Casey returned with water and crackers, which Luna devoured by the fistful.
“You look like Cookie Monster,” Casey said.
Luna heard only the word monster.
* * *
—
Owen woke to a loud banging on his door. He checked the clock by his bed: nine a.m. Saturday morning, if he remembered correctly. It was socially acceptable to sleep until at least eleven on a Saturday or Sunday.
“Come back during business hours,” Owen said.
“Scarlet, are you in there?” said a female voice, which Owen identified as either Amber or Bobbi.
Owen tossed the covers over his head. He thought they would go away if he ignored them. They did not. There was knocking and more knocking. Female voices shouted Owen’s name, then Scarlet’s name.
“Maybe he’s out,” said Pete, Owen’s RA.
“He just told us to go away,” said A or B. “This is important. Do you have the key?”
There was further conversation, which Owen couldn’t decipher. Then another knock landed, duller but more powerful.
“Owen, open up,” said Pete.
“Seriously?” Owen mumbled.
Pete couldn’t decipher Owen’s words. And he hated using his key. No matter how many times he asked if someone was decent, he always found them indecent.
Pete knocked again and said, “Is Scarlet with you? Her friends are worried.”
“She’s not here,” Owen said.
“We should call the police,” A or B said.
“Dude, open the door,” Pete said.
Owen stumbled out of his bed and threw on his robe. He opened his door and spewed dragon breath on A, B, and Pete.
“For fuck’s sake, she’s not here,” Owen said.
“Then she’s missing,” said Amber.
“Missing?” Owen said. A and B could find drama in anything, he thought. “She probably went home with a guy or something,” said Owen.
“No one has spoken to her in twelve hours. Have you heard anything?” Bobbi asked.
“Have you tried calling her?” Owen said. Twelve hours, Owen thought. He’d be furious if anyone started hunting for him after twelve hours.
“She’s not answering. Are you sure you haven’t heard from her?” Amber said.
Owen heard an accusatory tone in her voice. He was becoming increasingly angry that Scarlet was still his problem when they were never really together.
Owen turned around and scanned his room. He riffled through papers on his desk. He tried to remember the last place he’d used his phone, but he needed coffee for that kind of complicated mental backtracking.
“I need to find my phone. And I really need a cup of coffee,” Owen said.
“So you haven’t heard from her?” Bobbi asked.
“No,” Owen said.
“You should tell your RA. There’s a procedure,” Pete told the girls, although he couldn’t remember if there was one or not.
“If you hear from her, tell her she needs to call us immediately,” said Amber.
* * *
—
While Owen was taking a shower, he remembered hanging out in Luna’s room with Mason, Casey, and Ted the night before. He’d probably left his phone at Luna’s. Post-shower, Owen strolled down to the dining hall, stuffed a banana in his pocket, and got two cups of coffee. He walked across the quad to Blake Hall, climbing two flights of stairs to Luna’s floor. He felt mildly fatigued when he reached the top landing. I’m too young to be this out of shape, he thought.
Owen was more than slightly peeved to find Ted loitering outside Luna’s door.
“She in there?” Owen said.
“Not answering,” Ted said.
Owen figured Luna was ignoring Ted and took a seat on the floor by her door.
“So, you’re just going to wait?” Ted asked.
“I’ve got nothing better to do,” Owen said.
“I bet Scarlet could use a cup of coffee,” Ted said.
“Then why don’t you bring her one,” Owen said.
“I’m not with Scarlet.”
“Neither am I,” Owen said.
He was so fucking tired of having to explain that to people.
“You’re not with Luna either,” said Ted.
“No one is with Luna,” Owen said.
Luna had confided in Owen that she was bored with Ted but hadn’t figured out the right way to end things. Owen tried to explain to her that men weren’t quite as invested in a breakup narrative, but Luna was still searching for the kindest way out. So far, she hadn’t figured out anything better than not answering her door.