Page 30 of Psync
Eli:Actually I thought you’d hate me for yelling and leaving.
NateTheGreat:Alice and I would have split long ago if that was our style. My last class is at 3:30. Can we meet after that?
mAlice:Yes please!
Eli:4:00? By the duck?
mAlice:I’ll be there!
NateTheGreat:Me too.
Eli breathed a sigh of relief and ran his hands through his hair, knocking his hood back. He still had friends.
Though Harukahadbeen acting oddly this morning. He should read his texts next. There were only two. One asking,Are you ok?And then another several hours later saying,Just don’t forget to eat something.
Huh. Maybe Eli was overthinking things.
His sister had sent him a single text the night before, and it was a pirate meme. He gave the picture a heart, and then he was done.
So much buildup over nothing.
Stupid brain.
He shoved himself out of his desk. If he hurried, he could hit up another coffee cart before his next class.
???
“Jesus, you’re pretty. Are you a boy or a girl under those layers?”
Eli had been seconds away from shedding Haruka’s hoodie on his way out of class. Now he found one of his hands reaching for the hood to pull it up, but it was caught midmotion.
Wrongwrongwrong
He tried to snatch it back, but it was held fast. Eli gritted his teeth and looked up. Not one, but two Chads loomed over him. Fan-fucking-tastic.
Wrongwrongwrong
Eli twisted his wrist and yanked down, freeing his hand. “None of your business.”
“I don’t care what you are, I’d like to make it my business.” Chad number one, all blonde hair and blue eyes, leaned in close, forcing Eli to back away.
“Pass.” Eli tried to go around, but Chad number two stepped in his way.
“I’d still like to know what’s under the hood first, personally.”
Gross.
Eli’s phone rang, and he clicked answer without checking who it was.
“Where are you?” Haruka’s voice was clipped, and he sounded pissed.
“Um, by the Old Chapel, near the main pond.” An irritable Haruka was better than two touchy-feely Chads any day.
“I’m almost there.” Haruka hung up.
Eli stood staring at his phone for a second until he realized he still had to ditch the Chads. He turned his attention back to his harassers, but they seemed to have lost interest. Maybe they heard both sides of the conversation and preferred easy prey over prey with imminent backup.
“Some other time, pretty.” Chad number one said, pulling his friend’s arm to get him to follow.
