ta

eryone is cheering. The bottom floor

re clapping their hands in a c

is that blood o

hell is g

but I only glimpse what i

raising her voice at Linnea. "But now you're hanging out wit

why I'm not your fucking friend anymore? Because you're a sad, jeal

nca takes a swing at Linnea, who quickly steps away. Lin

ou've done i

pain. She is overly dramatic—I don't think Linnea hit her th

fucking girlfr

her repeatedly. He is acting like a psych

my heart race faster. There is bloo

hen Linnea might n

Elliott's shoulder. "STOP

He lifts his hand to punch me, but

oks pissed off, and I'm hit with how big the man truly is. "H

es. "I-I don't wa

. Get

s arm around my shoulder. Her head rolls

nk

s me som

on. I don't want to lose her. I was so wo

ng in my ears. "We sho

obody moves. "Are you all deaf? S

nd a chair for where Linnea can sit. People are disappe

s. My hand is resting on Linnea's s

she

n in front of Linnea, eyeing her punched face. The skin is

d kill E

He hands it over to Johan. "But you can ice her face to reduce the bruise. A

nst Linnea's face. "Friends usually ar

ow. "So why don't you tell the

ook like a badass rugby player with countless tattoos, b

im, he narrows his eyes. "You ca

ink Linnea alr

k feral. "She is too drunk to remember a wo

es my lips.

h them to the hospital. The party people are long gone, and the guys living in th

e a taxi b

t. "I don't doubt it, but I rather

not sure what I'm doing. My hand dangles far away from my body. I feel silly,

lushing at the slig

item," I say. "You k

ot for

s we

it m

e woul

mine. "And yet

t my eyes from his. "These

gr

ng to find a hint of him joking, but I only find affection and lust

robably on

t ends becoming something more

ha

lmly. "Always be honest with your emotions—it could be a lif

nt is over. Noah opens the door for me, and then he wal

id of them too. The more time I spend with Noah, the more vulnerable I become.

le in. I've built barricades around m

ighte

and my heart flutters and hurts like it's been struck with knives. It'

tonight,"

t do much... Unless you're talk

I'm smiling again.

at me. "Good n

breath I didn't know I had been holding. Butterflies are soaring

ng for No