Down Under

04 plan

Dani found the boys near the Barney building, on the other side of the NYU campus, the only building Wes was ever able to stay long enough in. They hadn't noticed her yet, so she stealthily walked closer to hear what was being said. Jason said something to Wes, and Eli nodded his head, so she stepped closer, and closer.

"You'd make a terrible spy" Wes spoke up, not even looking at her, his eyes still casted downwards. Okay, so maybe she wasn't as sneaky as she thought.

"I didn't want to disturb, you guys looked like you were sharing secrets"

Eli scoffed, "even if we were, you're not invited"

"Ok, what'd I do? You guys know Wes wasn't being fair, right?" She waited for a response, none of them spoke up. "Are you for real? I get this whole bro code or whatever, but at least don't be cowards and shy away from the truth. Look I'm not taking sides, I'm just saying that maybe -"

"I'm really not in the mood to be lectured Dan, so spare me" Wes put his hands up, head hanging low in defeat and started to back away.

Jason came forward, and spoke in a low voice, "he's had a rough day, let him be"

Dani stood her ground, she wasn't just going to let him be. For fucks sake, Wes didn't need to be coddled "having a rough day does not mean you can be mean to my friends, do you hear me Wes!? Ava didn't mean anything by what she said, she was-"

"I said I don't want to fucking talk about it!" Wes shouted, his hands coming to pull at his hair which was now starting to stand up in all the odd places "I really, just I need, fuck I just need something and I can't, I can't" Without another word, Wes walked the opposite direction. Away from the consistent chatter, away from his friends, and away from the campus.

"I..." Dani glanced at Jason, he stood there with his hands in his pockets, staring right back at her.

"I told you to let him be"

"Do you think something happened?" It was Eli who finally spoke up, he was still staring at the place Wes had once occupied as if he'd suddenly reappear again.

Jason shrugged, "maybe. He's been on edge all morning" he stepped towards Dani, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, bringing her into his chest. He smelt nice, a little bit like lavender, and mint.

"I didn't...I really wasn't taking sides" Dani mumbled into the shirt.

"I know, I know. He's going to come around, don't worry"

"I don't know man, he seemed really, and I meant really angry at Eva"

"God, for fucks sake Eli, her name is Ava"

"But Wes called her Eva and you didn't say anything" Jason let out a snort, causing Dani's head to shake against his chest.

"Yes well, I had other things on my mind at that time now didn't I?"

"So you don't have anything on your mind right now? After all that just happened?" Eli waved his hands around, motioning towards the empty place besides him.

"God, I don't know okay? I don't know!? I'm going home" she stepped away from Jason's warm embrace.

"Don't you have another class?"

"I'm not going, I can't even focus on anything, stupid Wes"

Eli came towards her, and threw a bulky arm over her shoulder "I'm with you, where shall we go?" Dani grabbed hold of the boys arm, and twisted it until he let out an agonizing scream. Good.

"You're going to class, you hardly go as it is. I do not want another Wes in this group" Eli rubbed at his arm, his face twisting into a scowl. Regardless of how hard he tried to look angry, he resembled an irritated kitty