Alice was already standing beside the door. “Are you okay?”

“What?” The question was so sudden she wasn’t quite sure how to respond.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay.” Alice was lying through her teeth. “Really.”

“No. You look like you’ve been running. Are you alright?”

“Um, yeah. I’m great.” Alice sighed.

“Good. Because I think you’ve been avoiding me lately.”

Alice turned red. “Uh, yeah. I’ve been really busy.”

“You don’t look like it. I thought we were good.” She looked uncomfortable. “I know you’re busy, I’ve seen how you sleep lately, but you’re never busy. You don’t even want to spend time with me. You always do something else.”

“Well, I am busy.” Alice was starting to feel defensive. She was annoyed. Why was she feeling defensive? Alice wasn’t sure how to explain it to her without sounding defensive.

“It’s not like you’ve been avoiding me.”

“Why would I?”

“Uh, maybe you have.”

Alice frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“I told you I wanted you to get rid of the guys.”


“So you wouldn’t have to spend so much time with me.”

“What?”