“Of course I don’t like it, Dani. I want my best friend back.”
“What? The one that wore the baggy clothes you always picked on her about? The girl who was always a pushover who you tried to get out to bars and clubs until two in the morning? The girl you forced into heels because ‘that’s what girls do’? Huh? The girl you dragged to parties that made her uncomfortable? You want that girl back?”
“Dani, that’s not what I--”
“You know what’s amazing about this scenario?”
“Dani, just take a deep breath. Please?”
I snickered. “What’s amazing is that, if I were doing any of this with you, you’d be just fine. In fact, you’d be delighted. But it’s with Max. And you don’t like that.”
“Because he’s dangerous, Dani.”
“No, because it isn’t you. Because since the first time I met you, you’re no longer the driving force in my life.”
“What?”
I nodded. “Yeah. And it makes you fume. You’re no longer the one telling me how to better myself and ‘find myself’ and ‘experience college for all it has to offer.’ And because it’s not you--but Max--that makes you upset.”
“Are you even listening to yourself?”
“I am. For once in my life, I am. And if you don’t like the decisions I’m making with it because I’m following the beat of my own drum now, then you can butt out.”
She gasped. “You don’t mean that.”
I stormed past Hannah and wrenched out of her grip. I scooped up my purse and rushed out the door, sprinting for the stairwell. I jammed myself into the door as Hannah called out after me, trying to get me to stop and talk to her. Trying to get me to come back.
I wouldn't go back, though.
Not after something like that.
My entire body trembled. It felt like fire had consumed me and turned me into a shivering pile of ash. Where in the world did all of that come from? That anger. Those words. It almost didn’t feel like me saying any of it.
But, damn, did it feel good to say.
I burst through the doors and poured out onto the sidewalk. I gazed up the facade of the building, spotting my dorm room. I slipped my purse over my shoulder and started walking. I didn’t know where in the world I was going, but I didn’t want to go back up there. While part of me wanted to tell Hannah everything, I wouldn’t. Because right now, it would only get me yelled at.
I don’t like this at all.
“Dani!”
Hannah’s voice behind me caused me to start sprinting again. I booked it for my car, pulling my keys out of my pocket. I just needed to get away from her. Away from campus. Away from all the expectations and all of the things people wanted me to do just to seem normal to them.
“Dani! Wait up! Please!”
I fumbled with my keys as I approached my car. I pressed the unlock button and tossed my purse inside. I heard Hannah’s heels clicking, gaining on me. And as I slid into the driver’s seat, I locked my car.
Just before Hannah started tugging on the other door.
“Open this damn thing now!”
She slammed her fist against the glass as I cranked the engine up.
“Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare leave again. Dani!”
I sped out of the parking space and got myself turned around.
“Dani, just stop, okay? I’m sorry!”