away. The thought of walking into her shared room, a space that Ashley would soon occupy, filled with th

and silent, imposing academic halls looking eerie in the moonlight. T

o fall, dotting the pav

rm building and sat down. She didn't care about the rain. It felt

eace, why did he have to reappear in the one way tha

o her scalp, and ran in cold rivulets down her neck. She didn't move. The physical discomfort

give up and head ins

ingle large, black umbrella, emerged fr

olden an

o the lounge. They

behind a thick, leafy hedge, her heart hammering against her ribs. The last thing

rough a gap i

most entirely covered Ashley, leaving his own shoulder an

her smile bright and happy. From this distance, they looked lik

nreadable, but he listene

erwhelming despair. So his offer to "join them for a bit" was just a po

of the dorm building and

peful. It looked like she was inviting him

la and said something to

her toes, leaning i

mall, almost imperceptible movement, but

ath caught i

ed for only a second before she recovered, gave him

didn'

he doorway, letting the rain soak him. He stared at the

n in the wet darkness. She wi

s phone, and held it to his ear. His back was to her now

as tr

could do nothing but wait. Wait for him to finish his call. Wait