She’d been about to contact campus security when Nic finally rocked up with her dirty laundry.
It was too much. Between Grandad and Tilda running off and preparing for this fucking presentation. When Nic brought her back home, the relief had been paralysing. I heard her come upstairs and enter Haz’s room, but I remained stuck at my desk, eyes refusing to focus on my last-minute presentation research.
She was safe. She’d left me, duped me, but she was safe.
But now…I close my eyes when they start to sting, releasing a sigh through my nose. I hadn’t gone to her. She’d been sobbing,bleeding,and I just stood there, rooted by my own confusion and sadness. The urge to run back to her now is overpowering.
Leaning forward again, Haz twists the serpent ring on her finger. ‘You saw that right? What she did. You know that I didn’t…’
‘I know you didn’t hit her. Not on purpose.’
‘She kept asking me to.’ Haz scoffs, shaking her head. ‘She’s fucked up, man.’
