Page 26 of Framed

“Only if it’s not putting you out.”

“Not in the slightest. I’ll lead the way. Can’t have you getting lost again, can we?”

She smiled and held her hand out as if to tell me “lead on.” I did, opting to walk the long way instead of across the quad like I normally would. I didn’t know why, but I found myself wanting to squeeze out the length of this interaction as long as I could.

“Are you from around here, Scarlett with the sense of direction of Zoro?”

“Is anyone from around here, Kane the Explorer?”

I barked out a laugh at that. We fell into an easy rhythm, talking about other animes we liked. We wound up in aslightargument about whether or not Sassi was a bully to Scheana Shay on season one ofVanderpump Rules, but even that argument made me like her better.

She didn’t back down, and she wasn’t afraid to disagree with me. Too many of the girls I’d hooked up with here on campus would just agree with anything I said, like they were worried I’d lose interest if they expressed their own opinions.

But I liked Scarlett’s fire. I liked it maybe a little too much—I caught myself wondering what other harmless disagreements I could bring up, just to watch the way her eyes flashed and her face flushed when she got really passionate about a point she was making.

By the time we neared our respective dorms, I found myself desperately wishing I could draw out this time together longer. Maybe I should’ve taken a page out of her book and lead her the long way around campus two or three times first. Not like she would’ve noticed.

I stifled a grin at the thought, and she quirked an eyebrow at me. “What?”

I shook my head. “Nothing. We’re here.” I made a grand, sweeping gesture toward the dorms beside us.

“Right. Thanks.” Suddenly, all the bright, bubbly energy I’d seen on our walk over vanished, as if she were pulling herself back under a bushel to hide from the world. Before I could say anything else, she waved and took the steps up into her dorm two at a time, giving me one last half-hearted smile before she vanished into the building.

I stood there on the steps, tongue-tied, and all too aware of the pulse beating in my neck, my wrists, and… other less convenient places.

All I knew, in that moment, was one thing: Ihadto see her again.

chapter eleven

Scarlett

“Scarlett,waitup!”Iturned to find Kane jogging across the quad in my direction with a kind smile on his face. I hadn’t seen him since he walked me back to my dorm on my first day here, almost a week ago now.

I felt a little bit guilty for how I’d left things that day. We’d had such a nice, normal chat the whole walk to my dorm that for a minute, I’d forgotten who I was. Where I was. I’d forgotten that I needed to be careful, guarded about who I let into my life, even here.

For a few minutes, that day, I’d just been myself again. Normal Scarlett, who’d never gone to prison or been arrested with her former best friend’s blood soaking into her shoes.

It had been nice.

It had also been a complete fantasy.

So, it was with mixed feelings that I’d fled from Kane the moment we reached my dormitory. And it was with mixed feelings that I turned to smile at him again now. My initial reaction was a rush of pleasure, a broad smile. My second reaction, however, was to clam up.

What does he want?Why was he seeking me out again? Did he have some other agenda?

Before I could spiral too far into paranoia, Kane reached my side, still grinning. “Haven’t seen you in a minute. I take it that means you figured out how to navigate across campus without my help?”

I resisted the urge to punch his bicep. It was weird, how relaxed I felt around him. Weird, and concerning. Because I should not be relaxed with him. I should not be relaxed with anyone here.

Still, I couldn’t deny, it was nice to have someone treat me like a normal human being for once. “I’ve been managing somehow,” I said, grinning.

He smirked. “Don’t lie. How many times did you get lost en route to classes this week?”

“I plead the fifth,” I replied airily, taking off ahead of him.

“Where are you off to now?” he asked, jogging alongside me to keep up. “I was just about to go grab dinner, if you’re free.”

“I was actually heading there, yeah,” I said, before I could stop myself.Damnit.Eating together was most certainly not keeping my distance. “But I’m meeting my roommate Winter for dinner,” I lied, hoping that would buy me some distance once we arrived at the dining hall.

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