Two-way Street

Day Two, 8:03 p.m.

“Where’s Courtney?” I ask when Lloyd opens the door, not bothering with any pleasantries. I knew I was going to get into a fight with Lloyd at some point on this trip. It was inevitable. I thought maybe I’d be able to avoid it if I didn’t see him, but now, when he answers the door to his room with a shit-eating grin on his face, I want to rip it off. His face, I mean.

“Well, well, well,” Lloyd says, leaning against the door frame. “What’s up, Jordy?” Lloyd is such a tool that he actually sometimes thinks he’s cooler than me. Which is ridiculous. Especially since he’s wearing a polo shirt. You cannot be cooler than anyone, especially not me, when you’re wearing a polo shirt.

“Where’s Courtney?” I repeat.

“Why?” he asks suspiciously, narrowing his eyes. “If you’re here to do one of those last-minute things where you rush in and save her, you’re a little too late.” He smiles. He actually fucking smiles at me. I’m done with this dude.

I push him out of the way and walk right into his room. She’s not there.

“She’s not here,” I say.

“Good work, Captain Obvious,” he says. He crosses the room and sits down at his desk.

“Where. Is. She?” I ask. I wonder what will happen if I punch him. I’m so pissed off at everyone right now, the thought of getting into a fight with Lloyd actually scares me. I don’t know if I could stop at just punching him. We’d probably get into it pretty good, and campus security would come and arrest me.

“I don’t know,” Lloyd says, shrugging. “I assume she’s out looking for you.”

“Why would she be out looking for me?”

“Because she left, and since she doesn’t know anyone else here, I would assume she’s looking for you,” he says, rolling his eyes. Is this kid for real?

“You just let her leave?” I ask. “Why would you do that?”

“I don’t know,” he says. “She freaked out a little bit, and I figured she needed her space.”

“You’re an asshole,” I say, pushing past him and outside. I pull my cell phone out of my pocket and dial her number, but she’s not answering. Fuck. Where would she go? I head back toward the truck and dial her cell phone number on the way, hoping maybe she’s turned it back on.

And then suddenly, I see her. She’s sitting on a bench near where I parked my car. She’s holding her cell phone in her hand, just looking at it. Which is weird, because I’m trying to call her. Her cell phone is ringing in her hand, and she’s just ignoring it.

“Court!” I yell. I start walking toward her and she looks up. Her blue eyes meet mine, and suddenly, I stop. Because I can tell she knows.

“Hey,” I say, walking toward her. She looks up, and the look she gives me is horrible. There are tears in her eyes. “Courtney,” I say. “Let me explain.”

“Let you explain?” She throws her head back and laughs at the absurdity of it. “Yeah, great, this should be interesting. Go ahead and explain.”

“I didn’t do it to lie to you,” I say. “I wanted to protect you. I didn’t know it was your dad, I didn’t—”

“Great job of protecting me, Jordan,” she says, cutting me off. “Do I look like you spared my feelings?” She picks up her bag and slings it over her shoulder, like she’s going to leave. I reach up and grab her arm.

“Don’t touch me!” she says, wrenching away from me.

“Court, please, listen—” I start to say.

“No,” she says, standing up. “I’m done.”

She starts walking away.

“Court!” I yell after her. “Where are you going?”

But she doesn’t answer.