Chapter 3

Rain pounded against the steps outside the library. I stood beneath the entrance, my shoes completely soaked.

Over the phone, I asked, “Did you give Selene your umbrella?”

There was silence for a few seconds before Zane answered, “She has a fever. She can’t get caught in the rain.”

“What about me?”

“Didn’t I tell you to wait for me?”

“You said ten minutes.”

“Traffic was terrible.”

I looked at his text promising to come get me. Forty-two minutes had passed since he’d sent it.

“Zane, the library is about to close.”

His voice sounded exhausted. “Vivian, don’t talk to me like that. I’ve been running around all afternoon, and I’m really tired. Find somewhere to stay dry. I’ll be there soon.”

I sighed.

“Don’t bother coming.”

“What is it this time?”

“I’ll go back by myself.”

“In this heavy rain? How?”

“I’ll run.”

His voice immediately sharpened. “Vivian Lane, don’t you dare.”

I hung up.

The dorm wasn’t far from the library. It would only take me ten minutes to run back.

I used to never have to run. Zane always kept an umbrella in his bag because he said getting soaked could give me a headache.

Now, he was telling me Selene had a fever and couldn’t get caught in the rain.

After my shower, I found more than a dozen missed calls on my phone.

Zane sent me a text.

“Open the door.”

When I opened it, he was standing outside with cold medicine and a container of chicken noodle soup. His hair was still wet.

He took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. “Didn’t I tell you to wait for me?”

I dried my hair with a towel.

“Didn’t you fail to show up?”

“I came.”

“Too late.”

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Zane set the soup on the table. “Eat something first.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“You only had a piece of bread for dinner.”

I looked at him. “You remember that?”

He frowned. “Of course I do.”

“Then do you remember that I don’t eat celery?”

Zane looked down at the celery floating in the soup, his brows drawing together. “The restaurant added it. I didn’t notice.”

“It’s fine.”

I picked up a spoon and carefully moved the celery into the container’s lid, one piece at a time.

Zane lowered his voice. “Don’t act like I’ve been treating you terribly.”

I stopped moving the spoon.

“Then you don’t think you have?”

He braced a hand against the edge of the table. “I know I’ve been neglecting you lately. Selene just got here, and she’s still figuring things out, so I’ve been helping her more. But you’re different.”

“How am I different?”

He looked up at me. “We’ve known each other since we were kids. You know what I’m like. Other people need explanations, but you don’t.”

I smiled faintly.

“So I don’t need an umbrella, a hot meal, or even an acknowledgment of what we are.”

Zane’s expression changed. “Vivian…”

I put down the towel.

“You should go.”

“Take your medicine first. Then I’ll leave.”

He opened the medicine package, then took an orange candy from the bag.

When we were little, I’d hated the bitter taste of medicine. He used to break the pills into smaller pieces before giving them to me, then offer me candy afterward.

I didn’t take it.

“I don’t like that flavor anymore.”

Zane’s hand stopped in midair. “It used to be your favorite.”

“That was then.”

He stared at me. “Do you have to make everything you say sound so hurtful?”

“Zane, I’m just telling the truth.”

“Then I’ll tell you the truth, too.” He set the candy on the table. “I don’t like the way you’re acting now.”

Silence settled over the dorm room.

Zane’s voice softened. “You can get jealous. You can throw a fit. I’ll always know how to make it up to you, but you can’t deliberately push me away.”

“What if I’m not doing it deliberately?”

He froze.

I met his eyes, my voice steady and sincere.

“What if I really want some distance between us?”

After a few seconds, he let out a short laugh.

“Vivian Lane, you can’t live without me.”

He’d said those words countless times.

They used to make me feel safe. Now, all I wanted was to get away from him.

I picked up the medicine. “I’ve taken it. You can leave now.”

He didn’t move. “I’ll come get you tomorrow morning.”

“Don’t bother.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Zane, stop coming.”

He stared at me, then reached out and ruffled my hair.

“You’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep.”

As he turned to leave, his phone lit up with a message from Selene.

“Zane, I think my fever’s coming back. Could you pick up a thermometer on your way back?”

He lowered his head and typed two words.

“Wait for me.”

---

My academic adviser, Lauren Mitchell, glanced at her computer.

“Vivian, you’ve submitted your exchange program application?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Already? Why the rush?”

I nodded again.

“A spot just opened up, and the application deadline is tonight.”