“Whatever,” I muttered, frowning at them. “Thanks for the tip, but can you two please go, now?”
“And why should we?” Alicia retorted. “You can’t chase us out of here, try and call security, we’ll leave then. We’re just standing around here; there’s nothing wrong with that. Right, Caroline?”
Caroline nodded pensively. “You’re right, Alicia.”
My eyes turned to Sara. She still had her eyes closed. I knew I couldn’t make a scene in the middle of the lobby. Our parents hadn't shown up yet, but it would probably be a good idea to keep the relationship between us a secret from them for now. Seeing the way Sara had reacted, she probably didn’t want to cause her mother any trouble.
I didn’t want to embarrass her, and while I didn’t want to say anything with those two there listening in, I had to at least get her to agree to talk to me. As much as I didn’t want to hurt her, I didn’t want her to hate me after my dad ran off with her mom’s money.
“Sara?” I said, lowering my voice. Alicia and Caroline, as if determined to be a nuisance, shifted a little closer to hear better. I glared at them, because they were being too obvious, but decided to ignore them. “Can we please talk? It doesn’t have to be now; we can go back to school, we can do it privately. But at least let me talk to you, all right? I promise, it really is something important. You’re not going to like it, but you still have to know. If time is what you need… I can give you some.”
I hesitated at that last part because I wasn’t sure how long we had. Shit, they were already married, legally. There hadn't been a wedding, but the certificate was the most important part. I didn’t know what my dad’s exact plans were, and it would depend on how long her mom would take to make the funds transfer, too.
There were just too many variables. He might even be worried because I knew now, and I could still choose to tell Tina. No matter what, I had to let her know today.
Sara’s eyes opened, but her expression was blank.
“Are you guys going to meet for a secret rendezvous?” Alicia asked, giggling. “I should tell you guys; it won't be that big a secret. Who hasn’t seen you two together around school?”
“Even quite a few seniors are talking about the two of you,” Caroline added, as if it actually mattered that people had seen us together.
Alicia continued. “There’s a lot of weird rumors, too, like you guys fuck everywhere, including the library? We didn’t think it was possible, but I’m wondering if it was true. Sara’s holding the wallet, so was it her idea? How about it, Noah?”
I held back a wince so I wouldn’t give anything away. We really had fucked in the library. I was sure no one had noticed, or I would have heard of it not long after it happened. That was nearly two weeks ago.
Sara’s expression was blank, but it started breaking a little when they said that. Looking at her closely, I saw that she was trembling. Her eyes stared straight at my chest, but the look in them was far away as if her mind was trying to distance her from what was happening at that moment.
I glanced at Alicia and Caroline, who were both giggling in excitement after humiliating Sara. I clenched my fists beside me and reminded myself that it would be bad to hit a woman. They were determined to be a nuisance, so getting away from them might not be easy, not with Sara looking the way she was.
In the end, I thought it would be better not to try and push her. Maybe I could give her the space she obviously needed and try to talk to her later. I’d give her a day, two tops, then try again. Hopefully, Dad wouldn’t have done anything by then.
“It’s fine,” I murmured. “You can go back to school, Sara. I won't bother you for today, okay? Just go to your room and sleep. You don’t look too well.”
Sara blinked, then looked up at me. I moved to the side, making sure I’d be in Alicia and Caroline’s way in case they tried to follow. Sara didn’t decline the offer.
It was hard, keeping an eye on her and the two snide girls at one time, but she managed to get into a cab before they moved past me. I figured the best thing I could do for her right then was stall them, so they wouldn’t give her more trouble. Hopefully, she’d go back, do what I suggested, and wake up feeling better and more open to talking.Chapter Fifteen
SaraWhen I got back to the dorms, I did exactly as Noah suggested I should do. I completely ignored everything, including the fact that I still had classes that day. I didn’t even change my clothes, just got underneath my covers and closed my eyes. I don’t know when I fell asleep.