Page 14 of Always Red (Chasing Red 2)

And then he was walking fast toward me. I couldn’t move. All I could do was wait for him. He stopped an arm’s length away.

We stared at each other.

“Red,” he whispered.

I cried. And then suddenly, he was shaking me.

“Miss, are you okay?”

I blinked up and saw Paul’s kind face staring down at me.

Another dream.

This was hell.

“What are you doing in the hallway, miss?”

I swallowed my nerves. I couldn’t tell him that I didn’t live in the apartment anymore because he might kick me out. I was sure Caleb hadn’t told them about the change in my living arrangements yet.

“Oh. I was just waiting for Caleb.”

He looked at me like my head was leaking beer, but he didn’t comment. I could hear him muttering as he walked back to the elevators. Before he disappeared, I heard the words cuckoo and crazy pills.

Feeling embarrassed, I pushed up from the floor. It was almost three o’clock, and if I didn’t leave now, I would miss my exam. I would just have to come back to see Caleb.

Where was he?

I was huffing and puffing by the time I reached the floor where the exams were being held. I had less than five minutes before the doors to the exam room closed. I half walked and half ran, suddenly stopping in my tracks when I saw Caleb in front of me.

This wasn’t a dream anymore, was it?

He saw me at the same time. He was wearing his red jersey. Even from a few feet away, I could see the sweat glistening on his face, on his sculpted arms. He stood in front of a drinking fountain, his arm on his mouth like he had been wiping it but froze at the sight of me.

I stared at him.

He stared at me.

Time stood still.

And then I saw it.

The hurt in his eyes.

Oh, Caleb. I’m so sorry.

“I’m going to close these doors in ten seconds, Ms. Strafford. Are you coming in or not?” Professor Layton’s voice echoed in the hallway.

Caleb’s arm fell to his side. He turned his gaze away and started walking toward me.

I stood frozen in my spot, holding my breath.

And then…he walked past me.

* * *

I felt light-headed as I exited the exam room. I had no idea if I’d passed, and I’d felt like crying during all three hours of it.

Was Caleb still here?

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