I couldn't sleep last night. All I could think about was how difficult it was to keep my eyes away from Elliot for an entire class period. If it had lasted even one second longer I would have broken. Even though I never glanced in her direction, I could sense her presence everywhere. It's always like that when she's in the room. I felt physically ill when the bell finally rang.

Today is worse. She never came at all. I know for an absolute fact Elliot is serious about attendance, so it's a rare occasion when she doesn't show. Although it may seem like a bad idea, I can't help but go to Oliver's office after class. I need to know that she's okay even if it draws attention to me.

As I'm about to step inside his doorway, a small orange basketball flies at my face. I barely have time to catch it before it lands straight into my nose.

Oliver laughs loudly and then stands up from his chair. "Nice catch, man. Where were those reflexes the other day?" He grabs the ball from my hands and motions to the basketball hoop nailed above his door. "I've been working on the logistics, but I haven't got it down yet."

He bends and moves the small garbage can underneath it over a few inches. He holds up a finger before quickly moving back to his chair and shooting again. This time he sinks the shot and it lands perfectly in the can below. His arms fly up in victory. "Finally! That took me all morning to get right."

I laugh, retrieving the ball and passing it back to him. "I'm glad your morning was productive."

He bounces the ball on his desk and smirks. "It's a hard job, but somebody's got to do it."

I grip the back of my neck nervously and then take the seat in front of him. "Is Elliot okay?" I ask the question quickly before I get a chance to change my mind.

His smile fades almost immediately and the sick feeling in my stomach intensifies. "I don't know, man. She was so upset last night she wouldn't even talk about it." He pauses for a moment, appearing to be deep in thought. "I mean, she usually tells me everything. I hate the fact that I can't help her."

I struggle to swallow the lump that forms in my throat. I have to keep the conversation going even though I'm positive it's because of me. "What do you think it is?"

After another moment of contemplation, I see his neck twitch and his expression turns darker. "I don't know, but I can promise you one thing. If I find out some fucking guy is messing with her..." His voice trails off, and he clenches his fist. "I'll beat him within an inch of his life—and then I'll make him fucking apologize for it."

I nod slowly. "Yeah, man. I'm with you there." It's more than a struggle to keep my voice even but somehow, I manage.

***

By the next day, Elliot's name is all I hear in the hallway. Rumors about her health have caught like wildfire and everyone speculates about where she's been. Some of them even started up a collection in her name. After all, how can a kingdom run without it's queen?

My personal favorite is that she ran off with Judah and is currently spending the week at Cornell. If I didn't live twenty feet away from her, I would have drove down there to see for myself.

By noon I've talked myself out of faking sick for the rest of the day to go home and see if she's okay. The sight of her strolling down the hall after lunch period quite literally takes my breath away. By typical Elliot standards, she looks flawless, but her eyes seem somewhat hollow to me. Her smile isn't as bright as it usually is, and it kills me.

I watch groups of people flock to her and inquire about her absence. She effortlessly brushes it off with a laugh as if all is well. I can't keep my eyes off of her even though I know I need to walk away. She never glances in my direction even though I'm only about ten feet away from her. I guess I kind of deserve that.

When the warning bell rings, I can't stop myself from walking over to her when everyone begins to hurry to class. She drapes her bag over her shoulder and turns to face me. "I'm sorry I missed class. I'll make up whatever assignments I have, okay?"

Her eyes are desolate when she looks up at me. I shove my hands in my pockets to keep from reaching from her. I want to comfort her and take away every ounce of sadness I caused—but I can't.

"I don't care about that Elle and you know it."

"Then what do you care about?"

I glance around the hall quickly and then back to her. "You," I whisper fiercely.

She rolls her eyes. "Really? Because I think you made it perfectly clear you don't."

"I'm only doing what you asked."

She laughs bitterly. "You act like this is so easy for you."

"It's not fucking easy for me," I growl almost too loudly. Despite the apprehension I feel about having this conversation here I lean in a little closer, lowering my voice again. "Elliot, you have no idea what I've been going through these past few days. I'm not sure how much longer I can do this."

