I Just Need You - J. Nathan Page 0,14

glanced to the desk. The live camera feeds on the monitor displayed the hallway, exits, basement, and stairwells. The dark one was for Kresley’s room. I climbed out of bed and stood in front of the monitor. It was forbidden to check her room unless we had reason to do so. But if I just peeked to see if she was asleep, I could attempt to get some sleep of my own. As if that would be a pleasant experience.

I knew it was wrong, but I switched on the camera feed anyway. What I didn’t expect to find was Kresley pacing the floor. Our cameras were state-of-the-art and high-definition, so there was no denying what I was seeing. She’d told me she didn’t sleep. I just thought she was being dramatic.

I watched the camera feed for at least ten minutes and not once did she stop pacing. She paced in a straight line. Then she switched it up and walked in a circle. Was she trying to put herself to sleep? Was she scared to close her eyes? I wondered if her insomnia began before or after Paris. Hold up. It wasn’t my responsibility to figure out why she wasn’t sleeping. It was my responsibility to protect her.

I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. Now that I knew she didn’t sleep, was I supposed to do something with that information? Was I supposed to tell Marco? And, how would that conversation go? ‘Hey, Marco, while totally disregarding protocol and switching on Kresley’s camera feed, I saw she doesn’t sleep.’

Yeah. No, thanks.

A text pinged on my phone.

I opened my eyes and checked my screen. Bathroom

I quickly switched off the feed to her room, as if she could somehow sense I had it on, and moved to the door. I opened it at the same time Kresley opened her door. She walked out without saying a word, unaware that I’d been watching her. She moved down the hallway, waiting outside the bathroom, knowing the drill. I moved past her, checking it and walking out a minute later. “All clear.”

I leaned against the hallway wall while she took care of business. When she stepped back out, I followed her to her room. She opened the door and moved inside.

“Hey,” I said, stopping her before she closed the door.

She glanced back to me, her red eyes indicating her need for sleep.

“Do you want me to sit out here tonight?” What the fuck was I doing?

She tilted her head. “In the hallway?”

I shrugged. “Just thought it might give you peace of mind.”

She shook her head. “I’m fine.” She turned and closed her door, leaving me standing alone in the empty hallway. And, despite her usual show of bravado, she was far from fine.

I moved back inside my room, and against my better judgment, I flipped on her room feed. Call it curiosity. Call it me calling her bluff. But I proceeded to watch her pace her floor until five in the morning when the sun began to rise and she finally slipped into bed.

There was no way she could continue going to school during the day and staying up all night. She’d eventually break, and that would be on me. Because, while I shouldn’t know she didn’t sleep, I was the only one who fucking knew she didn’t sleep.

God dammit!

Kresley

Not sleeping at night was definitely beginning to wear on me, so when Elodie and Alice invited me to a frat party Friday night, I was all in. Drinks and partying would definitely wear me out. Then I’d sleep. Nightmares be damned. I informed Marco about the plan to go to the party, and he instantly took off for the frat house. I pitied the frat guys who had to deal with him.

When it was time to get ready, I slipped on some skinny jeans, a sleeveless navy top, and nude Louboutin heels. I curled my hair in loose waves, brushed on some blush and eye shadow, and swiped a pass of gloss across my lips.

Around nine, there was a knock on my door.

“It’s us!” Elodie and Alice announced at the same time.

I smiled and opened the door to find them both giggling.

“Are you two already drunk?” I asked.

Alice shook her head while Elodie nodded. Though amusing, it was their big eyes that told me there was more to their giddy behavior.

I stuck my head out into the hallway. Tristan stood against the wall in black on black staring down at his