Wonderland

❄B28❄ Road Trip

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Brayden's POV

Road Trip

November 24

Something was wrong with Heather.

I could feel it in the way she greeted me this morning — Well, the way I greeted her this morning. She had a hood over her head, her brown hair somewhat covering her face. She wore one of those pullovers with thumbhole sleeves, covered head-to-toe in clothing, as if trying to hide something. When I called her name in greeting, she jumped, flickering her eyes to me but then quickly averting them.

"Hey, wanna walk to our classes together?" Today was the last day of classes before Thanksgiving break tomorrow. Her first class was located in a building a few minutes away from mine.

I reached out and pulled her hood down. "What's with hiding your hair? Is it greasy or something?" I joked.

She didn't answer me, but pulled her hood back over her head. She exited the dorm and I followed after her. Trailing a few feet behind her, I couldn't help but notice something abnormal about her right elbow. I couldn't quite put my thumb to it, and I could just be overthinking things, but it looked a little rounder than her other elbow? Maybe she had stuffed something there under her sleeve.

I was afraid to ask, so I didn't say anything. Instead, I said, "My brother's coming over later tonight to pick me up. I'd really like it if you could join us for Thanksgiving."

She didn't answer me for a moment. But then, "I'm staying here, Brayden." Her voice sounded distant.

"Yeah, but... My dad makes the best corn bread," I said, making a lame attempt at convincing her to join us.

"I don't care." She picked up her pace a little.

"Please, Heather? I'll carry your stuff for a week if you agree to it." I figured a bribe would be the best way to go.

It backfired. Heather stopped walking and whipped her head around to look at me. "Why don't you go ask Berkeley?" She said Berkeley's name with such venom that I couldn't help but flinch.

"Is everything all right?" She sounded different. She sounded exasperated. She even looked exasperated.

"Everything's fine," she muttered. "I'd wish you'd stop asking me that all the time."

"Sorry," I apologized. "But really, Heather. Think about it. I'd really like it if you could come."

"Even if I wanted to, I can't," she said. "This should be something you ask your girlfriend, not me."

"I feel a lot closer to you, though. It wouldn't feel right if I asked Berkeley. Plus, we're still not on speaking terms right now," I said, scratching the nape of my neck awkwardly. I was speaking the truth: It wouldn't have felt right if I asked Berkeley. I don't know her as long as I had Heather, and plus, I already know Berkeley has plans this Thanksgiving break. Heather, on the other hand, didn't.

"Brayden, I just can't." She started walking, and this time, I didn't press her again.

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"So who's coming over tomorrow?" I asked, when Esmond dropped by my dorm later tonight. His classes had ended nearly a week ago, and since he, coincidentally, had some kind of a medical-related presentation here in Seattle, he had asked if I wanted him to pick me up and drive over to our house together.

Of course, I agreed. I'll be honest: I don't very much like riding airplanes.

"Grandparents...our uncle...cousins..." Esmond replied, helping me lift my suitcase into his car. He drives a Prius, but he says he's saving money right now so that he can buy a used BMW 6 Series convertible in the future. I secretly think he'll be able to get one within a few years - have you seen the amount of money pediatricians make?! He just needs another two years to go before he's officially licensed to be one. He's only working under another pediatrician right now, and he needs a Ph.D. in order to be an "official" doctor. He's halfway through his Master's program.