The rulebreaker ✔

Chapter 7: Never ask for help

(Above: Abbey; Austin's ex)

"And the winner of the poetry competition is...."

I held my breath and waited. Austin and I had met last night in the library, and we had finished our poem.

It was about the flaws of man that had led to his downfall in a future dystopian society.

I had done most of the work while Austin checked his flirtatious messages from hot chicks.

"Hey, Brown do you think this one would go on a date with me if I asked her," or "Brown what do you think about her?"

The nerve of him. Asking me for relationship advice while I was sitting there and doing his work.

After we got the work done, he insisted on dropping me to my room even though I told him it was alright.

I had edited the poem in bed and had submitted it first thing the next morning. Now Miss Willow was going to announce the winning pair who would get the day off from college tomorrow.

"...Austin and Heather!"

Austin whooped in joy and high-fived me.

"Congratulations my dears, what a beautiful poem you both wrote. You have the day off tomorrow; Enjoy!" Miss Willow told us.

The rest of the day passed in a haze. I was contented but extremely exhausted by the time I reached my dorm. I collapsed on my bed and inhaled the smell of my sheets then spread my arms and legs and stretched out across.

I heard someone clear their throat and turn around red seeing Ava there. She took no notice of my expression but looked at me with an expression of contempt.

"So...what is with you and Austin?" she asked me attempting casual conversation.

"We're friends," I told her.

"Oh, come on who do you expect to believe that; tell me what's actually going on between you both," she pressed on.

"I said we're just friends," I said gritting my teeth.

"Ok, whatever," she sighed disbelievingly.

"Why do you even care?" I asked her, "All you've done is make my life hell since I've come here."

"You really think this is about you," she scoffed. "I just wanted to know the relationship status of the hottest guy in college," she glared at me and went back to texting Olivia.

The bell rang for dinner. Today I had decided to finally go downstairs to the dining room. Even after Austin had told me where it was, I had not even had one proper meal in there. Either I had ordered from outside or starved myself or eaten a packet of chips.

Once I had also tried sitting alone, which was not a very pleasant experience. But today I had decided that I would put aside all social pressures and have one decent meal.

After giving myself a ten-minute pep talk, I changed into my pink tank top and jeans and headed downstairs.

As I entered the dining hall, I noticed most of the tables were taken. I stood in line and put some tortellini pasta and chicken parmigiana on my plate, then went and sat down on an empty table.

As I dug into my pasta, I looked around. People were sitting with their friends and laughing. They were joking and smiling.

I heard a loud laugh and turned around. I saw Austin, Ryan and a couple of other guys sitting on the table and watching a video. There were a couple of girls too. I recognised one from my legal studies class.