𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐤

16⇢revelations

JAMIE

"You and Sam are a thing?"

It's the Thursday after Sam took me to see The Lion King on Broadway — which was literally the best first date ever, even if we didn't get to talk much. Just sitting there, holding his hand, and witnessing art come alive on stage was magical, and I would definitely go again.

Right now, however, Isabel sits next to me in our anatomy class, eyes wide and jaw open. She asked about Sam, and I spilled the tea.

"Yeah, we are," I reply, nodding my head in confirmation.

Her face kinda pales behind her dark, black hair. "Oh... Well, I'm—really happy for you."

"Thank you," I respond, though I think her response sounded a bit forced. She's not jealous, is she?

"I can't believe it," she breathes out, "I knew you two liked each other, but I never thought you'd actually... y'know... have anything come out of it."

"Well, that's kinda what happens when two people like each other. Once they confess their feelings, a relationship is usually the next step," I add, "Right?"

She turns to me and gives me a forced smile. "Right."

"Look, I know you two are friends, and I don't want our relationship to get in between your friendship with him or me—"

"No, it's okay. I get it. I'm not some bitch who'll attack him because I'm jealous. It's fine, really," she tells me, and I sigh in relief, nodding back at her.

"Okay. I just want everyone to be okay with it."

"And I am. Don't worry about it."

I chuckle lightly, nodding my head but not responding. If she is jealous, she doesn't want me to know.

But she isn't, right? And she wouldn't ever go to extreme measures because of something small like that... right?

♔♚

"Hey, where were you today," I ask into the phone as I ride up the empty elevator.

"I'm sick again," Mia replies into the phone, her voice nasally and small.

"Again? Are you allergic to pollen or something? It's the middle of September; those things are crazy."

"Yeah, I am. I get it really bad during September and October."

"Oh, I'm sorry. That really sucks," I reply, concern lacing into my voice as the elevator opens, and I step into my hallway, making my way to my door.

"What did we do today?"

"Went over the circulatory system notes and took a quiz over the nervous system," I tell her as I sift through my purse, looking for my keys, "You didn't miss much."

She doesn't reply, so I decide our conversation is over. "Alright, well, I gotta go. Feel better, okay?"

"Okay. Bye, Jamie," she concludes, hanging up the phone, and I sigh, pocketing the device.

My arm continues to search through my purse while I walk, but I still can't seem to find my keys. I approach my door, and my movements instantly falter.

The doorknob is barely hanging off the wood, and the door is cracked open, wood splintered out like someone crowbarred their way in.

My breathing instantly quickens alongside my heart rate, and I slowly open the door, dropping my purse inside. When I look up, I take a step back as my breath catches in my throat.