Chapter 2

"I'm heading back to the dorm," I told Garrett, then turned and walked away.

The room was empty. I sat down at my desk while my phone kept lighting up with messages and forwarded screenshots.

I dismissed them all. Finally, I opened my chat with Casey and typed, [You there?]

The message wouldn't go through. She blocked me around the time she posted about my "harassment."

I stared at the unsent message for a long time. Then, I put my phone down and opened my desk drawer.

Inside was the hospital payment form with Casey's name on it and my shaky signature at the bottom.

That night, I carried her on my back for over a mile to the hospital. I fell along the way and scraped my right palm on the asphalt, and my hand still shook when I signed.

My phone lit up again. This time, it was my academic advisor, Julia Lynch.

[Shane, come to my office tomorrow at ten.]

The next morning, I barely made it through Julia's office door before she slapped a printout of the forum post onto her desk.

"Shane, you're one of our strongest applicants for the graduate program. You've always had a good head on your shoulders. What's going on?"

I stared at the paper. The words "Campus Simp Rankings" stood out in bold.

"Casey came in yesterday, sobbing."

She slid a cup of water toward me.

"She said you've been bothering her for almost two years, waiting outside her dorm with gifts and sending her messages every day.

"Now the whole campus is talking about it. Her parents just called. They want to file a harassment complaint unless you apologize publicly."

Julia's voice softened.

"I know feelings can get the better of you at your age, but if this turns into a disciplinary matter, it could cost you your spot in the graduate program. Why don't you apologize and let things settle down?"

I opened my mouth to explain, but her desk phone rang. She waved me out.

"Think it over. I need an answer tomorrow. Don't put your future at risk."

I walked out of the building, clutching the crumpled payment form in my pocket. Then my phone buzzed twice.

It was a friend request. The profile picture was the same bouquet of white flowers Casey always used.

She was adding me back.

As soon as I accepted, she sent over a ZIP file without even saying hello.

[Put together my slides for next week's statewide competition. Make them as good as the ones you did for my class project last time.

[I need them in three days. Stay up late if you have to. Don't screw this up.]

She acted like she had nothing to do with the post that made me a punch line for thousands of people.

I stared at the screen for a few seconds, then replied, [I'm busy. Ask someone else.]

Her reply came instantly.

[What's your problem, Shane? It's just a PowerPoint.

[You used to jump at the chance to help me. Now I have to beg?

[Is this about that post? I haven't even gotten on your case about all the trouble you've caused me, and now you're throwing a tantrum?

[Grow up and act like a man.]

I read her messages and almost laughed.

I spent three nights in a row revising the class project that won her a state award. She never mentioned my name when she accepted it.

I carried her over a mile to the hospital and paid her bill. She never even offered to pay me back.

And now, she claimed I was making her beg.

I typed one last message.

[We barely know each other. Don't contact me again.]