d into glowing halos in the rain

old snort and tur

d, but the banquet

ging mops across the floor, leaving streaks of water behind. Gusts of col

this desolate night, she wasn't sure if she sho

familiar car slowly pulled up to the en

through the rain, throwing herself int

zing to dea

he leaned over and ruffled her hair. "I'm so sorry. The rain wa

ay. Guilt rushed in instead, and she softened her tone. "I was ju

let out a long sigh. "How could I enjo

smile, twisting in her seat to look a

o answer, but Emily cut i

ea

roommate. They had stayed c

ssier by the day

ced at her. "What

wearing cologne." Emily leaned over and sniffed near Carlos's neck. "A light, spe

ly, shifting the topic. "How

at guy-seriously! We scheduled the interview and he just flaked

e hand to ruffle her hair again. "Capitalis

little annoyed. "What's with you and

her makeup. She kicked off her heels and collapsed onto the couch.

, she suddenly remembered-she hadn't

om the couch lik

in her shoulder bag. Frustrated, she dumped out all

her steps. It couldn't have been stolen-not

r at Warner Manor

lax until she found it. So she grabbed her

clearer. But what confused her was the loca

en stolen

into Carlos's car with it in han

she left it in Carlos's car-

los go to the hos

lness? An

. She jumped up, changed pa

Without her phone, she couldn't call a ride. She waited more th

d of night. The scent of disinfectant hung h

car door, rain

face with one hand and looked around.

ut her phone, she had no idea how

gan to ache. Sweat broke out on her back, her steps unsteady as she made her way toward th

into a puddle and stum

parked car, sparing her from a

glanced at the car logo-

nse plate. Trouble. Someone might

trudged forward, her um

from the building

she could clearly see the m

his arm aro

s wearing Car

et Emily had

She tried to re

kind. Maybe he came to visit someone sick.

e woman hug

hand to ruffle her h

y felt the rain pierc

ears in her eyes, faces close en

was being said-but she could see the woman's

an tiptoed-an

s as if she had se

my eyes, you better

d I'll listen to

, frowning tightly, s

ne beca

n't pushed

issing h

gently encir

er, as if trying to

a movie screen with the lights turned o

he hadn't l

ushed about a cute junior, and they all

thought. Not

t about h

fallen for Emil

th flowers, confessed publicly, even sang love so

refused the gifts and flowers,

los would give up qu

duated and started interning at a

etween interviews on Wall Street, writing articles deep into the night,

e, and during that bleak period, Car

d-it was over the phone. Carlos had been so excited, he immed

ng going for him," they'd say. "Average backgro

, "He's so genuine. T

hings change

rned to the h

saw the embracing couple,

perfect

understan

tachme

ffling habi

oyce" w

fume might have bel

ing through the storm in th

to the situation. She had every rig

eet would

allow her to cause a sc

ent moment, Emily

wet from rain-may

et he had given her, and carefully hooked it onto the

ilver chain until it trembled in the win

expressive eyes,

ever