Bittersweet Symphony (Bittersweet #4)(18)

“She’s all yours bud,” I mumble while putting on my shirt and shorts. I slip my feet into my Nikes and head out of the gym. I have no idea what dorm room she’s in and that scares me. I didn’t pay enough attention to detail.

My father’s words form in my mind immediately: Pay attention, Ryder. Attention to detail is important. It can be the difference between life and death. A failure, that’s what you are. A failure. A disgrace to this family and society.

I shake away the horrifying images and the words once spoken to me, willing myself to forget the hurtful things if only for a moment. I need to find K, so I text the only person who would remotely have a clue as to where she is… Mimi.

***

I pound on the door of Corey and Mimi’s apartment waiting for one of them to find their way to the door.

“You know I’m getting really sick and tired…” I hear Mimi’s voice on the other side of the door as she swears up a storm about having to answer the door.

But honestly, who else would answer it? No one would.

“Are you coming in or not, because if not, I just wasted valuable time getting up and walking over here.” Ahh, the typical Mimi. I throw her a smile before strolling in.

“I actually didn’t come here to talk to Corey or anything. I came here to talk to you.” I scratch at the back my head, nervous about the next words that will come out of my mouth.

“I will not set you up with any of my friends, so if you’re here for that, I can show you out the same way you came in,” she snarls. She actually f*cking snarled.

“She always like this?” I ask Corey, looking over her shoulder. Mimi slaps me across the chest softly to bring my attention back down to her.

“Down here, buddy. Now speak or get out because I’m not sharing my cookies.”

“The answer to your question, man, is yes she is.” Corey responds, smiling at us. Just when I think Mimi can’t get any more violent than she is, she picks up a pillow, smacking Corey right upside the head with it.

“Take it back. Now,” she growls at him. I can see the chemistry between them, the love. I can see it in Rex and Jenna too. All this time I sulked thinking that I wasn’t cared about, but looking around now, I realize I have some amazing friends.

He shakes his head at her, and I know I’m going to have to step in here real soon. Mimi might be a short little thing, but I’m positive she can hold her own in a bar brawl.

“What is it that you would like to discuss?” Her scrunched up nose and wrinkled forehead tell me she’s on the verge of a serious explosion.

“I need to find Kennedy and talk to her, but I don’t feel like going through in knocking on every single door in the west, east, and south wings.” It’s not really my thing to draw attention to myself, so I need to at least get a general idea of where she is.

“Wait a second… What are you doing with her, Ryder? Because so help me God, I will kill you if you hurt her.” Her finger pokes into my chest as she tries to make herself seem intimidating. Funny thing about Mimi is that she’s like a small, ankle biting dog; the initial bite might hurt, but her bark is nothing. And she does a whole lot of barking.

“I won’t hurt her, Mimi.” I remove her hand from my chest. I know that statement is a lie. I won’t try to hurt Kennedy, but there’s never a guarantee in life that you won’t hurt someone. Sometimes things happen, and you have to let life runs its course. That’s what it’s all about: the pain, the love, the joy, the hurt. All those emotions make up life, and I’m ready to live.

“You’re lying.” She questions me with an evil look in her eyes as she crosses her arms over her chest. She clearly doesn’t believe me, and I can’t really blame her. I’ve never done anything to prove I’m worthy of her trust. Plus I’m honestly not all that trustworthy.

“I swear to you, Mimi, that I will never lay a hand on her. I…” I grit my teeth trying to make myself say the words. Did I care about her? Yes. Did I want to admit it? No. It is a weakness. However, to be weak in the presence of someone who cares about K as much as I do to get the answer I need is worth it, right?

“I… I care about her deeply. I want to make sure she’s okay.” Mimi can see the anguish in my eyes, the vulnerability I expose by saying such a thing. If Corey’s listening, he doesn’t say anything, thankfully.

Her mouth gapes open as if she’s in a state of utter shock. Her hand lands over her heart, and I wonder if she’s going to be okay.

“Did… you just say you care about her?” I nod, gulping the saliva that has now built up in my throat. I’m totally being a * assed bitch right now, but I don’t care. I just want to find her and make it better. I don’t want to lose the one true friendship I have with someone before it even starts.

“Uhh…” Mimi says grabbing at her head. “She lives in the east wing, room 212, I think.” The minute she rattles off the numbers, I send her a gracious thanks over my shoulder and head out the door.

I take the stairs, burning off some adrenaline. God, I’m so f*cking stupid. I regret very few things in my life, but I regret telling her to leave. She poured herself out to me, and I f*cked up again.

When will you get it right, son, when? How many times do I have to pound it into your head?