Page 26 of Awakened in September (Sleepless November Saga 4)

I look down at the ground and try to play it off. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Well, maybe you should figure it out then. You two would look good together. She’s obviously something special to you.”

Christ, am I that obvious? Perhaps that’s why Bree was acting differently after lunch. Maybe being around Kayleigh and I today, she was able to see what this lady can. I really need to work on my poker face.

She gives me one last hug before getting into her car. I wave goodbye to the little girl and make my way back into the store. A tear manages to escape my eye, from both joy and fear. I’m so glad I was able to help that family but I’m wondering if I’ll ever have children of my own. If I never find someone else to make me feel the way Kayleigh does, I’m not sure I will.

“Are you crying?” She asks as soon as I get close.

I lightly push on her arm. “Shut up. It was emotional.”

We both laugh together and the sound of hers makes me wish I could play it on a loop for hours. I’m so fucked.

Chapter Nine

It takes everything in me to stay away from Kayleigh. I don’t want to, but it’s the best way I know to avoid dealing with my feelings for her. There is no part of me that’s ready to face what went through my mind the other day. She will barely smile at me, let alone feel anything close to the same way I do. Maybe Brandon was right – my karma will be getting my heart broken.

Unfortunately, I’m not able to keep myself from her for long. The time when I can no longer procrastinate this project comes sooner than expected. I need to make sure that her notes align with the video we captured, and if more details need to be added.

I get over to campus shortly after 3 PM, well aware of the fact that Bree isn’t here. She’s been at Taylor’s for the past few days. I think the bitch finally realized that Caleb is on the verge of ending things, because she hasn’t come around. In the process, she’s also hogged my girlfriend for ‘emotional support’. My eyes roll just thinking about it.

When I scroll through my phone, I realize that I still don’t have Kayleigh’s number. That probably would have made this a lot easier - being able to alert her of my arrival - but it is what it is. I get to the dorm and knock on the door. There’s no answer. I fiddle with the knob and find it’s unlocked.

The second I step inside, the sound of someone getting sick brings my attention to the bathroom. The door is shut and locked, but there’s only one person it could be.

“Kayleigh?” I ask.

“What do you want Holden?” She’s annoyed that I’m here, but I don’t focus on that.

“You okay?”

It takes a second before she answers. “I’m fine, now what is it?” Alright, liar.

I gag a little as she continues to vomit into the toilet – the sound echoing out of the room. I place my fist over my mouth to keep myself from hurling too. “I need the notes from the other day.”

“They’re in my notebook. Just take it.”

Walking over to her desk, I don’t see a notebook anywhere in sight. My eyes glance over to her bed. There is a small journal lying there – the same one she was writing in the first night I met her. This doesn’t look like the same notebook she had with her the other day, but I check it anyway.

Breakfast – 50 calories – Apple

Lunch – 0 calories – Nothing

Dinner – 152 calorie

s – ½ a sandwich.

My eyes narrow as I try to figure out what I’m looking at. Why is she writing all of this down? And why is she noting 202 calories for the day a ‘good day’. I flip through the book, seeing almost the same thing on every page.

Breakfast – 130 calories – bowl of cereal.

Lunch – 250 calories - ¼ of a sub

Dinner – 314 calories – pasta

Total – 694 – This is why you’ll always be gross, you fat bitch.

Just as I finish reading the little note she wrote, the door swings open quickly.

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