Her eyes scan my face for a moment before she responds. "You know, that might actually mean something to me if I believed you."

If my classroom wasn't full right now, I'd drag her in and show her how much I really mean it. I can't get the words out fast enough before she slips past me. "Better get to class, Mr. Graham."

I take in a breath and count to ten before I slowly make my way to my next class.

***

Oliver decides he's in the mood for pizza tonight and convinces me to come to the main house to join him. I know the real reason is because he wants to get the enormous one that is cut into square pieces. He says they taste better that way. I don't have the heart to tell him otherwise.

"So, my father asked me about finding some seasonal help for the lodge this winter. It seems he lost a lot of the college students from last year," Oliver says after taking an exceptionally large bite.

"I could ask around," I suggest and then reach for another slice.

He nods while he continues to chew. "I think Elliot is going to work up there. She said she needs a distraction." He shakes his head. "Her life is pretty perfect to me, so I don't know what she'd need to escape from."

I pause to take a drink from my water so I don't choke. I know exactly what she wants to escape from. "Maybe I could help out, too. I don't really have much to do on the weekends, and I should probably do something to show my gratitude for having a roof over my head."

"Dude, he doesn't care. I'm basically the only one who ever stayed over there, and it wasn't for sleeping." He winks at me, and I cringe. No matter how many times I change the sheets, that thought will always cross my mind.

He shrugs. "Fuck it. I could go up there, too. We could run the lifts and check out the ski bunnies that are only in town for the weekend."

"Sounds like an activity you might enjoy."

He shoots me a look. "You used to enjoy shit like that too. I'm seriously getting concerned for your manhood. You're acting really out of character lately."

The only way out of this is to feign innocence. "You're right, man. I'm so done with relationships. Bring on the lonely housewives on vacation."

He raises his hand. "That's what I'm talking about. Finally!"

I don't leave him hanging and return his high five just as Elliot walks into the kitchen. She doesn't show her face for days and chooses this particular moment to emerge. Perfect.

The look of abhorrence on her face confirms she heard the latter part of our conversation. She pours herself a drink while pretending to ignore us.

Oliver nods to her. "Elle, we got some pizza if you're hungry. The good kind." He holds his slice up dramatically to demonstrate. "See, square."

A smile cracks on her face, and she nods. "It tastes better that way."

He shoves me in the shoulder. "Told ya, dickhead. I'm not the only one."

I just shake my head and then take another bite. Elliot surprisingly sits across from me, and I hold my breath. I have to remind myself to exhale before I pass out.

"So," Oliver says tossing a slice on her plate. "You ready for the dance on Friday? All the little bitches in my third period class were speculating if you'd be overthrown today. It seems Cameron's been campaigning pretty hard."

Elliot wrinkles her nose. "Whatever. I honestly don't care if she does. Who wants to sit on a float all summer anyway?"

Oliver's eyes widen. "Are you serious, Elle? You fucking hate to lose."

She shrugs nonchalantly before locking her eyes on me. "Some things just aren't worth fighting for anymore."

My jaw clenches and I fight the urge to break her stare. She knows damn well I can't say anything right now. A smug smile crosses my face when I suddenly get an idea. "That's a shame, Elle," I say, cocking my head slightly. "I somehow got talked into chaperoning that dance, and I would hate see a bitch like Cameron win."

"Truth, man," Oliver chimes in, between bites. He shoves the rest of his slice into his mouth. "She really is a dick."

I can almost see the color begin to drain from Elliot's face as she forces another bite. If she thinks she can hide from me, I'll just have to be everywhere she is.

"Well, I'm sure Judah would be upset if I didn't win. He's been really supportive lately."

My blood pressure begins to rise just from the sound of his name escaping her lips. I have to hand it to her, she recovers quickly when backed into a corner. I'll just have to make sure the next time I do it, she has nowhere to run.