Reading Between the Lines

Chapter 7: Fight or Flight

"Besides what happened near the end there, did you enjoy the party?" Delphine checks in as we get further and further from the people, the illuminating light getting dimmer and dimmer with every step we take. There's still some light from the overhead streetlights, but it's nothing compared to the scene from earlier.

"Yeah, I did. Super fun," I reply unenthusiastically, looking at the ground as I drag my feet. 

"Still upset?" she asks concernedly as she gets closer to me.

"Ugh, I don't even know! It's like I had a right to be upset. They constantly made me doubt myself, and they treated me like I'm stupid. But at the same time, I really lost it. I made Divya cry, bro. I didn't mean to! I'm such a mess," I rant, grumbling as I retrospect over how dumb I was. 

"Yeah, you were kind of an ass," Delphine spits out as I give her a glare and cross my arms.

"I didn't finish yet. Yeah, maybe you overreacted a little bit by yelling at them. After all, this is the first time you had a full-fledged conversation with them in, what, a month? You don't even sit with them at lunch anymore. They probably thought that because you weren't around as much, they didn't need to hide anymore. But unfortunately, you caught them. You kinda... unexpectedly launched everything onto them," she explains, raising an eyebrow while I give her a shameful nod.

"But at the same time, you had a right. Like I said before, if my friends kept being suspicious and not giving me an explanation, I would be frustrated too. This college is obviously suspicious, and especially when you know this too, they should at least tell you why. And not to mention, whether or not you believe your research, it's tacky for you to find answers from a book. I would expect some honesty," she finishes as we take a turn. Compared to where we are now, there is barely any light here. Not even the moonlight is enough.

"Like I said before, you're lucky that they're chill. Just go up to them anytime and talk. Believe me, they'll have a lot to say too," she pats me on the back as we soon walk onto the dark path.

"You're right. I'll go first thing tomorrow and apologize, and I guess I have to be honest with them too,"  I promise, both to Delphine and myself.

I was so occupied with Delphine and my feelings of self-shittiness that I forgot to look around. Not that there's much to look at anyway. It's so dark that I can't even name of the buildings in front of us. And with barely anybody out here, it's getting a little... iffy.

No matter how much the others might've lied, they weren't kidding when they said this school is scary at night. I'm starting to get a little worried. At least back in New York, there were people still out at night. It's the complete opposite here; we're the only ones out here, and even if there are others, I definitely won't see them.

"Uh, is it always this scary at night?" I ask worriedly, being too scared to look around me some more. I really don't need a Pennywise-looking thing to come and scare me right now.

"Yeah, downtown here is sketchy. But don't worry, you're with me. If anyone does anything, this heel will go through their chest," she gestures to the heels on her boots. She comes closer to me and links my elbow with hers to try and comfort me, which makes me feel a lot better.

"That sounds painful."

"It is," she hints ominously, shuddering a bit as she finishes up the last bit of her sentence. It's as if she went through it herself. But even if she did, how the heck is she still alive?

Out of nowhere, I hear a whistle. I initially thought it sounded normal, but I recognize the two notes, and the pitch changes from high to low immediately. It's a wolf whistle, the kind that makes you feel gross inside and makes you think that all the dirty eyes are on you.