Page 20 of Racing Hearts

“Willyou be having that talk?” Her mama gave her a look that told her there was only one correct answer to that question.

“I’ve been trying, but shereallydoesn’t want to talk to me. I didn’t make the best first impression on her.”

“Well, the great thing about first impressions is that they are just the first one. You have plenty of time to make it up to her.” Ellie’s mama squeezed her side again. “Want me to send some pie back with you? Does she live close to school? I bet her family would love my pie.”

Nate snorted. “There’s a joke there, but I have a feeling one, if not all of you, would slap me if I made it.”

Ellie’s mom snickered. “I’m glad you said it, because I was about to. I’d probably get in much more trouble than you.”

Mama rolled her eyes at her wife and son then smiled back at Ellie. “I have no doubt you can make this right.”

The way her mom was looking at her as if she was the greatest person in the world made Ellie want to believe her. She wasn’t sure she could, though. She had no idea how close Sierra’s family lived to their school, because she knew virtually nothing about her. She wanted to know more, not just because she needed to make this right, but because she was drawn to Sierra in a way she couldn’t explain. Not knowing her didn’t seem like an option anymore. She wanted to know everything.

Fuck.

Chapter 10

Sierra

After spending a week away from school, Sierra realized her sister was right. She couldn’t keep living with Teresa. For the first time in months, she temporarily felt like she could finally breathe. Less than a day into being back at school, she was suffocating again. Teresa had barely said one word to her, and Sierra was ready to jump out of her own skin.

She didn’t bother running her plan to switch rooms past Teresa. She figured if she did, there was a chance Teresa would try to talk her out of it, and Sierra couldn’t afford to let that happen.

She had done her research and learned the first step was contacting her RA, so she started by knocking on her door one night while Teresa was studying in the library.

“Sierra, right?” her RA asked when she opened the door. “How can I help you?”

“I need help.” Sierra swallowed hard, suddenly very nervous. “I want to switch roommates for next semester.”

“Oh yeah? Why is that? You don’t feel in danger, do you?”

Sierra shook her head. She was in danger of going crazy, but she knew that wasn’t what her RA meant. “We don’t get along. We used to be…” Sierra hesitated. She wanted to be honest, but she also knew how much that would piss Teresa off, and that wasn’t her goal in doing this. “We were best friends, and now we’re not. It’s making it really hard to feel at home in my own place.”

The RA nodded as if she understood. “I understand how tough that can be. I’ve seen a lot of people room with theirbest friend, only to find out they aren’t compatible at all. It’s heartbreaking not only to lose your best friend, but also to feel uncomfortable in your room.”

Thank god. She gets it.“Exactly. Please tell me there’s something you can do.”

The RA nodded again. “Of course. To start, I need to do a few peer mediation sessions with you and your roommate. If we’re not able to work things out through these sessions, I will go with you to speak to someone at the Office of Residence Life to see if a change is possible. How does that sound?”

It sounded horrible. Sierra had tried to get Teresa to sit down and talk to her multiple times since the semester started. At first, Teresa somewhat humored her, but even back then, their talks never actually went anywhere. Sierra didn’t know how it would help to have someone there with them as they talked, except to piss Teresa off, because she would assume Sierra was trying to out her. “What if my roommate doesn’t agree to do peer mediation?”

“If things are as bad as you say they are, I’m not sure why she wouldn’t, but if that’s the case, we can skip that step, and I will inform the Office of Residence Life of her refusal.”

Sierra nodded slowly. “Okay. Sounds good.” She was sure it would make things even more awkward between them, but if it got her away from their current situation, it was worth it.

The RA placed a hand on Sierra’s shoulder. “You seem nervous. What do you say I stop by later after your roommate returns and have a talk with the two of you together? Sound okay?”

Sierra nodded once again, because what else could she do? She had to go through these steps if there was any chance of making it through another semester.

She tried to study while she waited for Teresa to return to their room, but she could barely focus on the words in front ofher, which sucked since finals were right around the corner. She jumped when the door opened and Teresa walked in.

“Sorry to startle you,” Teresa said with a chuckle.

Sierra waited for her to say more, but she didn’t. Instead, she took off her shoes and hopped onto her bed. She smiled as she stared down at something on her phone. The hollow ache in her heart that Sierra had gotten way too used to returned as she watched Teresa, because she knew that smile. It was the smile she used to give Sierra. It meant she was most likely texting one of the many guys she had a crush on. How was she so okay while Sierra felt like her entire world was crumbling down around her? It was so unfair.

A few minutes later, as promised, there was a knock on their door. Teresa looked up from her phone and furrowed her eyebrows at Sierra. “Are you expecting someone?”

“Um, kind of.” Sierra got off of her bed and opened the door without saying anything else. Teresa would find out what was going on soon enough.

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