I hope it's over, Hannah thinks as she gets outside after parking the car and lets the air out of her mouth with relief.
It was today that the decisive visit to the psychiatrist took place, and it was confirmed that her condition has improved, and she can go off the pills for the moment. She has waited so long for the day when she will finally start feeling normal again, without the thought of being a crazy person who sees her dead sister.
She will finally be able to live peacefully like the other students, without being told that, even though they don't know anything about her problem. They still look at her as a mentally ill person since she takes psychotropic drugs.
— It's time to forget about it — she whispers under her breath and stops mid-step when her attention is caught by the boy who accosted her by the car the day before.
She looks at him closely for a long moment, wondering if there is even a shred of truth in his words.
He brazenly raises his hand in greeting as he gets into the car of a woman who is waiting for him.
When he drives past Hannah, the mocking smile does not leave his face. The girl squints and watches him until he pulls out of the parking lot.
— You are also hiding something from me, you bastard.
— Yesterday, you boasted that you were going to a visit to get confirmation that you were healthy. Watching you talk to yourself... I'm not sure the doctor should say you can go off your medication.
The teenager looks ahead and sees Joseph heading toward her with a slow step, with his arms folded across his chest.
— And yet, my condition has improved, since I can throw the pills in the trash for the moment.
The young man stops in front of her and measures her from bottom to top.
— Since when does one go to doctor's appointments in such a defiant outfit? — He raises an eyebrow when his attention is caught by the tight leather pants she is wearing.
— When it comes to men's fashion you're up-to-date, but apparently you don't know what's cool at any given time in the women's world — he replies, reaching out to correct the bent collar of the autumn coat he's wearing cast off. — And I guess you were waiting for me in front of the dorm, since you dressed warmer.
— Don't add from yourself, girl. I'm waiting for Halsey. You caught my attention accidentally.
Hannah smiles nervously when she hears the older girl's name. It's no secret that she didn't like her, even though she hasn't officially met her yet, which she doesn't want to.
— Have you started seeing her every day since you ran into each other at the club?
— I'm simply the only person who can help her. She's messed up a bit lately and doesn't have anyone by her side she can trust.
Although Joseph is an intelligent boy that usually anticipates someone's intentions, when it comes to Halsey, his brain is reduced to the size of a peanut. There's a reason it was said that in high school he was in love with her up to his ears.
— It's just a shame that when she had problems at school, she didn't ask you for help, but ran away from there, completely breaking off contact with you. Is this how a loving girl behaves? Probably not. I didn't turn tail, even though we weren't close in high school, and I didn't drop out of school because of a jealous chaperone. I can't imagine acting like that with a boy, I care about.
When she directs such bold words to him, she looks him in the eyes the whole time, not afraid of his cloudy face.
— You don't know what you're talking about, so sometimes bite your tongue before you say something. I turn a blind eye to your gruff talk, but I don't know how long I'll tolerate it. Don't think to yourself that since we've become closer, you are entitled to express yourself about Halsey or any of my friends similarly.
Her face pales when she hears such harsh words from his mouth.
— I thought we were close enough to each other that I could trust you. I tell you everything all the time, even the course of treatment, which is embarrassing for me, and you forbid me to express my opinion about your lying first love? I can sense devious girls. She just happened to appear in front of you at a time when she needs help? Nonsense. This is just a ploy to get close to you again, but since you are so enamored of her, do what you want.
She wants to leave, but one firm hug around her elbow, stops her in mid-step.
— Do you really think you tell me everything and have no secrets from me? I wonder what kind of secrets you and Jin have been keeping together for more than three years?
The nineteen-year-old lifts her face and looks at him for a long moment with concern in her eyes.
— How do you know about it?
— Just don't give a crap about telling me everything when I'm the worst. I think we are still not close enough with each other to share our darkest secrets. Let's just continue to keep them to ourselves, and next time be careful what you say in front of me.
He lets her go, and she feels like crying, although she herself doesn't know why his words are so hurtful to her.
— You've told me everything, so now properly take care of Halsey. She is waiting for you and her face does not bode well. I don't know if it's because she's in trouble or just doesn't like my presence. Ask her at the outset if my advice should take a different direction. Although. This was the last time and I will not speak again on any topic related to you.
