“Are you sick?” my roommate, Eden, asks.

“Yes,” I answer as I stare into the tiny mirror in the bathroom.

“A stomach bug? Migraine? Hangover? What?” Eden asks.

“Migraine,” I answer, hoping that it will be enough to get her to stop talking.

I love Eden. She is my best friend. I’ve known her my whole life. We do everything together. We are in the same classes. Lived in the same towns. But I regret living with her, even for a few weeks. She is nosy and isn’t afraid to tell me like it is. Even when I don’t want to hear it.

“I’ll get you some Advil,” she says, her heels clicking on the hardwood floor as she walks away from the bathroom door.

I exhale slowly while I glance at my watch. I have to leave in two hours if I want to get to Carini’s party at a decent time. I’ve been anxious about going ever since I overheard some townspeople talking about it last night. I haven’t started getting ready at all. I didn’t bring a fancy dress with me. I’ll have to find something in one of the local shops since I can’t ask Eden to let me borrow a dress of hers. If I do, she will grow suspicious that I’m not really sick. And it takes me hours to get my stick-straight brown hair to curl and resemble anything other than a boring mop of hair.

Eden’s heels start clicking along the old, hard floor that gives and squeaks as she walks across it, making me cringe with each step. She knocks on the bathroom door, and the rattling of the rickety door is enough to drive me insane.

“I couldn’t find the Advil in your purse. Is it in the medicine cabinet?” she asks.

I open the cabinet and pick up the small container of Advil. I dump the contents into the toilet and then flush.

“Yes, but it’s empty.” I open the door. “I’ll have to go to the store to get some more.”

I walk past Eden, ignoring her critical stare. I know she cares about me, and that is the reason for her studied look, but she doesn’t have to make me feel so guilty all the time.

“I can get you some Advil before I go to the lecture tonight,” Eden says, following me to my bedroom.

I walk over to my closet, find my black leather jacket, and put it on. “No need. I know you want to get a front row seat since Professor Patrizio is your favorite. Take good notes for me. I’ll pick up some food and put it in the fridge for you. You can warm it up when you get back. I’m going to just take a bath, after I get some medicine and food, and then go to bed early.”

I grab my purse and start to walk past her. Eden steps in front of me, preventing me from leaving.

I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear while I try to stay calm even though I can practically hear the second hand of my watch ticking loudly, reminding me that each second is another one I’m missing Arlo’s attention at his party.

“Do you need me to pick up something for you at the store while I’m there?” I ask, attempting to act casual even though I can hear the annoyance dripping off every word I say, and I know Eden doesn’t miss it either.

“I don’t believe you.”

I narrow my eyes. “What don’t you believe? I have a migraine. I’m going to the store and then to the bakery on the corner to get something to eat, and then I’m going to bed.”

Eden smirks. “You really think I’m going to fall for your act? You do realize that I know you better than that.”

“I have a migraine! And every second that I have to stay here and hear your voice or your heels clicking on the floor or your music pounding through the apartment is making the migraine a million times worse. Now, get out of my way so that I can go get more Advil,” I say, trying to push past Eden.

She doesn’t budge though. She stands firm.

We are almost identical in height and strength. The only real visible difference between the two of us is hair color. Hers is black while mine is brown. But both of our hair is long and straight, hitting mid back. Our eyes are both dark, and our skin is olive brown. Almost everyone who meets us assumes we are sisters.

If I try again, it’s going to lead to a fight, which is going to make me far too late for Arlo’s party. I close my eyes and then slowly open them to try to keep from doing just that.

“Just tell me what you want to say, so we can get whatever fight is about to happen over with,” I say.

“I’m not going to fight with you, Nina. I love you, and I want to make sure you are okay. You’ve been doing so well these last few months, and I just don’t want one misstep to ruin everything.”

I smile. “Don’t worry. I’m fine. Promise. I have a migraine.”

She shakes her head. “I took some Advil yesterday. We had almost a full bottle.”

I frown.

“And I saw you yesterday…” Eden says.

I narrow my eyes, trying to understand. “What do you mean?”

“I saw you with Mr. Carini in his office. I know you, Nina. He’s hot and mysterious and rich. And you want him. He turned you down, and now, you won’t stop until you’ve fucked him every which way. You’ll stop going to classes. You’ll only think about him.”

There is no point in lying to Eden. “So, I’m obsessed. I’ve been good for months now, and we are here for only four weeks. What damage could I really do?”

“A lot of damage. He’s dangerous, Nina. The whole town says so.”

“I can’t fight it, Eden. He pulls me in just like all the rest of them. Every day that I resist, the pain gets worse. My stomach is in knots, and I really do have a migraine.”

Eden stares into my eyes with a sadness that I haven’t seen since my father’s funeral. “I know.”

“Then, you know that I have to see him again.”

She sighs. “I know.”

“I have to fuck him.”

“I know.”

“Maybe, after I do, I’ll be able to leave him alone.”

Eden nods even though I know she doesn’t believe me. She tightly hugs me.

“I’ll be careful,” I promise.

She lets me go. “And I’ll be here to pick up the pieces when you aren’t careful enough.”

I smile, and this time, when I try to walk past Eden, she lets me.

“You can borrow my dress. The black lace one that makes your boobs look amazing.”

“Thank you,” I say.

She knows me too well and is willing to help me even though she knows the trouble I’m about to get myself into. She’s been there when I’ve fallen apart and almost ruined my life. I know she’ll keep her promise to pick up the pieces that I leave in my wake. I just wish, for once, I could keep my promise and be careful.