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from time to time to pick up more clothes.
    When Lacey ran into her at school a few weeks later, she did a double take. Jane had always been slim, but now she looked skinny to a level that had to be unhealthy.
    “Jane!” Lacey called out.
    Jane saw her and turned and walked in another direction.
    Lacey ran her down. “Avoiding me now?” she asked furious.
    “I’m not avoiding you,” Jane lied.
    But she was, and that was something she was not even able to accept herself. She knew Wyatt was not crazy about Lacey and thought she was a bad influence. If she didn’t see Lacey, she could talk herself into the idea that she was not doing it on purpose, that they were both just busy. She missed her friend, but it was almost as if a line had been drawn in her mind. On one side, she had Lacey and on the other Wyatt. She had to do everything in her power to keep Wyatt, so there was nothing else she could do.
    “Darling,” Wyatt said, walking up to Jane and putting his arm around her shoulders with her back to him.
    “Is she bothering you, dear?” He asked, eyes locked on Lacey’s.
    “No, Wyatt. Lacey was just saying hello."
    “Fine. Well, say goodbye, Jane. We have somewhere to be."
    Jane raised her eyes to Lacey and did her best to say how she felt through her eyes. “Sorry Lace, I have to run."
    She turned in Wyatt’s grasp so that now she was beside him instead of in front, and they made their way. A few yards away, Jane turned her head back to look at Lacey and smile. Wyatt, with his arm still around her shoulders, noticed the direction of her glance and said something in her ear. She instantly turned forward and did not look back again.
    Lacey walked to a bench nearby and sat trying to wrap her brain around what had just happened. She got an email later that week from Jane letting her know she would officially be moving out of the dorm they shared and into Wyatt’s apartment. Jane sent an email instead of calling or talking to Lacey in person because she wasn’t sure if she could actually go through with it.
    Wyatt’s place did not feel like home as her dorm with Lacey had. With the exception of her clothes in the closet and the dresser and stuff in the bathroom, there was nothing there that was hers. She felt as though she were a guest, and Wyatt was very picky about his things. A maid did come weekly to change the sheets and do his laundry, in addition to cleaning the apartment. Between her visits, Jane did her best to keep everything just so. Wyatt would get annoyed if he turned on the TV, and it was tuned to one of her channels. He also railed at her if she shed anywhere. She could understand why a random strand of hair would bother him so much. She considered cutting her hair but knew he preferred it long.
    Her clothes hung on her. She could see she had lost weight. She was just under so much stress with school and trying to keep Wyatt happy. When he mentioned to her, off hand, that they would be spending the summer with his parents at their beach house she felt even more stressed. She wished she had time to sketch or paint, but Wyatt did not like her supplies at his place. She could only work at the studio on campus, but he didn’t like her working there because it was a communal space. So unless she was at her parent’s house, she basically didn't pursue it.
    One night they were going to a party at the home of one of Wyatt’s fraternity buddies. It was warm out so Jane wore an embellished tank and a simple skirt. In the car Wyatt seemed annoyed about something so Jane asked if everything was all right. He shrugged in response, not answering.
    When they got there, Wyatt walked ahead of her, leaving her to walk in alone. Jane hated walking into parties or clubs or just about any situation alone. She felt eyes on her as she entered the house. The place was crowded, and she did not recognize anyone she knew in the front room. She made her way through the house towards the kitchen, hoping Wyatt would be