Alone Awaken

Chapter 37: Remi

The passenger side of my car squeals open when I get out. My boots hit the ground and it takes every ounce of my stiff muscles to push myself out of the car. The last two hours have been entertaining but my body is happy to be standing and walking. Colton's already by my side closing the door behind me and reaches for the backseat door. I reach my arms up and stretch to both sides feeling the cold breeze fill Colton's jacket as it makes it way up the hem.

"Fuck it's cold." I wrap my arms around my waist and start stepping side to side to get my blood moving. Colton swings my bag over his shoulder with ease while his backpack hangs off his shoulders.

"Come here." He opens his arm and I slide into his side, wrapping my arms around his waist. We hold each other together on the walk back to my dorm, supporting one another, connected. It's felt like that the second he said I love you. It felt in that moment complete. That we were meant to be together, destined. And I do not plan to change that, nothing can change this.

Moments later we reach the main campus and I slowly peel away from the man I can't live without. "You sure you're ok walking back to the apartment? I could've dropped you off."

Colton lowers my bag to the ground and steps forward. His movements alone make my toes curl. He slides his hand in my hair and looks down into my eyes.

"I would have made you stay." His eyes go dark. "And we'd never leave."

I bite my lip and smile because I know exactly what he means.

"Well thanks for being a gentleman because I would not have been a lady." I wink at him and he slams his lips into mine. He inhales through his nose heavily and I open my mouth to let him in. The passion I feel with only his kiss. I want more. Colton stills and slowly pulls his lips from mine. I can't help but give a small cry when the warmth of him is gone.

"Lady in the streets-" Colton whispers.
"But a freak in the bed." I finish his quote knowing damn well it was from Ushers club song Yeah! His mouth drops and I give him a sly smile as I grab my bag.

"I don't know how you do it." Shaking his head in disbelief. "But I fucking love you." He opens the door for me to let me in.

"I fucking love you too." And I brush his lips one last time before I turn on my heels leaving him for the warmth inside. I look back after a couple steps and he waves to me one last time through the glass door. I give him a small wave back and force myself up the stairs before My body runs back to him for the night.

I finally find my keys through my duffel bag by the time I reach my room passing fellow students slowly coming back from break too. The next couple weeks are going to be tough, waiting for the semester to be over and spending the entire winter break home with Colton. My stomach warms with butterflies just imagining it. That feeling suddenly sank to my feet when I open my room and the lights are on. Something's not right. I peer to the mirror by my sink and see nothing. Did I leave the lights on? I walk in, placing my bag against the door to keep it open. I step forward and I see my duffel bag skid past me into my room and the door slams shut. My heart stops and my eyes dilate.

"You never leave for break." The words stung my ears, that voice I always thought was nice and welcoming. A voice I trusted until this very moment. I turn my head to see if I was imagining it. This has to be a nightmare. This can't be real. I see him. Nick.

The rest of my body turns to face him. He's not the Nick I see everyday smiling behind the RA desk. No, this Nick looks like he hasn't showered or rested in days. His eyes are rimmed with darkness and his hair is unkept. This isn't good. Run. Scream. Do something! But my body won't. It's frozen where I stand.

"Say something." He takes a step towards me and my body moves back. Good, you can move.

I slowly turn my back to the wall and lean against the sink. The door is just a reach away but I don't look at it. Nick is stalking my eyes, trying to read what I'll do next. He's too close and I don't know what he will do if I scream. Talk to him.

"Why.. why are you in my room?" I cross my arms willing myself to act like nothings wrong.

"I was waiting for you to come back." He reaches his hands out to me as if I'll take them in my own. I bring my arms tighter to my body. He notices my response and rubs his hands through his hair instead. "I am suppose to be looking after you, it's my job and you left. I couldn't protect you from harming yourself. You need me." He places his hands over his heart as if he's confessing his indefinite love for me. My stomach coils. Get out.

I slowly lean off the sink unfolding my arms. So close to the door. "I'm sorry Nick. I just-needed to see my parents." Nick looks down at his shoes for a moment as if my apology was everything he needed. In a split second, I turn the knob and sprint as if my life depended on it.

"You bitch!" Nick bellows and my heart starts pounding.

"Help! Someone help!" I scream at the top of my lungs racing for the stairs. I slam into the railing  without looking  back and whirl down the stairs. My heart beats in my ears and I can't hear if he's behind me. Don't stop. Go. My body telling me to keep descending, so I do. The adrenaline keeps pumping and I'm rushing the main floor. My legs telling me to go outside through the glass doors. I hear someone from the RA desk yelling, but I can't understand them. I only know the only place I can be safe.

I push the glass doors with force and I scream at the top of my lungs "COLTON!" I keep running, moving, I know he's there. My throat burns with the cold air that's forced down my throat, down my lungs to keep moving, to keep running. The cold hurts so much that panic builds. Tears start running down my face and sobs are leaking from my chest. Don't give up keep running.

I wipe the tears from my blurred eyes and I see him. Running. Faster than I've ever seen him on the fields. We don't stop, we keep running together, towards each other, until I slam into his chest and he pulls me around. My body goes limp and I almost fall. I feel Colton lowering me slowly to the ground and I close my eyes.

"Remi what's wrong, baby open your eyes." I can't open them but I hear faint footsteps walking to us. Stalking us.

"Nick." I whisper. "Behind you." I feel Colton let go of my body and I feel the concrete against my fingers, the ice cold. So familiar. It shocks my eyes open. Colton.

"You son of a bitch!" Colton takes one swing across Nick's nose. I hear a crack and see Nick slump to the ground. Colton reaches down and grabs Nick's shirt pulling his arm back to strike again.

"No!" I rasp. "Colton, no. Please. Come back." Colton pauses for a second. He wants to punish Nick, he wants to beat him until he bleeds out. I know he wants to, I can feel his want. But he pushes Nick to the ground instead.

Colton rushes back to me a second later pulling me into his arms and picking me up. He cradles me tight against his chest and I can hear his heart pounding in my ear. His rhythm slows me into darkness.