The College List I Crossed Out To Escape His Shadow Chapter 04

The College List I Crossed Out To Escape His Shadow Chapter 04

“Sasha.”

Leo grabbed my hand, his expression tense.

“One more question. Please.”

“You’re sure you’re applying to Westbrook University?”

“No chance you’re considering any other school?”

I thought of the conversation I’d overheard on the mountain.

Something inside me unraveled, and I shook off his hand. 　　“Yes! Happy now?”

I didn’t wait for a response. I walked away and shut myself in my room.

That night, he posted on his Instagram. 　　[Finally. Hell yes.]

Just a handful of words. 　　They landed like a fresh blade to the chest.

The next morning, a new post jolted me wide awake. 　　Maya had posted a photo of a book. 　　I could see the handwritten annotations in the margins.

That was how I knew, this was the book Leo had borrowed from me. 　　My favorite book. 　　He’d loaned it to someone else without asking.

Fury and hurt crashed into me all at once. 　　I screenshotted Maya’s post and sent it straight to him. 　　[Why would you lend my book to someone else?]

His reply came back lazy and dismissive. 　　[She saw me reading it and said she wanted to check it out. So I let her.]

I shot back, [It’s my book. How could you lend it out without asking me?]

Leo’s response turned sharp: 　　[What’s your problem today? It’s just a book. Is it really that serious?]

I gripped my phone so hard my knuckles ached, 　　[I want it back.]

He couldn’t seem to believe it. 　　[What?]

I typed it again, 　　[I want it back. All of it. I’m done lending anything to you.]

The typing indicator pulsed for a long time.

Then he fired back two messages. 　　[You’re really going to make a scene over a book?]

[Fine. Come get all your stuff. Right now.]

Fuming, I threw on a hoodie and stormed out.

His door was already open when I got there.

He was hurling my things into the hallway. “Here’s all your crap. Take it and go!”

“That book? I was the one who gave it to you anyway. I’ll just order you a replacement online. Happy now?”

I stared at my belongings scattered across the floor.

The hurt I’d been swallowing burst wide open.

Crying, I gathered everything up, piled it awkwardly in my arms, and stumbled downstairs.

The moment I stepped outside, the sky opened up and rain came hammering down.

I didn’t care. I kept walking, pushing straight through the downpour toward the street.

I’d barely made it out of the subdivision when a hard tug on my arm yanked me backward.

Everything dropped and scattered again.

“It’s the last day to submit applications. Are you absolutely sure Westbrook is your first choice?”

That question.

That question again.

I snapped. “How many times do I have to say it? Yes! Yes! Yes!”

“What is your obsession with asking me this?”

“If you’re so terrified we’ll end up at the same school, just tell me where you’re applying, and I’ll avoid every single one. Okay?!”

He went silent.

He bent down and picked up some of my things but didn’t hand them back.

We walked the rest of the way without a word.

He followed me right to my doorstep.

After that, we didn’t speak again.

Until move-in day, when he knocked on our door.

“Sasha, if we don’t go now, we’re going to miss the flight to Westbrook.”

It was my mom who answered.

She gave him an odd look. “Leo, Sasha’s going to school here. She doesn’t need a flight.”

“Plus, she left for freshman orientation two days ago. You didn’t know?”