ROMEO

29

E.V.A.

"Dad?" I call.

"Go to sleep, Eva."

"Dad, I saw something."

"You saw us," A tangle of voices whisper.

Faces appear before me.

Joey.

Emillie.

Nicolas.

Rafael.

"We're dead or dying."

Their faces morph into bone and their eyes slide from their sockets.

I gasp, my eyes darting open.

I rub my hands over my face as I take in the shelves of books that surround me. The library was an unusual place for nightmares.

I need my pills.

I wish Romeo didn't have counseling. We could've napped together on the roof, nightmares forgotten.

I pull myself from the ground, closing the mundane book of basic cupcakes. I wasn't feeling up to painting props that probably wouldn't be used, so going to the auditorium felt like a waste of time. I wasn't up to dealing with Hannah or meeting the angry stare of Blair.

Blair.

I wish I could break into her room and take my pills back. I wish I could.

Why cant I?

I make my way out of the library, heading in the direction of the she-devil's room. I yawn, stretching my heavy limbs above my head. The sleep I so effortlessly avoid, catching up to me.

My feet come to a halt in front of her door. I twist the knob, the click sounding quickly after.

Come on, Eva.

My eyes trail the edge of the door, searching high and low.

Nothing.

"Eva, you OK?" Mr. Brooks asks, sending my heart skyrocketing.

I spin around, hand over my heart. "Mr. Brooks, you scared me!"

He chuckles. "Sorry, I just saw you trying to get in."

Think, Evie.

I chuckle. "Yeah, she borrowed something from me and I need it back ASAP."

"You want me to call her?"

"NO!" I blurt. "Um, I need it now."

He sighs, glancing around. "Don't tell anyone."

He brings out a ring of key, sliding one into the door. It clicks and he twists the knob, opening the door.

"You could get into big trouble for this."

He nods, swinging the keys on his hand. "I know, so hurry up."

"Why are you helping me?"

"You're one of my favorite students, Evangeline. If you say she took something from you, I believe you."

I smile. "Thanks."

"Make it quick."

I nod, running into her room, closing the door behind me. I run into the room on the right, hoping that it's hers, but surprise-surprise it's not.

I walk into the room on the left, bumps rising at the drop in temperature. I run past her pink bedspread, opening her closet door.

I rummage through the racks of clothes and boxes of shoes. I check under her bed. I search through her bathroom.