That Abercrombie Model

THIRTEEN

A week later, I finish my exams. I slither through the crowd of students leaving campus keeping an eye out for a tall, brown haired man. Ever since that party, I do not want to meet Kystan. What can I say after kissing him and bolting? Thank god Jade was there to take me home, albeit while laughing at me.

My body crashes into someone else. I look at the person with dread. Let it not be him; I beg mentally. Luckily, it's Asher.

"I am so sorry." He apologizes as he takes a step back. The light overhead cast part of his face in shadow but does not hide the tiredness in his eyes.

I look behind him to see if no one else is coming. No one is. "It's cool." I right my crutches.

"Have you talked to Jade recently?" As her boyfriend, I don't think he should be asking me that.

"Is something wrong?" I easily assume the worst and gauge him defensively. If he did something to Jade, I will-

"No. She has been looking for you." The way he looks at me with pity, I am certain it is bad.

"Oh. Let me hurry then." I bid him farewell and continue down the hallway. I chance a glance backwards, only to see him standing with Kystan. I turn around quickly before he sees me looking.

The apartment is stark and cold the moment I walk in. I can already see the bad news rolling off the walls like wallpaper. Jade is not in her room. I start looking for her in every room. I find Jade standing at the kitchen sink. She is gazing into space with a far off look with tears trickling down her cheek. In her left hand she is holding a glass half-full with water. Judging by the angle she is holding it at, it is the last thing on her mind and it might tumble any second.

I start by taking away the glass. As I take it out of her hand, her eyes leave their stellar location and refocus on the earth. She wipes her tears away so fast; she looks embarrassed that I saw her crying.

"I didn't see you there." She laughs nervously. She circles the counter and makes a beeline for the exit.

"Are you alright?" I ask with concern.

"Yeah." She answers then hurries out of the door. I seek to follow her but reason that she might be in need of some alone time, so I let her have it.

Fuck alone time, it has been fifteen minutes since Jade went to her room and I haven't stopped pacing. The entire time I've been hearing sniffles coming from her room and I am fed up not knowing what's up.

I open her door as softly as I can so as not to alarm her. The room is cast in darkness except for the street light coming through the open window. Jade is lying on the bed with her head on the pillow. I sit by her side and pat her hair. She looks up from the pillow and I witness her splotchy eyes and the rivulets of mascara flowing down her face. She hugs me and I try to give her as much comfort as I can. As her tears dry up, the mascara sticks to her face. I untangle myself from the embrace and go search for makeup remover from her bathroom. The normal Jade would definitely not like to see herself that way, in a way I am doing her a favor.

I wipe off her make up for her then help her get comfortable in bed. Upon her request I go and get her a tub of ice cream, the only comforter better than I'll ever be. I sit beside her to keep her company.

After she has taken a satisfactory number of scoops, I start on the main reason I am here. "Forgive my bluntness but in the past couple of days I have felt this odd feeling that there is something you are not telling me and... I just don't like it. And seeing you crying today, it confirms it." A thought strikes me just then, "Does Asher have anything to do with it?" If it does, that boy may be losing some of his vital organs soon.