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Emmy’s face fell, but she pulled it together quickly. “Yeah, okay. That’s probably for the best.”
I felt a sharp jab in my chest at her agreement, even though I knew we had to do this.
I just had to get Emmy’s adorable, disappointed face out of my head.
Chapter 9
Emmy
After our last conversation, Ivan walked me to my room, as he had on and off all week. He fell into a schedule of picking me up from the classes that I didn’t have with Delaney, figuring it would look unnatural if he was picking me up after every class. He also picked me up the two evenings I had orchestra practice.
However, he was back to being the old Ivan—aloof, cold, and silent. Polite, but distant. I hoped Laney would be in our room at least one of the times he dropped me off so he would have to kiss me, but she was annoyingly absent every single time. With barely a word between us, he ushered me home and left.
I hated it.
I walked into my English class, frustrated by how things had stalled between us. I had this class with Drew and Laney. I felt really lucky to have Laney as a roommate. She was so upbeat and fun. Adjusting to college was a challenge by itself, without the specter of some deranged stalker lurking around, so it was nice to have someone to hang out with. We were also nearly the same size, though I was a little taller and she had more going on in the chest area, so my wardrobe doubled.
She talked about Drew. A lot. Sometimes she was giddy about him, but other times she was worried that she liked him more than he liked her. Though I couldn’t tell her, I could completely relate. Ivan was equally hot and cold, although right now I could reclassify that as absolutely frigid.
I threw my bag down on the table the three of us shared at the back of the room and plopped down into my chair, broadcasting my sour mood.
“What’s wrong, Emmy?” Laney asked in concern.
Drew gave me a warm smile. “Hi, Emmy.”
“Hi, Drew,” I replied with a smile of my own.
I was glad they were also here early; I needed some friendly faces. Drew was nice, always making an effort to talk to me and make me feel included when I was with him and Delaney. He had been over to our room quite a few times this week, even asking to sleep over once. I didn’t want to be a bitch, but I wasn’t comfortable with it. He was nice and friendly, but aside from having a strange guy in the room, I didn't want to take a chance on witnessing whatever they might be getting up to while I was six feet away.
“Um, nothing, I’m okay. Just having a hard time with this harp piece I’m working on.” It was an awkward lie, but I couldn’t exactly tell her I’m annoyed because my fake boyfriend had stopped hitting on me.
And it wasn’t exactly even a lie.I found out this week we’d be working on the same Mozart concerto that had been playing in the car when I’d been kidnapped by Yuri. When Mr. Belshaw, our conductor, informed us we’d be performing it, I could hardly believe my ears. Nausea swirled in my stomach just looking at the sheet music.
However, at the moment, my issue wasn’t with music. It was with Ivan.
“Oh, music stuff. You’ll get it. You’re so gifted, it’s crazy,” she said earnestly, patting me on the arm.
I smiled at her attempt to cheer me up. She was so sincere, it actually worked. “Thanks, Laney.”
Drew leaned over. “Laney tells me the music you play is really beautiful. My little sister used to play the clarinet until my ears bled. I don’t hold it against her since she was only seven at the time.”
I laughed, thinking of my early days of learning the harp and how my family must have suffered. I turned to Delaney “You’re so sweet. Thank you.”
“I know something that will cheer you up!” Delaney piped up. “I was just telling Drew, there’s a frat party this Friday. Kappa Delta Pi. We’re going! By we, I mean, all of us—you included. You should tell your boyfriend to come with us.”
Her pretty face was lit with so much excitement, I couldn’t bring myself to laugh in her face at the idea of Ivan attending a fraternity party. But I wanted to.
“I don’t know, Lane—”
She put up her hand, her expression militant. “No way, Emmy. This is our first college party and you’re coming.”
I sighed. She was like a tiny, optimistic steamroller. “Okay, I’ll be there, but I’m not too sure Ivan will be into it,” I murmured.
“He has to come!” Laney insisted.
“Hm, maybe. I doubt he would be too thrilled if I went to a frat party without him,” I said, knowing he would be homicidal if I did.
“Jealous type, huh?” Drew asked.