The dorm was too quiet. No noise from the hall. Just me, Val, and everything we weren’t saying.

I shut the door behind us.

The click sounded louder than it should have.

Val stayed near the center of the room, tense like she was ready to bolt if I said the wrong thing. Her eyes flicked briefly toward the half-packed bag still sitting on my bed.

I noticed.

So did she.

“Sit down,” I said.

“No.”

The answer came too fast.

I almost argued.

Didn’t.

Instead, I crossed the room ...