DIFFERENT

(5):The Lethal Lie

CHERYN

I look up from my textbook and spot my phone light up. Jeremy texted me.

I got you your favorite drink. Where's your dorm? I wanna give it to to you.

Birthday cake frappe? Yes! He's so sweet. He went out of his way to do that for me.

I text him my dorm building and number.

10 minutes later and I hear a knock on my dorm door.

"Who is it?" I ask trying not to get shanked.

"No one special. Just a basic white dude."

I laugh. I open the door and my smile falls faster than a bird during hunting season.

"Jeremy! Your face! Your cheek is cut. What happened?" I grab the drinks from his hand and place the drink tray on my nightstand. "And where are your glasses?"

He pulls his glasses out from his back pocket and places them back on his face. "Um... I got in a bit of a fight with my friend. He needed money and, for once, I wouldn't give him any. One thing led to another and... we were on the kitchen floor and he had a knife. He slit my cheek since he said he couldn't afford to do something he'd regret. I-I don't want to get to into it."

"Jesus! Please tell me you guys aren't homies no more."

"He's bipolar. He probably just forgot to take his meds, Cher. I know him. I can't give up on him."

I smile. "You're a loyal friend. That's a good trait."

He sends me a small grin. "Yeah, but our drinks have melted a lot by now."

"Still gonna taste good. How about we go to Barnes and Noble tomorrow? I can push my studying back by a couple hours."

He gives me look that says 'really'? "You wouldn't. It's a semester final. That's what you said, right?"

"Right. But, I'm pretty well prepared. I've been studying since last month. I think I can manage a little more free time before I hit the books again. It is mostly review." I grab his face and get a closer look at his cut. It's not too deep, but he's still bleeding. I need to clean this before it gets infected.

I quickly drag him into the bathroom. It's a small bathroom. One time Ella and I were brushing our teeth at the same time and she elbowed me. I told her to move over and then realized that she was blocked by the wall. Decent sleeping spaces but tiny restroom spaces.

"Close the toilet and sit." I softly instruct. He does as told. I reach into the cabinet behind the mirror. "I'm looking for some disinfectant and the box of band aids. Damn it! Ella must of used them all or didn't put it back. Now I gotta look for it." I pull out the disinfectant and close the mirror.

I look back and see that Jeremy is holding the box of band aids. I give him a confused look.

"It was on top of the toilet paper. Why? I have no clue."

"Ella. Why would she even put that there? Especially if the cabinet is right- you know what? I don't care." I stop myself before I start ranting.

"I've never seen you get frustrated before. I mean, I've seen only a glimpse. You only give me glimpses." His eyes hold amusement.

"What? You want to see me upset on a full scale level?"

"I wanna see how you act in all emotions. I only know your full scale reaction to lust and happiness. My favorites but... at the same time I never want to see you in tears."