The Impact of You

Jase

I hadn’t expected to see Avery again, which is why the flash of auburn hair leaves me momentarily stunned. Seeing her in the daylight, I realize she’s even prettier than I first realized. But as quickly as I spot her, she’s gone – diving for cover behind a dumpster. “Avery?” I round the corner and see her couched down, knees drawn up to her chest.

Her eyes dart up and meet mine and she lets out a soft groan. She doesn’t say anything, just remains hunkered down next to the dumpster. I hold out my hand, offering to help.

Her gaze lifts from mine, searching for something in the distance before she takes my hand.

“Why are you hiding?”

“I wasn’t,” she says quickly.

I lift one eyebrow. I can feel her hand trembling in mine.

“Can you just get me out of here?” Her voice has a raspy, pleading quality to it that I can’t refuse.

“Where do you want to go?”

Her gaze darts behind me. “Anywhere but here.”

Sadness flickers in her eyes and instantly I know I’d gladly fuck up whoever had hurt her. “Come on. If we cut through there,” I point to a trail at the edge of campus, “my house isn’t far.”

She nods, and glances behind her once more before following me.

I have no idea what spooked her, but she’s pale and jittery, like she might dart away from me at any second. I’m not sure why, but I can’t let her do that. I reluctantly release her hand, but she keeps pace beside me. “Do you have a class right now?” I ask, needing to break the silence.

She shakes her head. “I’m done for the day.”

and she’s done for the day? I don’t take classes

the front door before stepping inside.

in a frat house during the light of

smile. “Come on, I’ll show you

She follows me through the living room. There’s a random dude sleeping on the couch, and Avery looks slightly concerned at this, but continues past

witnesses – she’ll be more comfortable following me up to my room. Of course I don’t like the way their eyes travel

bottom of the stairs, her eyes full of questions. I turn to face her, resisting the urge to brush

my house

case I make no

swats my arm. “I won’t be starting anything, so don’t you worry.”

not at all like other girls I hang out with, and I like that. We climb the three flights of stairs in silence and when I push open the creaky door to the attic, Avery steps around me to peek inside. Taking the unfinished attic meant I had my own

neatly made in cream and navy bedding, desk and chair in the corner, a tall dresser and my acoustic on a stand in the corner. The room is large and open, with dark plank-wood floors and beamed ceilings. It’s freezing in the winter and

my desk and looks at the corkboard above it where I’ve tacked various photos, quotes, and clips from magazines. There’s a photo from last summer of me and my mom at the beach – before she went cuckoo for Cocoa-Puffs – and another of Trey and me having an impromptu

one of my mom. “You look like her. Same eyelashes.”

my eyelashes for some damn reason. It’s

turns to survey the rest of my room. “You

guess. I had to every day growing up. It was the one

trying not to smile.

of my bed, while I pull out the

terrified expression on her face is back.

Shit fuck.

It’s okay.” I hold up my hands in surrender. “You

her shoulders dissipating slightly as she draws a deep

to where