Page 202 of No Need to Run
“CALLIE!” Violet screams over the music.
Callie freezes mid-swing.
I’m on my back, tangled in my own limbs, surrounded by everything I knocked off Violet’s desk.
Violet moves closer, her eyes wide. “Stop! It’s Drew!”
Callie lowers the racket slowly.
I try to get to my feet, but my foot slips on my shoelace that somehow came untied. I start going down, but warm hands wrap around my arms, keeping me steady.
Violet helps me to my feet.
Her eyes roam over me, taking in the scratches.
The dirt.
My ripped shirt.
The leaf she plucks out of my hair.
“…Drew,” she says slowly. “What are you doing?”
I give her a sheepish smile. “I thought you were stalking me,” I say. “So I tried to get proof.”
Silence.
My pulse thuds in my ears.
This isn’t good.
Maybe she’s going to have me arrested.
Then, a giggle fills the air.
Callie loses it.
“You are the worst stalker ever,” she says between breaths.
Violet presses her lips together, clearly trying not to laugh.
“Um… Drew…” she says carefully. “Is the proof scratches, dirt, and leaves?”
My spine stiffens. “No... that’s just an unfortunate side effect.” I point at her. “Stalking is bad.”
She plucks another leaf from my hair. “Obviously, it’s quite dangerous.”
I nod. “Exactly.”
Callie is still laughing. “What proof were you trying to get?”
I hesitate. “Um...”
I look over at the binder, which somehow came open in all the chaos. Pages scattered on the floor.
“The binder...”
That’s all I can get out.
