Instalove by Lexy Baker

Author:Lexy Baker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2016-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

I didn’t want to get out of bed. It wasn’t that it was 6:00 a.m. and the sky was still pitch black—I’d planned for that. I just knew that even if I managed to avoid people by going to the cafeteria right when it opened, sitting at the very back of the auditorium in psych and design, and then rushing straight home, I was bound to run into someone that knew. There was an entire day to get through.

I was going to have to face the consequences.

The one benefit of being up at this ungodly hour: there was no line for the showers. Sweet. I didn’t want to risk waking anyone so I toweled my hair in the bathroom rather than blow-drying it. After scrutinizing my face in the smudgy mirror, I decided to apply more makeup than usual. Not in the hopes that people wouldn’t recognize me as easily, though that would be a nice bonus, but as a sort of war mask. My makeup style was usually subtle and natural, but today I circled my eyes in dark liner and then applied dark eye shadow to match. Then I stepped back and admired my work. I looked badass. Now all I needed was to feel that way. I matched my makeup with the appropriate dress: black shirt, gray jeans, black boots.

The cafeteria opened at 6:30 a.m., and I was the first one there. The lady on the grill gave me a surprised look and then whipped me up a fresh batch of eggs and bacon, handed me the plate with a “good morning.” I sat at the corner table away from my usual spot by the window and scarfed it down like I hadn’t eaten in weeks. Then I returned for seconds and bought a sandwich for lunch. This afternoon I’d make another trip to the supermarket.

I felt better the moment I left the dorm area and entered campus. The sun was just starting to rise, throwing soft orange and red light over the grass and reflecting off the still waters of the fountain. It probably turned on just before eight, when the first classes started for the day. I’d never seen the campus so peaceful before. It reminded me of this week in high school when I’d considered taking up running, and I’d gotten up super early for five mornings in a row to run a mile loop around my neighborhood. The street was still, the air crisp, and as my feet pounded the cement, I could imagine that time had stopped and everyone else was frozen in their beds. All my worries and concerns just slipped away and I was the only person in the world . . .

Crap. Crappitty crap crap. I came to a halt where the path arced toward the social sciences building. There was one other person presently alive on campus, and he’d just turned the corner and directly into my face.

Declan.

Of all the shit luck. What were the chances we were both awake and the only two people on this path? Ri-dick-u-lous.

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