The College List I Crossed Out To Escape His Shadow Chapter 02

The College List I Crossed Out To Escape His Shadow Chapter 02

It had all been for that phone call.

And just like that, I’d walked right into being his alibi.

The meal dragged on forever. By the time we finished, it was already dark.

“Oh, perfect, there’s a ride.”

“Come on, let’s go, let’s go.”

They piled into the car without a second thought.

Only four seats.

It wasn’t until everyone was in that they noticed there was still me.

Maya, in the passenger seat, forced an awkward smile. “Sasha, mind grabbing another one?”

My gaze flicked toward Leo on instinct, but he didn’t seem to notice anything off.

He was deep in conversation in the back.

I forced myself to nod. “Yeah, go ahead.”

The car pulled away, and Leo never even realized I wasn’t in it.

It hadn’t always been like this.

We used to do everything together.

There was no way he wouldn’t have noticed.

Once, during a school break, my mom picked me up early to visit family out of town, and I didn’t have a chance to tell him.

He waited at the school gate until every last person had left.

He only went home after Diane showed up to tell him I was gone.

Another time, I didn’t want to board at school anymore and asked to switch to a day student. My mom said no.

So Leo said he’d switch too, so we could commute together.

He never used to leave me alone.

These past few years, maybe it was just growing up.

We’d grown further and further apart.

I just hadn’t realized it had gotten this far.

“Sasha!”

A hot hand clamped around my arm from behind.

Leo’s brow was furrowed, his breathing uneven. “Why didn’t you call for me?”

Looking at his face, slightly damp with sweat from running, I had no idea how to explain.

What was I supposed to say, that after the disgust I’d seen on his face that day, I didn’t know if he’d even care?

“Forget it.” He swiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a small sigh. “Let’s go home.”

We walked back one behind the other. 　　Neither of us said a word.

At the split where we usually separated, Leo suddenly spoke up.

“Hey, Sasha, figured out which school you’re applying to yet?”

I didn’t know why he was asking that now.

I thought about it for a moment, then told him. “Westbrook University.”

When I looked up, he was already halfway across the crosswalk. 　　It made my answer feel pretty pointless.

That evening, I saw a hiking challenge posted for a nearby mountain. 　　The finisher medal looked adorable.

So I shared the event registration on my Instagram story.

Before bed, Leo messaged me. 　　[I signed up for that hike too.]

[Wait for me tomorrow. We’ll go together.]

Had he seen my story and signed up because of it? 　　That thought crept in before I could stop it.

I clicked into his profile and checked. 　　He’d registered earlier than I had.

I clenched my fist and shook my head. 　　Get it together, Sasha. 　　Had I already forgotten that look on his face?