Passing the car in which Halsey sits behind the wheel, Hannah greets her with an ominous look, letting her know that she does not particularly like her either.
*
Bella leaves the room because she is so hungry that her bowels are playing a march, and she is not going to wait any longer for her roommate, who has not yet returned from the doctor.
When she finds herself in front of the cafeteria, she happily inhales the wafting smell of the dinner being served. She dreams of nothing but to get to the food tray; however, she is stopped in the aisle by Tom and instantly, completely forgets that a moment ago her stomach was clamoring for food.
At this point, the hungry stomach is no longer the most important thing.
— Should we sit down together? — he asks, smiling at her in such a charming way that she feels a pleasant warmth embrace her left breast.
She nods in response.
They both scoop food onto trays and sit at the same table. Although Bella is unimaginably hungry and feels like swallowing everything, she tries to act like a girl who eats meals the size of a nut. She can't imagine munching greedily in front of Tom. That way, she would probably lose in his eyes.
— Why are you chomping on that meal like a squirrel? Don't you have an appetite? — he asks with a full mouth, looking at her with astonishment in his eyes. — I find girls most attractive when they can eat more than a man. One of these days, take a peek at Hannah. You'll understand what I'm talking about.
The blonde clenches the fork in her hand and smiles broadly.
— You know… I just developed an unimaginable appetite. — She stuffs huge amounts of food into her mouth, which makes the student sitting across from her laugh. Tom looks on with amusement in his eyes, especially when she clogs up and slaps her hand against her chest to keep from choking.
He hands her a glass of water, which she immediately drinks.
— Gluttony can kill us.
She starts laughing when she finally gets to her feet.
— And it's not likely to be attractive.
— Do you want to know my way to a good mood? — The teenager nods. — I came up with new puzzles for Hannah because she loves them, but I'll reveal them to you first. What do you think about it?
— I love riddles, especially when they are fun.
She puts the cutlery down on the table and looks at him with curiosity in her eyes.
— Do you know why it's a good idea to make love to a squint girl in nature? — Bella almost chokes on the food she is still chewing in her mouth. His question is quite bold for the beginning of their acquaintance, or she just adds from herself, thinking of indecent games where he is the one in the foreground in her imaginings. Except that. This conundrum can't have a catchy text to get her going, since she doesn't have a squint, well, unless he finds her not very attractive.
She shakes her head, letting him know that she has no idea of the answer.
— At least she'll take care of her clothes.
Although she is confused at first, she unexpectedly bursts out laughing after a long analysis. When she realizes how loud she is acting, she covers her mouth with her hand.
— Do you have something else?
— Do you know why dwarves walking in the forest laugh? — Bella opens her eyes wider, intrigued by his answer. — Because moss tickles them in the balls.
The girl bursts into uncontrollable laughter, slapping her hand on the table-top.
— Can you shut up? You're too loud — one of the students speaks up, drawing her attention with indignation in her voice.
— If you want grave silence, go to the cemetery — Tom interjects.
Bella can't sit still when she looks over her shoulder and sees that it's an older student who has been berating Hannah in the bathroom and expressing her displeasure about her intimate relationship with Joseph.
— Stuff yourself with food, viper, so that you never open that venomous mouth again. From all this backbiting, your biting tongue will eventually fall off.
Tom laughs, seeing the confused look on the peer's face.
— What did you say to me? — The brunette gets up from her chair with a combative attitude to show the younger student where she belongs, but Bella is not about to be humiliated.
— Why do you keep opening that disgusting mouth? I'm afraid you'll splash venom on me, since you spit saliva when you speak.
The boy leans back in his chair and puts his hand to his mouth, thinking that the blonde is quite funny at the moment.
— Who are you to address me this way? — The brunette pokes a finger into her chest, pushing her back.
— And who are you to shush me? I can even perform strange rituals in the middle of the cafeteria, and you have nothing to do with it!
The older student squints menacingly and Bella gets the impression that she wants to hit her, but when she raises her hand, then something unexpected happens. She gets a plastic spoon right in the face.
