Page 14

“Naomi, right? What did you need?” she asks, turning toward me.

“Are you okay, Theia? Are you…safe?” I ask hesitantly. We didn’t know each other well at all, but I’d seen abusive men before, and Aaron was a field of red flags. Plus, we were sorority sisters now, and I felt like I should check in.

She sighs again, this time completely deflating as she sits down on the couch. I tentatively take a seat next to her and look over to see her blinking back tears.

“Yes… No… I think so? I don’t think he was actually going to hit me. Aaron’s usually not like this, I promise. Things have just been tough for us since I decided to stay here,” she says softly, barely above a whisper.

“Aaron went to Pinebrook too?”

She nods. “Yep. We met at a sorority fraternity mixer when we were juniors. It was a ‘famous duos’ theme, and every KTA member was assigned a fraternity brother as their partner and one-half of the duo to dress up as. Except we weren’t told who our partners were. So we just showed up and had to find out who we matched with. It was kind of like a blind date on steroids. But Aaron was the SpongeBob to my Patrick. Went on a few dates after and we’ve been together ever since.”

“Weren’t you initiated seven years ago? He just graduated?”

“I joined KTA as a freshman. Aaron and I graduated with our bachelors three years ago. I took a year off to travel and do some research in South America with one of my undergrad professors who was on sabbatical. Aaron went straight into law school. He just finished his JD in May. I finished my Masters in Biology.”

“So when he graduated and got a job, he thought you were just going to come home?”

Theia nods. “Apparently so. I thought he would get over it once he started his law firm job in New York City, but he freaked out when he realized I came back. Today was the first time he was able to drive up to campus and see me in person. I’ve been dodging his calls this past week,” she says sheepishly.

“Theia, you shouldn’t be afraid to talk to him. That’s not a relationship…” I say softly, looking at the marks darkening on her arm. “Let me get you some ice for that.”

I get up from the couch, heading into the kitchen. Theia follows me quietly, taking a seat at the island in the kitchen. I open the freezer drawer, reaching in to grab a medium-sized ice pack for her. I wrap it in a dish towel before handing it over.

“Thanks,” she says, giving me a small smile and wrapping the ice pack around her arm.

“Theia, does Sage…know? About what Aaron’s been doing?”

She shakes her head adamantly. “No, absolutely not. And shecan’tknow,” she says pointedly.

“Theia, you need to tell someone. Other than me, I mean.”

“I can’t tell Sage. You can’t tell Sage.”

“Why not?”

“Because she’ll tell our parents! And I can’t have them worrying about me. Not about this… They love Aaron,” she murmurs.

“You think they wouldn’t believe you—" She holds a hand up to silence me.

“Naomi, I know you mean well, but can you drop it? Please?”

I want to continue pushing the issue, but the look of desperation on Theia’s face stops me in my tracks. She looks so scared, terrified even. She needs help, but it’s not my secret to share.

I nod, giving Theia half a smile, before grabbing a piece of paper and scribbling my number down. “If you need anything, anything at all, no matter the time or place, call me, please. But I promise. Your secret’s safe with me.”

For now…

6

Naomi

Raven

Hope you don’t have plans for tonight! Tonight, we’re going out for some sister bonding. Just your class and a handful of the sisters.

Sage

Meet us at the house at 7:00PM sharp.