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.”

done for the day? I don’t take classes that start before noon.

reach the Delta Sig house, she hesitates at the front door before stepping inside. It’s

weird – being in a frat house during the light

on, I’ll show

through the living room. There’s a random dude sleeping on

think. The house is just for the juniors and seniors.” We stop in the kitchen and say hi to Drake and Jared. I figure if I introduce her to a few of my roommates – witnesses – she’ll be more comfortable following me up to my room. Of course I don’t like the way their eyes travel over her sleek jean-clad hips, visually molesting her. “Come on.” I take her hand

turn to face her, resisting the urge to brush the strands of

that my

it, in which case I make

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

on my face. She’s 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

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 stifling hot

over to 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

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

over my eyelashes for some

turns to survey the rest of my room. “You make

to every day growing up. It was the one

lip, trying not

backpack from her shoulders and set it on the floor. She sits on the edge of my bed, while I pull out the desk chair for myself. “So, are you going to tell

down and the terrified expression on her face

Shit fuck.

It’s okay.” I hold up my hands in surrender. “You don’t have to

in her shoulders dissipating slightly

pull the chair closer to where