Page 109 of The Deceptions

I blink, looking down at my shoes. Yup. It's confirmed. The universe absolutely hates me. "Uh, yeah. Just a little. He got me good, yeah know?" I laugh it off, plucking the bloodied toilet paper from my shoe and tossing it into the trash. So much for the stupid toilet paper staying in place in my stupid briefs. Ugh. I'm toast. I physically feel my cheeks heat when he frowns, eyeing me more. It feels like he’s undressing me with his stare and unraveling the Oliver mask I’ve put into place.

"We have med students here. Did you get it looked at?" He points toward the door from over his shoulder.

"Nah, I'm fine. It was just a little cut. Nothing serious."

He still doesn't believe me, but he shrugs. "Suit yourself," he says, rubbing at his chin where a tiny scar rests. It's the only spot any person could see that's the evidence of the car crash he was in when he was eight. Well, that and his hearing. Nestled in his ears are an upgraded version of the hearing aids he once had. Shiny and new. Probably helping him process words. I wonder if this loud environment has him turning the volume down like he used to before.

But then again. I don't care. I can’t care.

They saw to it that I shouldn’t anymore. My heart aches at the constant reminder. JJ may have a scar on his chin from the car wreck that took his parents and brought him to Greenwood in foster care. But I have one, too.

I brush past him with a huff, knocking my shoulder into his. There. That'll teach him to interrogate me in the middle of thedisgusting bathroom. I know he's picking me apart, trying to figure me out. Too bad he won't be able to. Or I hope he won't be able to. What kind of shit would I get myself into if I had him up my ass discovering who I am?

I quickly return to Jordy and Simon, who is almost passed out on Jordy's shoulder.

"Smooth sailing?" Jordy asks with a cocky grin. I glare at him in return, and he shrugs. "Let's roll?" he asks, gesturing toward the door. My eyes flick to the empty fighting ring that sits empty. "It was a draw. There's a rematch in two weeks," Jordy says, answering my question.

"It'll be epic," Simon slurs. "T-to-totally epic."

"Yeah, Si. Epic," Jordy says, smoothing a hand through Simon's hair. "But let's get you to bed now. How about a gallon of water and ibuprofen?"

Simon groans in response, lifting his head. His eyes are red-rimmed and glazed over, but he still grins at me. "You're good people, Oli," he mutters, turning a slight shade of green.

"He's going to puke," I mutter with urgency, shoving Jordy until we're out the door and into the forest.

The poor trees witness Simon tossing his cookies into the plants and giving them the alcohol his body wouldn't process. Maybe I should keep Simon away from alcohol from now on. This seems to be a growing theme of him losing his dinner to the grass and trees. Poor guy.

"You're doing great, Simon," Jordy murmurs, rubbing his back as he heaves again and again. Finally, he comes up for air and wipes his mouth.

"You know... I'm-I'm not usually a drinker," Simon hiccups again. "But damn..." he slurs more, heaving a breath.

"Yup. Let's go home," I say, taking one of his arms over my shoulder as Jordy does the same on his side.

"You guys-guys are the best. Can I keep you both forever?" Simon slurs, stumbling over his feet as we practically carry him down the long wooded trail in the direction of our dorms.

"Always, big guy," Jordy quips with a genuine grin.

The trail crunches beneath our feet until we finally emerge onto the darkened campus. Everything around us is as quiet as a mouse. The moon shines high above us, and the stars twinkle down.

"It's just-just too bad we’ll miss Mack and Wilder fighting, because you’re taking me home," Simon grumbles, staggering a little. "It would have been epic, too."

"We'll check Slam tomorrow and see the pictures," I chuckle, squeezing his shoulder. Simon nods a few times as we weave through campus, attempting to stay in the shadows. "Didn't our RAs say there would be police on the grounds?" I mutter, looking at the empty spaces. If there are police here trying to keep people on campus, they're either doing it through camera work or they're really good at hiding.

Simon snorts, "Why would they actually do that when the administration is responsible for everything?"

I stiffen, snapping my gaze to Jordy, who frowns. "Oh, yeah? You know something about that, Si?" he asks carefully with a soft tone.

"Nah, just rumors," Simon slurs. "Rumors that the dean is the one doing it. Whateveritis." He shrugs.

We don't push him any further until we're standing at the back of our dorm building.

"Here," Simon stumbles away from us, going toward a window, and yanking it open. "Gotta climb through..." he slurs and stumbles forward, falling through the empty window.

"Simon!" I yelp, running forward and stopping suddenly. He's cackling on the ground of the room he landed in. There's a mattress beneath him as he laughs, holding his stomach.

"Well, that broke his fall," Jordy quips, shaking his head.

My stomach cramps again, and I sigh. "What car did you bring here?" I murmur.