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I squeezed his hand in gratitude, thankful for the comfort. Abel moved up to my other side.

“He was out here waiting for me when I got out of the bathroom…” I told them everything that happened after I left the bathroom as they walked me to my next class. They listened in silence as we walked. I finished talking when we met Tyson outside of my next class. He gave us a curious look that demanded answers.

“I think Quinton did something to Chucky,” Addison said in a quiet voice.

My eyes widened in shock as I looked around the hallway to see if anyone was listening to our conversation.

Tyson laughed. “You mean besides puking up blood all over himself and his friends and ending up in the hospital?”

I couldn’t believe he thought that was funny. I didn’t find anything amusing in the least, not about this.

The twins repeated what I’d told them on our way over here. He stopped laughing. I felt better when he stopped laughing.

“Shit,” Tyson growled. “What did that asshole do to him now?”

My mouth dropped open in shock. “You can’t be serious?” I said. “After what Quinton’s already done to Chucky, you think he’d do more to him?” I shook my head. “But this wasn’t bad like before. He wasn’t hurt or anything, just acting weird.”

“By weird you mean do anything and everything you tell him to?” Tyson glared at the floor. “This could either be a really good thing or a really bad thing.”

This could either be a really good thing or a really bad thing… Wasn’t that the story of my life.

Tyson went to class shortly after with a look on his face that had people scampering to get out of his way.

The twins weren’t so easy to get rid of.

“Are you sure you don’t want someone to come with you?” Addison asked for the third time.

He was concerned and I really couldn’t blame him. Finding out Quinton had taken the liberty to mess with Chucky on my behalf for a second time had really unnerved me. The twins had no idea if it would wear off with time or not, and I hadn’t even bothered with asking Tyson if he knew. They had wanted to call Tyson the moment I said I was going home but I had put my foot down and insisted it wasn’t anyone’s business but my own and it wouldn’t really make a difference if Tyson knew or not, I was going. They had finally relented even though I could tell they really hadn’t wanted to. I imagined as soon as I had my back turned one or both would have their phones out, furiously texting. First, they’d text the others and tell them how insane Quinton was. Then, they’d text Tyson and tell on me for going home.

I sighed in frustration, praying to what ever god out there who’d listen for patience.

No one answered my prayer.

Figured.

Maybe I should have tried counting to twenty in my head?

Nah. That wouldn’t have worked either.

They were driving me crazy. Unless I was in the bathroom I’d had zero time to myself since Thursday afternoon. Today was Monday and I needed time away from them to process things without one of them there to hold my hand and mess with my head with their nearness.

This latest stunt of Quinton’s was simply too much and I needed some time away from them, all of them or they’d likely drive me crazy.

“Addison,” I said, my voice straining as I strived for patience. “I’m tired and I need to be alone right now, so I’m going home. If the school calls because I’m skipping it won’t matter because there’s no one there to answer the phone. If my mother finds out I skipped and gets mad, which she won’t do because she’s never cared before, I’ll just tell her someone else got sick. She specifically told me she didn’t want me here if there was a chance of me getting sick. It’s fine.”

I felt a headache coming on. It seemed like an every day occurrence at this point.

Addison pursed his lips and glared at me. “At least let one of us drive you home.”

I sighed. Again. How overbearing and utterly ridiculous.

Abel put his big hand on his brother’s shoulder. “It’s only a few hours,” he told his twin. “We’ll check on her when we get home.”

I fought the urge to sigh again and thankfully I won.

“Fine,” Addison snapped angrily as he shrugged off Abel’s hand. He glared at me and ordered, “If you need anything you call. And for fuck’s sake, stay away from Quint. You two shouldn’t be alone right now.”

With that he turned and stormed off.