Chapter 3

Before I came back, I'd already asked a friend to help me apply for a dorm room, so David dropped me off right at the dorm building.

"Thanks for all your help these past few days," I said.

I shot David a grateful smile, feeling a bit embarrassed for troubling him so much.

"No need to be so formal. Oh, and we should swap numbers. I can't believe I forgot until now," David said.

I nodded and quickly pulled out my phone, ready to exchange contact info with him.

"What are you guys up to?" a voice asked.

I had just saved his number when Alex came over, looking pissed.

He shot a look at David, who was standing nearby, then grabbed my hand, trying to drag me away.

"Why didn't you answer my calls? Why did you block me? And who the hell is this guy?" Alex asked.

I yanked my hand away from him.

"We're done, Alex. I don't owe you any explanations," I said, my voice cold.

His face darkened. He said, "I never agreed to that. I know you're pissed I didn't drive you to Riverside City that day, but you're an adult; calling a cab isn't exactly rocket science. Fine, I'll go with you next time."

My chest tightened, not because of Alex, but because of thinking about Grandma.

I really didn't want to talk about losing Grandma, especially in front of someone who's not even part of my life anymore.

"You don't need two people to agree to break up," I said coldly.

"Emily, how could you be so heartless?" Sophie rushed over, still out of breath, and immediately said, "Do you even know how worried Alex's been these past few days? He's so distracted he can't even get any work done in the lab."

"That's got nothing to do with me. If you two don't get lost, I'm calling a teacher," I said coldly.

Alex stared at me, his chest heaving, looking like he wanted to say something but held back.

Finally, he calmed down, gave me a distant look, and said, "Maybe you just need a few days to cool off."

He motioned for Sophie to follow, and they left together.

After they left, I quickly turned to David and apologized, "Sorry for getting you involved, David."

David just smiled and shook his head. He said, "It's really no big deal. Seriously, if you ever need help, just hit me up."

The next few days, I was so swamped trying to catch up on all the work I'd missed while I was gone that I barely had time to breathe, let alone go over to Alex's place and pick up my stuff.

Alex, meanwhile, sent me a few messages from a new number.

Alex: [Emily, the girl I know, is way too rational to pull something this childish over a minor argument.]

Alex: [I know you're just trying to get a rise out of me with that guy. I'm not gonna hold it against you. Just come back when you've cooled off.]

Alex: [And Sophie's been beating herself up over us. You should probably go talk to her when you come by.]

I barely glanced at his texts before deleting and blocking his new number.

Sitting in the cafeteria, I decided that this week, come hell or high water, I was getting my stuff out of Alex's place.

I seriously wanted nothing to do with him anymore.

"Emily, fancy seeing you here," Sophie said with a bright smile, carrying her tray over and sitting down beside me.

I wasn't in the mood to talk to her, so I got up to leave.

"Emily, I just wanted to say, there's really nothing between Alex and me. You totally got the wrong idea," Sophie said, trying to sound all innocent.

But then she leaned in and said, "Alex's parents are big-shot professors; he comes from money. And you? All you've got is that old hag weighing you down. Like you could ever measure up to him."

Her words made my blood boil, rage buzzing in my ears. My voice came out sharp: "Shut up!"

"Emily, I really didn't mean anything by it," Sophie said, her voice soft and innocent.

She gave a sly smile, lowering her voice even more. "Thanks for picking a spot where the cameras are busted."

Then, out of nowhere, she splashed the soup all over herself.

She looked past me in fake surprise and said, "Alex?"

I turned to see Alex standing behind me, his face set in a grim line.

Alex marched over, pushed me back into my seat, then wrapped an arm around Sophie, pulling her close to comfort her.

Sophie kept dabbing at her tears. She said, "Alex, I just wanted to clear things up with Emily."

"I know," Alex said, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat.

Then he shot me a cold look and said, "What's with you lately? Apologize to Sophie."

That was always how he was; whenever it was between Sophie and me, he never stood up for me.

But it didn't matter to me anymore.

I turned to leave, but Alex grabbed my wrist.

"Let me say it again. Apologize to Sophie," he said, his voice cold and unyielding.

I let out a cold laugh and asked, "And what if I don't?"

He looked at me, his tone icy. "Your stuff's still at my place, you know. Including that hat, scarf, and gloves your grandma made for you."

A chill ran through me. "What are you trying to say?"

His voice dropped, hard and unforgiving. "You screw up, you say sorry. That's just common sense."

Sophie shot me a smug look, then acted all innocent as she said, "It's fine, Alex. Emily just got a little worked up."

Alex ignored her, just giving me a cold look.

He said, totally unfazed, "You know I can change the door code at my place remotely.

"And I've got a car. Even if you ditch class again today, there's no way you'll get there before I do."

My voice shook. I asked, "Do you really have to exploit how much I care about Grandma? Do you have to just throw away the trust I put in you?"

He knew exactly how much those things meant to me.

Back then, Alex had thumped his chest and swore my stuff would be safe at his place. When I hesitated, he got all offended, acting like I was being ridiculous for not trusting him; weren't we supposed to be a couple?

It felt like it had happened just yesterday.

For a split second, I caught a flicker of guilt in his eyes.

"I just want you to apologize," he said, his voice a little softer now.

I took a few deep breaths and said, "Fine, I'll apologize, but only if you bring out my stuff and let me see it first."

Alex's expression twisted with hurt.

"You don't trust me," he said, his voice cracking with pain.

I let out a cold laugh and replied, "Do you really think I trust you at all now?"