Eastwood Academy

Chapter 26: Priorities

I wake up in an unfamiliar bedroom with my head pounding. So much for never doing this to myself again. Groaning at the light filtering through the window and into my eyes, I turn my head into the ridiculously comfortable Tempurpedic pillow beside me. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to sleep again with the pain in my temples and my throat as dry as sandpaper.

Pushing myself up slowly, I take in my surroundings. My head is fuzzy, and it takes me a minute to remember where I am and why I'm here. I'm in a huge bedroom that looks like it could fit two of my dorm rooms in it. Across from me is a fireplace with an L-shaped couch and a coffee table. Past the sitting area is an open door that leads to a bathroom.

Taking care to move slowly so that I don't worsen my headache or jolt my sensitive stomach I pad slowly across the room and into the bathroom. Like the bedroom, it's luxurious with both a shower and a large clawfoot bathtub. The counter and floors are gray marble, and the walls have been decorated with expensive-looking wallpaper that complements the marble counter and floor.

Dragging myself to the sink, I turn on the facet, gulping water straight from the tap to relieve the dryness in my throat. I try not to look in the mirror too long. One glimpse shows me that my eyes are red and swollen, and my entire face is a mess from my crying episode last night.

Walking back into the bedroom, I grab my phone to check the time and my messages. When I open my phone, I realize with a shock that it's almost It's almost 11:00 am on a school day. I'm about to have a heart attack when I see several missed calls and texts from Gavin and Jessica. Gavin is asking to see me as soon as I get back to Eastwood, saying he wants to make sure I'm okay. Jessica has texted me that she has a friend who works in the office at Eastwood and was able to call me in sick to my morning classes. I guess Tyler called and told her what happened.

Speaking of, he must have carried me up to this room because I have no memory of anything after getting into his car. I passed out right away. Scrubbing a hand over my face, I promise myself that I'm never going to drink that much again. Then I grab my jacket off the couch in the sitting area and go in search of Marina and Tyler.

I find them in the kitchen, Marina sitting on a bar stool in front of the huge island in the middle of the room, chatting away to Tyler as he flips pancakes behind the stove. The kitchen is spacious, and the counters are the same marble that was in the bathroom. Sunlight streams through the glass French doors that lead out to the patio.

"Brooklyn," Tyler greets me as I shuffle into the kitchen, "how are you feeling?" About the same as I look is what I want to say, but I don't.

It doesn't escape my notice that, as always, Marina and Tyler both look annoyingly flawless. Tyler is casual perfection in dark gray jeans and a blue henley that shows off his athletic form. Marina is wearing low-rise jeans and a cropped button-up green sweater. Both look amazing on her athletic figure. I guess all those hours of soccer practice have paid off because she's sporting some killer abs.

Meanwhile, I'm still wearing last night's clothes. I look like I died and crawled straight out of an episode of The Walking Dead. And as for abs? Yeah, I like pizza and donuts too much for that.

"I'm good," I lie, trying to subtly finger-comb my hair to get the knots out. Honestly, I don't know why I care so much. It's not like River is here, and I know Marina and Tyler aren't judging me. Marina is eating as Tyler cooks. When I enter, Tyler gets up to make me a plate, which I gratefully accept. Turns out he's a phenomenal chef.

I accept the plate he hands me gratefully. Hopefully, some food will help ease the burning feeling in my stomach.

"Brooklyn, I have to ask," Tyler says, his voice careful, as if he's talking to a scared animal. "What happened last night? When I picked him up this morning, I tried talking to River, but he wouldn't tell me anything. By now, I'm sure you're aware that Imeria's parents are on campus to go over the details of setting up her memorial. I'm sorry to bring that up, I'msure it's not something that you want to think about. But can you think of anything else that might have set him off? I haven't seen him go off like that since_"