Eastwood Academy

Chapter 16: Bad Impressions

I have no idea where I'm going. I just know that I need to get away. To think. What is River's deal? How can he be so cold toward me one minute and then do something so sweet the next? His advice to me at the tattoo shop and his reaction to my being hurt made it seem like he actually cared about me.

Two nice interactions, and now here I am, upset that he was with another girl when I have no claim on him whatsoever. At this point, my best course of action is to avoid him and hope he reciprocates. I picture what it will be like to sit next to him for the better part of a year and try to pretend he doesn't exist. The idea is painful but sensible.

By now, I'm at the edge of the campus, and I catch sight of myself in a building window. I don't look so hot. My uniform is rumpled, my shirt is plastered to my body by sweat, and my hair is a mess. I finger-comb my hair back into what I hope is a presentable appearance and then continue walking, still unsure where I'm going. My thoughts swirl around in my head as I try and fail again and again to make sense of the River that I've known, who's been so cold and standoffish, and the one I encountered just now, who was kind and sweet.

"Brooklyn," calls a voice ahead of me, startling me from my inner musings. I look up and see Tyler and Marina standing in front of me. I'm in the parking lot on the east side of campus. I didn't realize how far I'd walked. Tyler calls my name again and waves.

I start to make my way over to them warily, my anger rising to the surface again as I remember that Tyler was the one who tracked Jessica and me last night.

"What do you want?" I snap at them. Marina blanches, and Tyler steps forward with his arms raised in a mock surrender. Both of them stare openly at my bruised face.

"To apologize for last night," Tyler says. "We're gonna go get some dinner off campus.

"You should join us," Marina says. We're meeting up with a few of the committee members.

"Dinner's on me," Tyler offers.

"Why, so can you kidnap and force me to do some other weird hazing ritual?" I ask him sarcastically.

"No, I promise, we're really just getting dinner," Tyler says sincerely. "I'm sorry about the other night. Really, I am. Normally the dares aren't so..."

"Permanent?" I finish for him, raising my eyebrows.

"I was going to say intense, but yeah," Tyler chuckles uncomfortably.

"Let us make it up to you. We're not trying to cause any trouble," Marina offers.

"Do you want to invite Jessica?" Tyler asks. I do, but somehow, I don't think she wants to sit across from Tyler and make small talk. She left this morning in a very bad mood, muttering under her breath about how she couldn't believe Tyler had the audacity to betray her trust so publicly over "some stupid committee."

"Um, probably better. I don't. She's still pretty pissed, but I'll join," I say. I'm starving, and if Tyler wants to foot the bill for my dinner, I'm not going to say no. I appreciate that he and Marina are trying to make amends, even though they aren't the ones who actually dared me to get the tattoo.

The truth is I feel like I need at least another hour to brood over River (haha, here I was judging him about brooding, but really, I'm no better), but I know that rehashing our interactions over and over won't help me at all. Being with people is a good way to take my mind off him. I follow Marina and Tyler back to their car, not sure where we're going and not really caring.

Fifteen minutes later, we pull up at a cute old-fashioned dinner. Tyler and Marina walk hand in hand in front of me, pushing open the door to the restaurant. I step inside, relaxing a little as the smell of French fries and burgers wafts over me. There's nothing like comfort food to help lift my mood.