Chapter fifty-seven
Matt
I've been sitting in my car, outside of the dorm rooms for three hours now. It is now seven o clock. I stopped counting how many times I've texted and called Novah. At least once every ten minutes. My body was twitching, my heart was racing and my palms were sweaty. Ten-minute blocks were all I could go without attempting to contact her.
The only thing keeping me from having a full-out heart attack was weed and vodka.
I'm trying my hardest to block out all my thoughts, which can go to the darkest of places, while simultaneously focusing on those double doors.
Novah HAS to show up. She's going to fucking show up. I told myself that I'm going to wait one more hour before I go on a national fucking manhunt.
I've called Jon, Alessia, Skylar, Ben, all her professors, and anybody who's number I have, who I've seen around her.
No sign. Some say I'm overreacting, but the things I've seen in my lifetime, there's no such thing as overreacting.
As soon as an unwanted thought invades my mind, I take a nice, deep drag of my blunt.
My car smells like marijuana, yes, but it's worth it.
I've been fidgeting with my switchblade for hours now because my fingers couldn't stop shaking.
There are a bunch of little cuts on my fingers from doing this but I don't care. I can't pay attention to anything until I know Novah is safe.
I pick up my phone and begin to dial Novah's number when I see it.
Her. Walking into the building. For a second I'm frozen in my spot but then I quickly snap back to reality.
I drop everything and open my car door, a gust of fresh air, hitting my face.
Novah looks back, her eyes alert and I immediately sense something's wrong.
"Novah!" I shout out. She completely ignores me, pushing the doors open. I run up behind her, and she jumps.
I touch her arm gently and she turns around.
Her whole face is a complete mess. Makeup smudged and messy, eyes hollow, hair sitting in a crazy, frizz ball atop her head.
Not to mention she looks terrified. I scan her body and see that her small black dress is ripped. Her hands are shaking.
"Novah, what's wrong?"
She clears her throat, "Nothing Matt...." her voice coming out raw and hoarse.
"Novah..."
I look deep into her frightened eyes, searching for answers that her voice isn't willing to give me.
Her eyes begin to fill....with tears but she quickly turns around and speeds to the stairwell.
I run up in front of her, blocking her entrance to the door.
A sob escapes her mouth and I grab her and pull her to my body.
"Baby...." and before I even get to continue her body starts shaking in my arms and my heart breaks with every tear that escapes her eye.
I am so confused.
What happened at that party?
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