The nineteen-year-old looks over her shoulder and, with wide-open eyes, looks at Tom, who is clearly grinning and, with feigned concern, puts his hands to his mouth.
— Forgive me. I wanted to finish my meal, but the spoon slipped out of my hand. I swear it was not intentional.
Everyone laughed, and the girl felt like collapsing to the ground, especially since Tom is liked by most of the students.
— You acted like Joseph, which is unlike you. — Next to him sits Jin, placing trays of food on the counter.
— He is simply an inspiration to me in such a situation. I couldn't let that which strike my soulmate — he explains, with his hand pointing to Bella, who returns to her seat. — Do you prefer it when I call you soulmate, or should I appoint you mistress? You will not become a wife because this place has belonged to Hannah for years — he turns to the blonde in a whisper, surreptitiously glancing at his friend.
— I think soulmate sounds nicer, well, and I'd rather not mess with my roommate. Mistresses are rather disliked — she replies jokingly, to which Jin shakes his head.
He thinks Hannah was right when she said that Bella and Tom are similar in some ways.
*
The nineteen-year-old lies face down on the pillow, with sadness in her eyes, looking at one point. She is angry at herself for making Joseph unnecessarily angry, but she is even angrier at him for the words he used to hurt her. She probably doesn't realize it, yet it is painful for her, especially since they have been getting along great for a long time and so far, there have been no serious quarrels between them.
Over time, she has grown to like him and has become really attached to him, so why did he treat her so cruelly today?
— You will always be a bastard. That will never change — she says to a photo on her phone in which she puts her arm around Joseph. She only managed to take one once, when he was completely swamped and didn't even realize he was posing with her for a selfie.
— What's up. Bad results at the doctor's that you didn't even come to dinner? — asks Bella at the outset as she closes the door behind her. Hannah jumps up on the bed and looks carefully at her roommate. — I just now nearly got beaten up by a third-year, and that was because of Tom, but never mind. I see that you have a bigger problem. Your face betrays you.
— I had an argument with Joseph. My tongue is too long, and I just wanted to make him aware of something — she says grimly, putting the phone back in the cabinet.
— Ugh, an argument with Joseph. It sounds terrible. — Bella shudders, rubbing her shoulders. — So what? The end of the love story?
— Come on, Bella. There is no love story. His heart belongs only to Halsey, and today he proved how much he cares about her when you can't even say a bad word about her. She wrapped him around her finger in high school, so she's really wonderful, especially since she can still do it despite his character.
— In fact, she's not bad. Me, I'm afraid to look him in the eye.
— I don't give a damn. — The teenager twists on her back and looks at the ceiling. — We can no longer talk or act like we did in high school. Maybe then there won't be gossip about me and people will stop adding from themselves that I'm having an affair with him.
Bella looks at her with pity.
— And because of your fierce character, you want to move away from the academic cramp? You are abnormal.
— I am abnormal. Here, you are not wrong — she mutters. Nevertheless, she keeps it a secret that she has just weaned off antipsychotic drugs. — What was I thinking? How could I claim this moron as my friend? The devil I met in high school will always remain the same devil.
— Yeah, and tomorrow he will cover you with his jacket again.
Lying down, Hannah crosses her arms on her chest. At this point, she feels like killing Joseph for the way he treated her. Jin, on the other hand, is second in line for his lies and hiding the truth from her.
— I need Tom because he is the only one who can make me feel better.
— But he is still your friend? Now you won't switch to him after your situation with Joseph? — Hannah can hear the concern in her roommate's voice. — He calls you wife, so I realize that you will always come first with him.
— You can become a mistress. Remember that such women are better off than wives. They are treated differently.
— You know… At the cafeteria, he suggested it to me.
Hannah opens her eyes wider.
— Really? So Tom is going to betray me already? All three will be taught a lesson by me — she says frigidly, rubbing her hands together. — And Joseph Scott will be the first to die at my hands tonight. I'm in a fantastic mood to commit murder.
— I guess I'll have to call Tom to present you with his hilarious new puzzles before tragedy strikes.