RUN

Chapter 8

I bolted from the room before anything else could happen—before I said something stupid or did something worse. But I didn't make it far.

I crashed headfirst into someone.

The impact sent me sprawling to the floor, my breath knocked from my chest. Panic surged—please don't be Jack. I scrambled to my feet, ready to run again, until I looked up.

It was Paul.

"Kris, are you okay?" he asked, concern written all over his face as he offered a hand to help me up.

I nodded, trying to steady my breath. "I'm fine," I lied.

"Let's get you to the practice area," he said gently.

As we walked, Christina jogged up behind us, eyes wide.

"Oh gosh," she said, glancing me over. "What happened now?"

"Nothing," I mumbled. "I'm fine."

Paul came to a stop. "Uh, no. You're not." He pushed open the practice room door, and I darted inside like I was escaping a storm. I collapsed onto the training mats, breathing hard.

"Whoa!" Christina rushed over and helped me to my feet, guiding me into a chair. She turned off the overhead lights, and suddenly a bright inspection lamp was in my face.

I flinched. "What are you doing?"

"What is going on, Kris?" she asked, leaning in like a detective.

Paul shielded the light with his hand. "Tina, come on. That's not cool."

I blinked in surprise. Since when did Paul defend me?

"I don't care," Christina snapped. "Something's obviously wrong, and she's not leaving this room until I get answers."

She moved Paul's hand away from the light. "Spill. Now."

I didn't want to. I really, really didn't want to.

But there was no escaping Christina. Not when she was like this.

So I exhaled all at once and blurted it out so fast I was barely breathing: "Will—liked me—and we just—kissed."

Both of them froze.

"WHAT?!" Christina shrieked, practically leaping backward. She turned off the blinding light and flicked on the overheads, staring at me like I'd announced the world was ending.

I sighed, already regretting it. But weirdly, I also felt lighter, like the weight of ten invisible bricks had slid off my back.

Christina pulled me down onto the mats with her, Paul sitting close beside us.

"You guys kissed?" she asked, giddy with gossip energy. "Did you kiss him? Or was it the other way around?"

"He kissed me," I said quickly. "Believe me—I never would've—"

"We believe you," Paul said, cutting me off gently. "But... you need to tell Jack."

The thought landed like ice water on my skin.

"Won't he hate me?"

Christina and Paul exchanged a look. It was the kind that made your stomach sink.

"If he really cares about you," Paul said carefully, "he won't get mad. And if he doesn't..." Christina picked up the thread.

"...then it's better you know now," she finished.

I didn't reply. I just nodded, knowing what had to come next.

"He did what?!"

Jack's voice echoed furiously off the walls of the storage closet. He was pacing now, hands clenched into fists, his entire body radiating tension.

"He kissed me," I said, trying to keep my voice calm. "I just found out he used to like me. And... I used to like him too. But I don't feel that way anymore—not like I do about you. I didn't mean for it to happen, Jack. I was just trying to understand."

He sat down heavily beside me, jaw tight. His head dropped, eyes fixed on the floor.

"Are you mad at me?" I asked.

He looked at me, a small, tired smile tugging at his lips. "No. I'm not mad at you."

Then the smile vanished. His gaze darkened.

"I'm mad at him."

Before I could stop him, he was up and out the door. I sprinted after him, but he was already ahead, too fast. I reached the hallway just in time to see him disappear into his dorm. The door slammed shut.

I winced at the sound.

I started to walk away—until I heard the door open again. A stream of guys shuffled out, muttering to each other. I spotted Evan, adjusting his glasses, looking like he wanted to melt into the floor.

"Evan!" I called. "What's going on in there?"

He sighed. "Apparently Jack's mad at Will about something stupid, and he just yelled at us to leave. So I did."

He didn't wait for a follow-up. He was gone before I could say anything else.

And I was alone.

I slumped to the floor, hugging my knees to my chest. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I wiped them away and closed them.

You are strong. You will stop this fight. You will fix this. You can do this.

When I opened my eyes again, I felt different. Calmer. Steadier.

I stood up.

I wasn't going to cry.

I walked toward the dorm room, every step a promise.

Then I saw them.

Jack. Will. Both standing toe-to-toe, like two seconds from throwing punches.

And before I could think, I was moving.

"STOP!" I screamed, diving between them.

A fist was already in motion.

I felt it land—hard—somewhere against the side of my head.

Everything slowed. The world tilted.

And then it all went black.