Trapped

16

sixteen

It had been a week since I got off suspension. Seven long days of sitting at home, stewing over how Zeke had the nerve to blame Na'lini for my accident. I wasn't even mad about the fight. He deserved every punch I threw at him for what he said about her. I would've done it again in a heartbeat. What I was mad about was the fact that Na'lini had been avoiding me ever since. Like I was the one who had done something wrong.

I mean, how could she think that any of this was her fault? The accident was on me. I was rushing back to her because I knew I'd fucked up by leaving her behind. But I was gonna fix it. I was gonna make it right. But then that damn snowstorm hit, and next thing I knew, I woke up in the ICU with tubes in my arms and bandages all over. I thought the only thing I needed to do after that was get better and go back to Na'lini, but when I finally did, everything was different. She was different.

Chris.

That name alone made my blood boil. He'd been the one with her, trapped in that library for three days while I was lying in a hospital bed fighting for my life. And now... now it felt like I was losing her to him. The misfit, the guy no one talked to unless they had to. And he was there for her, not me.

But I wasn't giving up on her. Not like this.

I'd spent the entire weekend planning. The library was going to be my move, my gesture to show her that I still cared, that I was still the one who knew her best. I had it all covered - red roses, white lilies, pink calla lilies, the works. She always said they were her favorite, and I remembered. Hell, I remembered everything about her. I had her favorite snacks and candies stuffed into a basket, all lined up perfectly. It wasn't over the top, just enough to show I still knew her better than anyone else. Better than Chris ever could.

But of course, my timing was shit. Just as I was setting the last bouquet into place, the library door opened, and Zeke, Zhara, Amaya, Zach, Tahlia, and Reign strolled in. Their loud laughter echoed in the empty library until their eyes locked onto the display of flowers.

"What the hell is all this?" Zhara asked, eyes wide, like she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

I clenched my jaw, fists tight at my sides. "None of your business. Get lost."

Zeke crossed his arms, a smirk curling at the edge of his mouth. "C'mon, Bryson. You seriously think Na'lini's gonna fall for all this? You know she's done with you, right? Moved on with Chris."

The mention of his name was like a slap to the face, but I kept my expression blank. Zeke was trying to get under my skin, and I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.

"Don't mention his name around me," I snapped, the warning clear in my voice.

Zeke just rolled his eyes, glancing back at the others. "Look, man. She doesn't want you. Everyone knows it. We all thought it was pretty obvious."

Amaya chimed in, leaning against a table with a bored look. "Yeah, this whole thing you're doing? It's not going to work."

Zach and Tahlia exchanged glances, but neither said anything. Reign, though, he sighed and shook his head like he was disappointed in me. "Bryson, you're better than this."

I took a step forward, anger simmering just below the surface. "Y'all don't know shit. You don't know what she and I had. Now, if you're not here to return a book, then get the hell out."

Zeke raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. You're on your own, bro. But don't say we didn't warn you." He turned on his heel and led the others out of the library, their laughter echoing down the hallway as the door shut behind them.