Free Even the Moon Has Scars by Steph Campbell Page B

sidewalk. I stop and he nearly bumps into me.
    “I’m was kidding,” he says.
    “Of course you were,” I say. “I don’t know, if my parents had it their way, yes, I’d stay close to home. But if I’m honest, part of the appeal of moving away is not giving them what they want. For once. That’s childish, right?”
    Gabe shakes his head. “Maybe it is. But I understand completely.”
    “Is this...?” We stop in front of a low tree stump. Tiny plaques are hammered into it with the painted words: “Mr. Sanders” and “POOH.” The top of the roof is covered in tiny, handmade shingles under the thin layer of snow.
    It’s Pooh’s house from Winnie the Pooh .
    “Who would’ve thought these brains would’ve been so creative, huh?”
    “It’s perfect,” I say. “I once had a stuffed polar bear named Mr. Sanders.”
    Gabe smirks. “That’s cute. Mine was a pig. Oinky. Clearly not as imaginative as you.”
    “This little house,” I say, walking around to inspect the other side of it. “Surrounded by all of these people, just walking by every day, living their lives…” I let my voice trail off, realizing the next thing I say is going to sound ridiculous.
    It feels like my home.
    Everything around me feels vibrant and beautiful and I just can’t quite touch any of it.
    “Finish,” Gabe presses. I look up at him and his eyes are dark and serious. He’s leaning forward, like he’s hanging on every ridiculous word I’ve said.
    Before I can answer, a security guard passes us and Gabe dips his head a little. It's probably just a coincidence but it’s odd.
    “What are you doing? On the run from campus security or something?” I joke.
    “Not exactly,” Gabe says.
    I stop walking.
    “Well, what exactly?” I feel the prick of nervousness on the back of my neck, and the tiny hairs stand up. I want to stomp the feelings out because I want the night to continue, but the truth is...I don't know this guy at all.
    “Okay, it's not even a huge deal, it's just this place in particular. I'm —I'm not supposed to be here.”
    “At Harvard?”
    “Yep,” Gabe says. He wraps his arm around me and walks a little faster, leading me to the exit.
    “What'd you do?” I ask.
    “I'd really rather not talk about it.”
    “Gabe, I don't understand.” How do you get banned from a school that you don’t even attend?
    “It's fine, Lena, let’s just go. There's plenty more of the city to see.”
    “What happened?”
    “Stop,” he says. He stops short and pushes the hair off of his forehead.  Suddenly, everything feels still and quiet, except for his word echoing. Stop. “I said I don't want to talk about it.”
    I want to press, but in truth, I hardly know him. I’m not anything to him, and because of that, he doesn’t owe me anything. But that doesn’t mean I have to spend any more time with someone who won’t talk to me. Someone I don’t know, and really, could be anyone.
    The sun is now completely down and the purple hues of the sky have given in to the dark light.
    I let Gabe walk a few steps ahead of me without trying to keep up this time.
    When we get to a crosswalk, it’s already on the end of the WALK signal. I watch as Gabe crosses, but I’m pushed out of the way by a tall man. I stumble backward, into the crowd and hurry to right myself before I’m pushed back again.
    “Gabe!” I call out, but I can’t see him around the thick group of people.
    In an instant, I have imagined every possible, terrible scenario that could happen if I don’t find him. I have to try to find his apartment building and wait for him there. I have to promise Bruce I’ll pay him back if he calls my parents so they can tell me how the hell I’m supposed to get home. I’m in a city I don’t know, with no money and no cell phone.
    My chest tightens and the tips of my ears warm.
    “Gabe!” I call out even though it’s pointless. I push past another group of people to get to the front of the crowd and don’t see