Page 73 of Damnation
“And the meetings will be held exclusively on campus in a study hall,” I add. I chew on the inside of my cheek and suck in a deep breath, terrified that I’ve just made the wrong call. But then I try to convince myself that I’m just blowing the whole thing out of proportion. No, Thomas certainly won’t be jumping for joy when he hears about this, but he’ll understand. He’ll have to understand.
“Of course.”
“Okay. Then, I think we should meet on Monday before class to see where you are and draw up a plan of attack. We should also schedule the meetings, and you’ll have to—”
“What meetings are you talking about?”
I jump when I hear his voice from behind me.
Logan leaps to his feet, eyes widening. I turn slowly toward the towering figure behind me, who is currently staring me down with fire in his eyes and his jaw clenched painfully tight. The familiar sadness in my chest mixes uneasily with my growing anxiety as I try to think of a way to explain everything to Thomas as quickly as possible while making sure he doesn’t misunderstand anything.
“Hey! Uh…that was quick. How’s Leila? I hope everything’s okay?” I give him an extremely tight smile; even my knees are quivering. You could cut the tension with a knife.
“I asked you a question,” Thomas insists rudely, arms crossed over his chest. The imitation smile vanishes from my face. I tuck my hair behind my ears and swallow hard, preparing myself for the worst.
“Look, I can explain everything, but you have to promise me that you won’t get mad when—”
“Don’t blame her; it’s my fault,” Logan interjects from behind us.
Thomas’s menacing glare snaps to him. He pushes past me and stands in front of Logan, looming over him completely. I suck in a sharp breath, and I can feel my hands shaking with fear as Thomas grabs Logan by the collar of his coffee-colored polo. The tips of their noses are nearly touching.
“You’re stalking her. You stick to her like a fucking tick. Tell me, are you stupid or just suicidal?”
Logan automatically raises his hands in surrender. “I didn’t come here to fight. I came here to apologize to you.”
“I wouldn’t wipe my ass with your apologies,” Thomas growls frostily. Then, before anyone can stop him, Thomas punches him right in the cheekbone. Logan tumbles onto the sofa. The people around us, who were drinking and dancing, now turn to stare at us.
I jolt, clapping my hand over my mouth. Thomas starts to lunge for him again, but I grab his arm and pull him back. “Are you insane?”
“Tell me why he’s here, at my frat, with you!”
I want to answer him, to explain the situation, but the words lodge in my throat. Before I can push myself through it, Logan answers for me.
“I’m here because I didn’t want Vanessa to agree to tutor me before I’d clarified the situation with both of you,” he mumbles miserably, touching his injured cheek with his hand.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Thomas snarls through gritted teeth.
For a moment, I am perfectly still, as if time has stopped. Then I grab the bottom of my sweatshirt, which covers me to midthigh, and start twisting it anxiously. “Listen, I–I…I was just about to tell you in the kitchen, right before your phone rang, remember?”
“You were going to tell me what?”
Logan moves closer and gives me a surprised look. “Wait, he didn’t know yet? I thought you’d already told him.”
If the icy stare I level at Logan could talk, it would be saying,Shut your fucking trap!
The hurt that I see in Thomas’s eyes is killing me.
“I’m sorry,” Logan murmurs again. “I never intended to make a mess like this. I came here to fix things, but instead I’ve only made them worse.” He gives me a heartbroken look and shakes his head. He pushes past Thomas and starts to leave but halts halfway. “One last thing, then I’ll stop bothering you.” He approaches me, feeling for somethingin the back pocket of his jeans. He takes out a small floral-patterned notebook. My class notebook!
“It slipped out of your bag when we met up yesterday. I wasn’t able to return it to you because you’d already left. I apologize again for all of this.” His eyes flick back to Thomas, who is still glaring at him. Then he walks away, leaving me speechless with my hands still outstretched, holding the notebook.
Thomas gives me a look filled with resentment. I don’t even have time to say anything before he turns his back on me and heads for the door.
“Thomas! Stop, please!” I beg, running after him. He ignores me and continues walking away with determined strides, pushing aside anyone who blocks his path. I knew this was how it was going to go!
Before he gets out the door, I try to grab his arm, but he jerks away from me. I can’t figure out whether he’s running after Logan or away from me. But all my questions are answered when he gets out on to the lawn, and I hear him shout: “FALLON!”
Thomas reaches out and grabs Logan by the back of his shirt. He shoves him up against a tree to the right, pressing a forearm into his neck. I stop just a step away from them, frozen with fear. “Whatever you’re planning, I swear to God I will make you regret it.”
