Chapter 19

 CANDACE

My head felt like it weighed twice its normal size.

I rested my cheek against my palm, staring blankly at the projector screen while Professor Miller continued explaining something about social structures that would probably be important on the next exam.

I tried to pay attention. I really did. Unfortunately, every few seconds, my eyes drifted toward the clock hanging above the door.

I had been awake for barely three hours, and I was already regretting every decision I’d made at the club last night.

The drinks hadn’t seemed like much while I was there. At least, that’s what I’d told myself after the first glass.

By the time I finished the second, my body had loosened enough for me to stop caring about everything around me.

Then Jake had gotten into that fight, and whatever pleasant buzz I’d been enjoying had disappeared beneath the embarrassment and confusion of his sudden change in attitude.

I shifted in my seat and pressed my fingers against my temple.

Maybe I should have slept it off immediately.

Instead, I’d spent the night tossing around in bed, waking every few hours with a dry mouth and a headache that felt like someone had been hammering the inside of my skull.

“Ms Winters?”

My head snapped up.

A few students turned to look at me.

Professor Miller was standing at the front of the room with his arms folded, waiting.

“Yes?”

“I asked if you had anything to add seeing as you're daydreaming.”

I blinked at him.

“No, sir.”

A few people laughed quietly, and heat rushed into my face.

Professor Miller gave me an amused look before turning back toward the board. “That’s what I thought.”

I sank lower into my chair.

Beside me, a girl covered her mouth to hide her laugh, and I gave her a weak smile before returning my attention to my notes.

I looked down at my notebook and noticed the corner of the extra-credit sheet sticking out from beneath it.

My stomach twisted.

Right.

The assignment.

I hadn’t forgotten about it, but I had been putting off doing anything beyond reading the instructions and the first page.

Five pages, two primary sources, proper citations and an analysis that apparently had to prove I could understand historical context without simply regurgitating something from a textbook.

It wasn’t impossible. I was just finding it difficult to care about school when one of the classes I needed to pass had become the one place I desperately didn’t want to be.

The professor dismissed us a few minutes later, and I packed my things slowly while the rest of the students filed out.

I had another class later that afternoon, which meant I had a couple of hours to kill.

I could have gone home.

Instead, I pulled the extra-credit sheet from my bag and looked at it again. The least I could do was make sure I didn’t fail it.

So I headed to the library.

The university library was quiet that afternoon. Most students seemed to have found staying underneath the trees much better.

I found a table near the back, dropped my bag beside the chair and pulled out my laptop.

For the next hour, I actually managed to work.

I searched through the university’s digital archives, compared sources and made notes whenever I found something useful.

It wasn’t exactly exciting, but there was something satisfying about finally seeing the assignment take shape.

I was reaching for another book when someone spoke behind me.

“Candace Winters?”

My hand stopped halfway across the table as I turned.

Brad stood a few feet away, one hand tucked into the pocket of his jeans while the other held a stack of books against his chest.

I stared at him.

He smiled.

“You have got to be kidding me.”

His smile widened. “Nice to see you too.”

I looked around the library before looking back at him. “Are you stalking me?”

Brad let out a quiet laugh. “No. I promise.”

“That’s exactly what a stalker would say.”

“Don't flatter yourself, We go to the same university.”

“So?”

“So eventually we’re going to run into each other.”

I narrowed my eyes.

He looked at the books scattered across my table. “Besides, I didn’t even know you were here until I saw you.”

I wasn’t entirely convinced, but I didn’t have enough evidence to argue.

My eyes dropped to the books in his arms before returning to his face. “Did you delete the picture?”

His expression shifted slightly.

“I told you I wasn’t going to do anything with it.”

“That wasn’t what I asked.”

He sighed and adjusted the books against his chest. “Yes. I deleted it.”

I studied his face, trying to figure out whether he was lying.

“You’re serious?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you even send it to me?”

His mouth twitched. “Because I recognized you in the picture.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“I thought you’d know what I meant,” he added.

“I didn’t.”

Giving me an apologetic shrug. “Okay. Then I probably handled it badly.”

“Very badly.”

“I’ll take that.”

I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips.

Brad glanced at the paper beside my laptop. “History?”

“Unfortunately.”

“What are you working on?”

I pushed the assignment sheet toward him.

He scanned it for a few seconds before looking back at me. “You need the primary source section?”

“Yes.”

“There’s a collection upstairs that might help.”

I raised an eyebrow. “How do you know?”

“I’ve taken this class before.”

“You have?”

“Not with the new professorElias.”

The mention of his name made my fingers pause over the keyboard.

Brad didn’t seem to notice.

He pointed toward the staircase. “Come on. I’ll show you.”

I paused before gathering my papers.

The archive section turned out to be exactly what I needed. Brad helped me locate a collection of documents related to the topic, and after a few minutes, I had more than enough material to work with.

“Okay,” I said, looking through the documents. “You might have just saved my ass.”

“Happy to help.”

I smiled. “Thanks.”

He nodded and started walking away with his books.

“Brad?”

He turned.

I held up the photograph on my phone, the one he’d sent me.

“Seriously. Delete everything.”

His expression softened.

“I already did.”

This time, I believed him.

He gave me a small nod before disappearing between the shelves.

I sat back down and returned to my laptop.

For the next hour again, I worked without interruption. By the time I finally closed the document, I had several pages of notes, two sources saved and enough material to start writing the actual paper.

I leaned back in my chair and let out a satisfied breath. I felt like I was catching up instead of falling further behind.

I packed my things and reached for my phone.

There were no new messages, but I had one missed call from Bridgette.

I tapped her name and called her back as I walked toward the library exit.

She answered almost immediately.

“Hey, Bridge!”

There was no response.

I slowed down.

“Hello?”

A few seconds passed before I heard her breathe on the other end.

“Candy…”

Something about her voice made my smile disappear.

“What?”

Another pause.

Then she spoke again, quieter this time, her voice cracking slightly in the middle of the sentence.

“Can you come to my apartment?”