Nineteen

Chapter Eighty-Six

"Send me your location through the text map, and I'll come get you," he says. I can hear his keys fumbling in the background.
I hang up and do as he says.
Within ten minutes, I hear footsteps a few feet away, and I can only hope that it's Mac.
Thankfully, his head comes around the dumpster and he bends down to my side. "Oh my god, what happened?" He asks as he rubs up and down my arms, looking at me.
I've already stopped crying, and I'm ready to go. I stand up as if nothing happened.
"I'll tell you in the car," I say. My face is throbbing and I can literally feel my heart beat through my jaw. He hooks my arm and leads me into the street.
The streetlights are bright, showing that I've been there for a while. All day? I hope not.
"I think I should go home for a while," I say when we get to his car.
"I'll take you," he replies.
"No," I say, "home. My real home."
He stops. "I don't think that's a good idea."
I say nothing, I sit down in the car and shut the door behind me.
He sits in the drivers seat beside of me.
"You shouldn't go home where the only focus is what happened. I think it's a good idea to get away from here, but not at home," he says as he starts the car.
He has a point. If I went home, my whole family, and town, would focus on my situation. I'd be reliving it day after day. Besides, I've only been here for a month, I can't run back already.
I immediately think of Collin's offer to go somewhere and get away. My mind also burns at the thought of Collin and the situation in the parking lot.
He behaves as a child, and doesn't act responsibly, attacking anyone every time they do something he doesn't like.
"When is fall break?" I ask him.
"In two weeks, I believe," he says.
I debate about the trip, but decide to store it in the back of my head until it's a little closer.

By the time we get to the dorms, it's completely black outside. Of course, beside of my car, is the black truck. I let out a sigh and step out of the car.
"I'll walk you up," Mac says. I nod and begin down the sidewalk.
"Do you want to get around him? I know that's who you were running from," he says as he walk into the building.
I feel a cold intake of breath hit my lungs. It's embarrassing to have to try and explain this to Mac.
When I don't say anything, he speaks up again. "I'm just saying, it should be easy. You shouldn't have to try so hard to like somebody."
I don't think Mac is interested in me. He's more like Clark than anyone I've ever met. He's handsome, don't get me wrong, but he's more of a friend than a boyfriend. I think he feels the same way.
"I'm trying a lot, but you don't know the whole story," I say.
"You're young, and you met him a month ago. You shouldn't have to try this hard," he says.
When we reach the top of the stairs, he's sitting in his usual spot. His head is in his hands as if he's blocking a headache.
Before he can see me, I turn to Mac. "Thanks, again," I say as I hug him around the neck. He gives me a weak smile and turns to the staircase.
When I turn to walk to my room, he's staring right at me, still on the floor.
As I get closer, I see that he has a cut above his eye. "Oh my," I say as he stands to be level with me.
"Can we talk?" He asks. I nod my head and unlock the door.
When we step inside, I immediately find the white bandage and attempt to hold my jaw in place. I then find a band aid for his eye, but he rejects it.
We both sit down on the bed.
"I'm sorry," he starts.
I give him a thumbs up, signaling that it's okay.
"It's not okay, so don't say it is," he says with a hint of anger.
I flinch back a little. He notices and apologizes again.
"I don't think we should see each other anymore," he suddenly says.
I swear I can feel my heart break. My blood goes cold and I suddenly feel empty.
"What?" I ask. I can hear my voice try to break.
"It's not good for you," he says. His eyes don't meet mine.