[completed] Nova Carter knows exactly what the next few years of her life will look like: she will work harder than anyone else (as she didn't get into New York University to slack off); she'll be keeping her head down and prioritizing getting her a...
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Chapter Eighteen | 1980s Horror Film
♫1980s Horror Film II by Wallows
"He still stayed over, but went to bed early. Then when I woke up this morning, he'd already left." Elle's voice cracks over the call. I can hear her move through my phone, the sound of the sink turning on and dishes clinking together.
I momentarily move my phone away from my ear to swipe at the screen. Logan hasn't contacted me since last night.
Elle called me earlier today (Saturday the thirty-first) to break down what happened with Logan the night before. She said she'd imagined it would be like an intervention, except she was alone and she brought up the photos I sent her as they were eating instant noodles and watching a Wes Anderson movie in the living room.
Apparently Logan stared blankly at them—the photos—noodles dangling from his mouth, muttered something about prescribed pharmaceuticals and then went to sleep. He didn't get angry or defensive. But then again, he's not the type.
I've always known Logan to be kind of difficult to decipher. When he talks about his feelings at all, he does so in slivers of information, straight to the point, then brushes it off before anyone else can. I can tell he wants to talk about things, but he seems to hold himself back when I try to dig any further.
The things he's told me about the team have been slivers of information, too, revealed to me over the span of a few weeks. Him feeling inadequate, him feeling pressured, him not connecting with the others. I imagine it like scaling down the side of a building: letting himself slip, then stopping, then slipping a little again, all the while holding onto a tightrope injuring the palms of his hands.
I think that's why the situation scares me so much. Of course, it's surprising. But it's also shocking because I know he wouldn't have told anyone, and though I believe it was never his intention for anyone to find out, maybe the slivers were him hoping we would.
"Have you tried getting a hold of him since?" I ask.
"Of course. He said he got back to his dorm safely, repeated that they were meds and told me not to worry." She pauses. "I won't just leave it, though, especially considering everything you told me. I'm thinking of going to one of his practices and seeing how the team is with him. If that gives me reason for concern, I'll discuss it with his coach and my parents."
"Without telling him?"
She confirms it with a hum, then sighs deeply. "Anyway. Sorry to put a damper on your Halloween."
"Are you kidding? I want to know about these things. You know I care about Logan like family." And I do, truly. So much that part of me has felt guilty all day for going to the unveiling last night knowing Elle was confronting Logan about something so serious.
