ROMEO

24

Trigger Warning. (Some talk of suicide.)

R.O.M.E.O.

I lift my cheek from the cold cafe table as Evie walks over to me. I wipe excess crust from my eyes, yawning, standing up.

"You sure you're OK?" Evie asks, handing me my energy shot.

I down it, scrunching my face as the toxic taste of energy runs down my throat. "I'm fine. I just stayed up later than you."

"How much later?" She asks, pushing out of the doors.

I shrug, watching the floor move as I walk. "A couple hours."

Her eyes widen. "A couple hours?!"

I nod, not daring to speak. Lying to Evie proving one of the hardest tasks I've ever had to do.

I never went to sleep last night.

Who knows what I would've dreamt of.

She stops, pulling me to a secluded part of the hall. "You need to come back to my room and sleep."

I shake my head. "N-no, I'm OK."

She grasps my shoulders. "You just stuttered."

I sigh, knowing shes right. "OK, but only for one more night."

She nods, pulling me back towards her room.

As we round the corner, Hannah and Amber bump into us. I stumble backwards, grabbing the wall to steady myself.

"Eva, just the girl I wanted to see!" Hannah exclaims.

Amber looks at the floor, her leg jumping with nerves.

"What, Hannah?" Evie asks, sighing.

"I'll admit, when you came to this school I was intrigued."

"And?"

"I let it go."

Evie shrugs. "What is the point of this conversation?"

Hannah smirks. "After Natalia exposed you, I was much more intrigued than before. I googled your name and found out you had a brother."

Evie locks eyes with her. "What?"

Amber looks up, eyes wide, shakes speeding up. "Hannah."

"Poor little Nicky died on my birthday," Hannah says, hand over heart, pouting.

"I will kill you," Evie hisses, dropping my hand, stepping closer to her.

"Evie," I say, grabbing her shoulders, pulling her back.

"I have no doubt, but I'm not here for that."

"What are you here for?" I ask, clasping my hands in front of Evie's chest to hold her in place.

"I understand your brother was important to you." She says, placing a hand over her heart. "I really do. But, my birthday is important to me. It's a shame that such a wonderful day has to be ruined by an awful tragedy. I just wanted to invite you to the party, but I needed to warm you up first."

"Fuck you and your birthday party," Evie spits, yanking me towards her room.

"Evie, are you OK?" I ask as she jams her key into the lock, pushing open the door.

She slams it shut, causing Alex to come from her room. "Whats going on?"

I hold up a finger. "Hannah, but I got it. She needs to cool off."

She nods, a look of worry crossing her face.

I step into her room, closing the door behind me. "Evie."