Page 77 of Racing Hearts

It turned out today wasnother lucky day, because Teresa turned to look at her with a malicious smile before she even made it fully into the room. Sierra braced herself for whatever she was about to say.

“You’ve been in the room a lot more recently. Trouble in paradise?”

Sierra’s blood immediately started to boil. “That’s none of your business,” she said through gritted teeth.

Teresa laughed, and Sierra wanted nothing more than to smack the smug grin right off of her face. “So, I was right, huh?”

Sierra shook her head and walked to her bed, fully intent on ignoring Teresa. When she heard Teresa’s feet hit their dorm room floor, she couldn’t stop her eyes from drifting over. She watched as Teresa sauntered over to her and was highly confused when Teresa ran a finger up her arm in a flirtatious fashion.

“You know, I could make you feel better if you want,” she said seductively.

What the…Sierra pulled her arm away. Teresa’s touch was not the one she wanted. In fact, Teresa was the last person she ever wanted to touch her. “What the actual fuck?”

“We were good together. Weren’t we?”

Seriously, what was happening? Did Sierra enter some New Age lesbian version ofThe Twilight Zoneor something? Sierra scooted further away from Teresa. “I thought we were at one point, but it turned out, I was wrong.”

“Aw, come on. How ’bout one last good fuck? For old time’s sake.”

“I thought thislifestylewasdisgusting,” Sierra said, hitting Teresa with her own words.

“It’s disgusting when it becomes your whole life. I just want tonight.”

“You know, there was probably a time when I would have gone for that, but I’ve learned that I deserve so much better. You know who showed me that? Ellie did. She showed me what real love looks like, and it’s not this. Anyone who could treat me the way you’ve treated me these past few months never really loved me. That’s not ameproblem. That’s ayouproblem. And you’re right. Things aren’t the best between me and her right now, but I’m going to make them right, because when you find the right person, you fight for them. That’s what I plan to do.”

Teresa rolled her eyes and backed away from Sierra’s bed. “It’s all good. I was totally messing with you anyway. I have no interest in having sex with you.”

Sierra snorted. “Sure you don’t.” Sierra jumped from the bed and began walking toward the door. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have things to do.”

Teresa scoffed. “Fine, but don’t come crying to me when things don’t work out.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t.” Sierra opened the door but turned around to face Teresa one more time. “By the way, Teresa, go fuck yourself.”

When she turned back around and started to walk out the door, she ran right into a body.

“That was fucking awesome.”

Sierra looked up into the eyes of the person standing in front of her. “Juniper? What are you doing here?”

“We have a problem.”

Sierra’s heart dropped, and panic ran through her veins. “What’s wrong? Is Ellie okay?”

“That depends on your definition of okay. She’s alive. She’s breathing. Still has all of her limbs. She’s completely devastated though.”

“Why is she devastated?” Sierra asked, in case it was anything other than the obvious.

“Seriously? I think we both know the reason.”

Sierra looked toward the ground in shame. “Yeah, you’re right.” Sierra moved her eyes back to Juniper’s again. “So, are you here to yell at me?”

Juniper shook her head and smiled. “I would, because no one hurts my best friend and gets away with it. But I have a feeling nothing I say could be worse than the things you’re telling yourself.”

She wasn’t wrong about that. “So, why are you here?” Sierra asked again.

Juniper waved her hand. “Walk with me.”

Sierra followed Juniper down the hallway and into the elevator. For all she knew, she was following Juniper to her death, but this was the closest she had felt to Ellie in weeks, and she didn’t want to lose that feeling.

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