Chapter 9

Pov: Nathan

The bench behind the west wing was where I went to disappear. It wasn't glamorous—a worn-out slab of wood with one broken plank—but it was quiet. No teachers came poking around, no nosy classmates. Just me, the smell of damp leaves, and a sky that never quite got dark enough.

I pulled a cigarette from the pack in my jacket pocket and flicked my lighter. The flame caught, and I took a long drag, letting the smoke seep into my lungs. I wasn't addicted, not really. It was just a habit—a way to kill the edge that crept up when the day had been too long or the walls too close.

Today had been one of those days.

The whole roommate situation was still sitting wrong with me. A girl. Of all the people they could've stuck me with. And not just any girl, but one who acted like she had everything figured out—challenging me with that stupid calmness, like she wasn't the least bit rattled by the mess she'd walked into.

I exhaled smoke, shaking my head. Jules. That was her name. She wasn't scared, exactly, but she wasn't comfortable either. She had this quiet energy, like she was sizing me up while keeping her distance. Smart move. Most people around here learned quick enough to keep their distance.

Footsteps crunched on the gravel path, and I tensed out of habit. But the whistling that followed gave the intruder away before he stepped into view.

"Found you." Finn strolled up, his hands shoved into his hoodie pockets and a smirk on his face. "Honestly, Nate, you're like a stray cat. Always lurking in the same spots."

"Maybe you should stop looking for me," I muttered, taking another drag.

Finn ignored me, as usual, and sat down on the bench, stretching his legs out like he owned the place. "Let me guess: hiding from the chaos of dorm life?"

I snorted. "Something like that."

Finn eyed me for a moment, his smirk fading just enough to show he was actually thinking. "You've been off lately," he said, leaning forward. "What's going on?"

"Nothing."

"Bullshit." He straightened up, pulling a bag of chips from his hoodie pocket. "Come on. You're not exactly subtle, you know."

I glared at him. "I'm fine, Finn. Drop it."

Finn shrugged, tearing open the bag and popping a chip into his mouth. "Fine. Be mysterious. But let me take a wild guess... this wouldn't have anything to do with your new roommate, would it?"

I froze for a split second, my hand tightening around the cigarette. "What about her?"

Finn's grin widened, like a cat about to pounce. "Oh, nothing. I just met her earlier. Nice girl. Kinda funny. Definitely not what I expected from someone stuck sharing a room with you."

"She's fine," I said shortly, flicking the ash from my cigarette.

"Fine," Finn echoed, his grin turning smug. "That's all you've got?"

"What do you want me to say?" I snapped. "She's here. It's weird. End of story."

Finn chuckled, shaking his head. "Man, you're so bad at this."

"At what?"

"Being normal." He popped another chip into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully before continuing. "You know, most people would try to get to know their roommate. Maybe have an actual conversation instead of just glaring at them like they're some kind of intruder."

"She is an intruder," I muttered.

"Right. Because sharing a room with a girl is such a tragedy," Finn said, rolling his eyes. "Look, I get that you're all about the loner act, but maybe this is a good thing. Shake things up a little, you know?"

I didn't answer, my gaze fixed on the glowing tip of the cigarette. Finn didn't get it. He didn't know what it was like to have people worm their way into your life, only to turn around and leave when things got hard.

"Besides," Finn added, his tone lightening, "she's way less annoying than I thought she'd be. I mean, I figured she'd be all freaked out about living with you, but she seemed pretty chill. Even laughed at one of my jokes."

"She laughed at your joke?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't sound so surprised," Finn said, feigning offense. "I'm hilarious."

I smirked despite myself, shaking my head. "If you say so."

We sat in silence for a while, the quiet only broken by the occasional crunch of Finn's chips and the faint rustle of leaves overhead.

Finn was the only person I could stand being around for long. He didn't push too hard or expect too much. But even with him, I kept the important stuff locked up tight.

Like the fact that I hadn't called home in weeks. Or that the money in my account was running low because Mom had forgotten to send her usual transfer. Again. Not that I wanted her help, but it was better than asking Dad, who'd made it clear a long time ago that I wasn't his priority.

"You're thinking too hard," Finn said suddenly, interrupting my thoughts.

"Thanks for the analysis, Dr. West."

"You're welcome," he said, tossing the empty chip bag into the trash can. "But seriously, Nate. You should try lightening up. Maybe Jules will be good for you."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, because what I really need is a random girl invading my space."

"Exactly!" Finn said, grinning. "Who knows? Maybe she'll even teach you how to smile."

"Get lost, Finn," I muttered, standing up and crushing the cigarette under my heel.

Finn laughed, following me as I headed back toward the dorms. "Whatever you say, roommate-of-the-year."

I didn't bother responding, my thoughts drifting back to the mess waiting for me in room 352.

Finn was wrong. Jules wasn't going to change anything. She was just another person passing through my life. And I had no intention of letting her—or anyone else—stick around long enough to make a difference.