cares.”
Nora turns around from her spot at the sink, the broccoli in her hands dripping water on my floor, and says, “Wait. What?”
I shrug, uncertain of what her tone means. “Yeah. It’s terrible. She’s turning eighteen and all she does is work down there. And study. She’s always studying.”
Nora holds up her hand, wet broccoli and all. “You’re doing something for the girl downstairs? The one that always wears the headbands?”
I nod. Her eyes find mine and rest there. She tucks her bottom lip between her teeth and I have to look away from her stare. Her thick eyebrows are bunched together again and her cheeks are glowing. She’s wearing more makeup than she usually does, but it looks nice.
She reminds me of the women in those videos Tessa always watches on YouTube. She always says she’s going to try to re-create the way they put on makeup, but when all is said and done, the products usually end up in the trash and her eyes are puffy from tears, not covered in color.
“You’re something else, Landon Gibson,” Nora says, and my cheeks flush.
I turn a little, pretending that I’m thirsty, and open the fridge to grab a Gatorade.
I don’t say anything else. I don’t know what to say and I know that if I stand here any longer I’m going to make a fool of myself somehow. I’ve already done that enough for one day and I don’t want to scare Nora away from the apartment. Tessa needs as many friends around her as possible, and Nora seems to be a good one.
“I’m going to finish my paper.”
The one that’s already completed.
“If you need anything, I’ll be in my room,” I tell her, shoving my hands into the pockets of my sweats.
Nora nods and turns back to the sink to rewash her broccoli.
When I get to my room, I close the door and lean my back against it.
The wood is cold against my bare skin and I’m exhausted. Today freaking sucked, and I’m so glad it’s over.
I don’t bother opening a textbook to even pretend like I’m studying. I don’t even bother turning on my light. I just lie down on my bed and close my eyes. I move around for a while, willing sleep to come to me, but my mind is still reeling from Dakota.
And now from Nora. She’s in my kitchen, and I have to keep my distance from her, even though I’m not sure that I want to.