36. Sawyer
SAWYER
A n entire week passes with absolutely no contact from Julian. I’ve never been ghosted before, but let me tell you, it ain’t the most fun I’ve ever had. I’m pretty sure I’ve lost a few pounds. Classes start back up next week, and I have no idea how I’m going to function. I can’t eat, my sleep has been horrible, and my focus is for shit. I’m tempted to ask for my job at the mini-mart back just to keep myself busy. But I’m not sure I could handle having to be productive in any capacity right now. After I sent that last Hail Mary text, I decided to stop reaching out. I know my mom can sense something is up, but I haven’t told her anything.
The whiplash from realizing you’re in love with someone to having them abandon you is one I don’t care to experience again. I force a bowl of soup down then curl up on the couch. I turn on Cheers , and I feel the tears prick in my eyes. And like I’ve done for the last seven days, I let them fall until I drift off to sleep.
I wake up the next morning to the couch vibrating. I blink my eyes a few times, holding the phone up to my face.
102 missed notifications.
Calls from my mom.
Texts from friends from school.
Email from one of my professors.
I play one of my mom’s voicemails.
“Baby, call me, please,” she says, “I need to make sure you’re okay. How did this happen?”
Yoooooo, JULIAN EVERETT?! WHATTTTT, a text from Maddie reads.
Another text has a link to an article. I click it, and my stomach somersaults.
Julian Everett Dating Carrington University Student, the headline reads.
Oh, fuck.
Julian Everett, eldest son of Cato Everett, was seen cozying up to Carrington student Sawyer Willis at a private party at Bedell House a few weeks back. Drone footage caught the two on the grounds during what sources say was the birthday party of Julian’s stepmother, Angelina.
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuckety fuck.
The photo is blurry, but it’s clear enough to make out me over Julian’s shoulder as he carried me through the garden.
How did they know it was me?
“I’ve had a few classes with Sawyer,” says her classmate, Elle Richards. “She’s a great girl. I’m so happy that she’s happy.”
Elle Richards? I don’t even know an Elle Richards.
My heart is thudding in my chest, and I can feel the bile building up.
What do I do?
But there’s no one to ask.
Because he’s not here.
I take a breath and call my mom.
“Baby, hi,” she says. I can hear the plates clanking in the background, and I know she’s at the diner. “Are you alright? What’s going on?”
I pause for a minute. As much as I’d love to fall apart right now, I can’t. Because she’ll get on a plane. She’ll fly out here the second she knows I need her. She’ll give up her shifts and have to work doubles when she gets back to make up for it.
I swallow back the lump in my throat.
“Hey, Ma,” I say, keeping my voice as light and airy as possible. “We’re not sure how it got out yet, but I just wanted you to know I’m okay. We knew this would happen eventually. Just, uh…just keep an eye out around you. Eventually, they’ll find you too,” I tell her.
“Jeez, baby, this is a lot,” she says. “Don’t you worry about me. Are you okay?”
I quickly brush her off, desperate to get off the phone.
“Yes, yes,” I say. “Really, I’m fine. The Everetts know how to handle this, luckily. I’ll let you know how it’s all going. I promise.”
She sighs on the other line.
“Maybe I should come out there,” she says.
“No, Ma,” I say. “No. Really, I’m fine. We’re fine,” I lie.
“Alright,” she concedes. “But please call me if anything changes. Keep me posted.”
“Okay, Ma. I love you. Bye.”
My fight-or-flight is activated.
And right now, flight is winning.
I can’t go anywhere because I don’t know where is “safe.”
I can’t call anyone because I don’t have anyone who can help me navigate this.
So instead, I hole up in my apartment.
A few more days pass, and I’ve been a recluse to the world. The only person I’ve answered is my mom, and that’s only to keep up the charade that everything is fine. I’ve deleted all my social media and so far have succeeded in keeping the world at bay. But today, classes start again, and it’s time to face the music.
It would be a lot less complicated if the world found out I was dating a billionaire while I was actually in touch with him. Now, I have no idea what the fuck is happening.
But instead of letting him win, I have managed to put on real clothes, brush my teeth, and make my way to campus. It’s been a few more days since the news broke, so maybe it’s old news.
I park my bike in the same bike rack I always have, and as I step foot up onto the red brick walkway, a chill goes down my spine. This corner of campus will always hold so much weight. Despite the new pavers they put down, my eyes will always see the blood spatters and hear the screams. I shake my head and keep walking, rounding the corner onto the main quad.
I try not to make eye contact with anyone, until I am stopped by the flash of a camera in my face. Then another, then another. And then twenty or so students surround me. And then twenty or so more. And suddenly, I can’t breathe.
“Miss Willis, how long have you been dating Julian Everett?” a reporter asks, shoving a microphone in my face.
“We’re here on the Carrington campus, where Sawyer Willis, a student here who is rumored to be dating Julian Everett of the Everett family, has just arrived,” I hear another say.
“Sawyer, hey, let me get a picture!” I hear someone else say.
I can’t breathe. I push to move past them, but I can’t break free.
And then I feel a hand grab my arm. And then another hand grabs my other arm. Tyler on my right, Russ on my left. Tyler tucks me under his arm while Russ pushes through the crowd. I bury myself into Tyler as they rush me to the Escalade, thrusting me inside and peeling out of the parking lot.
I stare out the window at the mob we just escaped when I hear his voice.
“Sawyer,” he says.