Chapter 2

It was a pretty awkward meal. Emily couldn't stop talking, going on about her graduation project and job interviews.

Olivia barely said a word, quietly eating or zoning out while staring at the bubbling red oil in the pot. I noticed she'd already downed three cans of beer.

"Olivia, you should take it easy with the beer," Emily said, unable to hold back.

"No worries, I'm happy," Olivia said, cracking open another can. She looked at me. "Ben, Em says you're a really good guy. Make sure you always treat her right, got it?"

Her words sounded a little strange, but I nodded anyway. "Of course."

Suddenly, rain started hammering against the window.

Emily let out a little yelp. "Wow, it's pouring. Olivia, how are you gonna get home? It's over an hour on the subway from here."

Olivia glanced out the window, her face unchanged. "It's fine. I'll grab a cab later."

"Why bother with a cab? It's expensive, and it's not safe this late," Emily said, grabbing her hand. "My bed's big enough. We can all squeeze in together!"

The room went awkwardly silent for a couple seconds, I nearly choked on my food.

Olivia blinked, then burst out laughing. "Emily, are you nuts? I'll sleep on the couch."

"The couch is tiny! You can't even stretch your legs," Emily insisted. "We're doing it! Ben, what do you say?"

What was I supposed to say?' "I'm good with anything."

Olivia gave me a look, her gaze deep and impossible to read. Then she nodded. "Alright, thanks for letting me crash here."

But the real trouble was getting started.

Sleeping was a whole new headache. Emily's bed was queen-sized, plenty of room for two, but squeezing in three that called for some tactical maneuvering.

"I call dibs on the middle!" Emily announced, then started bossing everyone around. "Olivia, you take the spot by the wall, and Ben, you're on the outside."

After the lights went out, the rain outside sounded even louder, and I could hear all three of us breathing.

Emily was right next to me, and her breathing quickly evened out, she always slept so soundly. But I couldn't fall asleep.

Olivia was on the other side of Emily, a foot or so away from me. I could sense her shifting, turning to face the wall.

The room still carried the lingering scent of hot pot, mixed with a faint, sweet fragrance.

Later, I'd realize it was the scent of coconut shampoo.

I had no idea how much time had passed, but just as I was about to drift off, I suddenly heard some quiet sobbing.

It was Olivia.

She was trying to keep it low, but in the silence of the night, I could still hear her. Emily was out cold, totally unaware.

I lay there, not sure if I should ask. We weren't really close, and honestly, this was way too awkward.

The sobbing gradually faded, replaced by deep, stifled breaths.

Then I heard her whisper something, so soft it sounded like sleep-talking or maybe talking to herself.

"Why does it have to be me?"

The injustice and sorrow in her voice twisted something inside me.