Wasn't Drama Like This Supposed to End in Highschool?

Chapter 7

Wasn't Drama Like This Supposed to End in High School?

Chapter 7

Maggie's POV

The following week passed by in a blur of classes and new experiences. I went to my first Dayton party ever. Not exactly the rager I was expecting, but I heard they got better once you knew where to look. I met even more people. This one kid named Stephen was hilarious. He introduced himself after he started hanging out with Jude and Gabe. I knew we were gonna be good friends.

I worked out at the rec plenty and ate my weight in amazing food at the dining halls. Dayton food was definitely way better than the average University's.

I found out important things about my friends. Like Lacey had seven siblings, but was the oldest, which I guess contributed to her somewhat bossy nature. Meghan was a product of divorce which explained her obvious insecurities about...well, everything. Matt and Andrew didn't party or drink at all. Stephen was practically an alcoholic. Jude and Jake were somewhere in the middle of the two. Gabe was a soccer god. And Paolo was still adorable.

By the end of my first week I had barely thought about Michael's cryptic statement at the rec. I didn't have time to. And apparently he didn't either.

"What are you staring at Maggie?" Lacey poked me from across the table where we were sitting for lunch between classes.

"Oh, nothing. Just nothing, you know?"

"Huh?"

I was staring at Michael and Mariana enjoying their lunch across the room. But I'll be damned if I actually admit that to anyone.

"Nothing, Lace. Let's get to class."

"Ughh, you will tell me eventually!"

But she dropped it, because she knew I would only get more annoyed.

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They tried again in physics, my last class of the day. A wad of paper came out of nowhere and smacked me on the side of my face.

"What??" I practically screamed, being finally awoken from my mid-physics class nap.

The entire class turned to stare at me, including the professor.

"Sorry" I mumbled as I lowered my head to notice the paper bomb that had attacked me.

I unrolled the crumpled paper to read the practically-typed-it-was-so-neat handwriting. A note? Wow, I really am back in high school.

'Are you ok? Cuz you don't look ok, little Mendoza.'

Ugh, Andrew. What was he trying to accomplish with this? And was I really that transparent that everyone could see that I was still upset about Michael? I quickly scribbled back my reply and calmly handed him the paper instead of throwing it at him.

'Yes I'm fine, why does everyone keep asking me that?'

He wrote back quickly,

'Because you don't look fine. And no offense...it's kinda obvious.'

Ugh

'I'm totally ok, really.'

"Sure, if you say so little munchkin."

'Well if you're so smart why don't you just figure it out yourself?'

'Stop sending death stares to Michael and we'll talk...'

Great, they've found me out. I turned to Andrew and stuck my tongue out at him. Immature, I know. But it was the best comeback I could think of at the time.

He grinned at me and tossed another paper at me, only this time I didn't scream.

'Aw little Mendoza, I think I struck a nerve.'

I didn't answer him for the rest of class.

I wasn't used to people being able to read my emotions so easily like this. With Lacey I think she was just lucky. But Andrew seemed to know things that I didn't even know about myself.

How was he able to know I was angry with Michael before I could even admit it? It was a weird feeling, Andrew knowing things. And I didn't like it.

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After classes and study hall I managed to sneak away from everyone and head down to the lounge to be alone. I just needed to think about things. Michael, Andrew, the homesickness that was starting to creep in. It was all clouding my mind. I was just about to drift off when...

"Maggie?"

I jumped about a five feet in the air out of pure fright. Strong hands pushed me back down and those same hands, gentle now, massaged my back to calm me down. Matt grinned down at me, trying to hide his laugh.

"You seem kinda jumpy."

"I get startled easily."

"I can see that."

"Well thanks for calming me down" I tried to play it off like it was nothing, but his touch had me feeling a little light headed.

"Yea"

Oops, I forgot how shy this guy was. I could see I would be doing most of the talking here.

"So.....what's up, Matt?"

He looked me hard in the eye, as if trying to see into my soul. It was magical.

"Are you ok?" He broke the trance. I frowned.

"What?"

"Are you ok?" He repeated.

I couldn't help it. I just snapped.

"Oh my gosh, why does everyone keep asking me that?? I am FINE! Totally, 100 percent and completely fine. Why can't you all just leave me alone? I barely know you all!! I DON'T know you all. There is NOTHING wrong with me!"

Before I could even realize it, I was in tears. My whole body was shaking and I couldn't control it. The involuntary sobs coming from me were loud and obnoxious and I was afraid someone would hear.

I closed my eyes, unwilling to see Matt's reaction. He was probably freaked out. He was probably getting ready to leave. He probably didn't want to be my fried anym-

Suddenly his arms encompassed me. I was shocked. He pulled my hands from my tear stained face and placed them around his torso. Then he pulled me even tighter against him. I was pressed against his warm body and even though he said nothing, I felt safe.

He held me like that for a long time, then walked me back to my dorm room.

"Get some sleep...please."

"Matt, I'm so sorry about that. I can't thank you enou-"

"You're fine" he interrupted "Get some sleep."

I smiled at him and closed my door. I whispered a quiet "thanks" again on the other side. There was something about this boy that completely intrigued me. He was different. He never really talked. But his few words hit home more than a million words from any other person. I lay in bed that night with many thoughts swirling around in my head until I was finally able to get some sleep.