Two is Plenty, Three's a Crowd

"Sade, please," Sabrina begged. "It doesn't have to be an argument. What we're asking is very simple." My shy suitemate's lower lip trembled like she was afraid of what my response would be.

Honey stepped in before I could speak. "Give her a break. She's had a really rough month."

"We'll all be having a really rough month when someone walks through our front door to kill us in our sleep because Sade can't be bothered to turn a lock," Angelica, Sabrina's roommate retorted.

"If they decide to climb six flights of stairs to murder anyone of us, it was premeditated," Honey spoke for me again.

Sabrina was in tears at this point and Angelica was obviously tired of this conversation. "Just lock the damn door, Sade," Angelica huffed, retreating to her and Sabrina's room with the teary-eyed girl on her heels.

My roommate released a sigh and turned to look at me. "You okay?" I nodded, not bothering to respond with words. This conversation wasn't worth the effort it took to think up what to say and then speak it. Over this past month, I'd opened my mouth to speak less and less and subconsciously counted my words whenever I did.

Honey's bushy brows raised at me. They were waiting for a verbal response. My best friend knew of my newfound condition and was attempting to pull me out of it. "Yes," I croaked. One.

"I'm okay." Two, three.

They nodded, contempt with my answer, and grabbed their bag and mine, and we left our home. Honey made it a habit of walking me to class and if they couldn't then Iris filled in. I'd skipped class so much this past semester that I was at risk of losing my scholarship.

"Not uh," Honey had said when they read the email from my laptop screen. "Get your ass up. You are not letting that Chica sin valor jeopardize your future." And ever since then, I'd been escorted to class by at least one-half of the couple.

It didn't take us long to arrive at the engineering building where my physics class was being held. If I could have skipped this class especially, I would have. Honey placed my backpack onto my body, helping me put my arms through the straps and I shot them a look of sorrow. "Don't, mi Corazón. Ignore her. Don't even look at her. You aren't here for her, you're here because one day my best friend is going to be the best damn aerospace engineer in existence. You're gonna be okay."

I couldn't do anything but nod in response.

"Say it."

I grimaced, hoping Honey didn't catch it. "I'm gonna be okay." Four words.

"Hell yeah, you are," Honey said with a fist bump and a kiss to my hair before running in the opposite direction towards their own first class of the day.

I took the deepest breath my lungs could hold and released it, walking into the building and taking my seat in the large classroom.

Riri was already there, in her usual seat. Unfortunately for me, that seat was one over from mine. We'd chosen to sit right beside each other at the start of the semester when our relationship was at its healthiest and before we could have imagined we'd be where we are now.

She had moved seats after we broke up, but only by one chair.

I sat in my seat and placed my backpack in the chair between us. I could feel Riri's eyes on me, but I refused to meet them. I replayed Honey's words in my head: Ignore her. You're gonna be okay.

I'm gonna be okay.

Professor Hughes walked into the room and began to speak when I noticed a folded sheet of paper slide my way into my peripheral. I side-eyed the note before turning my gaze to Riri. Her brows were furrowed and her eyes pleading. Please, they begged.