Don't Catch Me!

Chapter 4 - Waking Up

Chapter 4 - Waking Up

I rolled out of bed and landed on the floor with a low moan.  Bad nights sleep.  Actually minimal sleep much tossing and turning.  I opened half an eye and looked up at the clock while trying to block out the sound.  I had finally fallen to sleep only to dream about being chased by a car being driven in reverse.  Now in the harsh light of day, I recognised the sound of my alarm as the same penetrating beeping that I had invaded my dream.

I groaned as the red numbers on the clock stung my eyes.  Hell.  I was late.  Very late.  I automatically reached out and yanked at some fabric.  Without waking I pulled on the clothing while still lying on the floor.  Then I struggled up and ran out.

It was only once I got to the bus stop that I woke enough to look at myself.  Damn.  I very discreetly pulled my arms into my shirt and swivelled in around to face the correct way before pushing my arms out again.  The man in the business suit looked at me in distain.  Great way to start the day. 

I looked down noticing the shirt, now it was on the right way around.  The stain on it wasn’t too noticeable.  No, I’d worn worse.  However somewhere deep inside me I sort of knew that plaid was really not fashionable.  Never mind, it wasn’t like any one would notice. 

It was then that I remembered him.  It was then that yesterday flashed through my memory.  Damn.  He would notice.  Damn.

Today I didn’t want him to have a reason to laugh at me.  Today I wanted him to take me seriously.  Today I wanted, no scratch that, I needed him to tell me what was going on.  I needed the truth.  My fingers had traced over his words in my physics book like they were brail, I had memorised not only the words but the way he had written them, the points where his pen had pressed harder in the effort he took to write them, and the way he had formed each letter.  He had to tell me how he knew.  How he knew the right words, or the wrong words, to use.  I had to know.

I almost fell off the bus, tripping down the stairs and practically knocked Elise over.

“Sorry,” I mumbled through a yawn.

“Shit Fran!  What the hell happened to you?  You look like crap!”

“Hmm thanks, I love you too.” 

“No seriously Fran, have you seen yourself?”

I was about to shrug as my hands tried to flatten my hair and tie it up at the same time but my task was interrupted by a low musical laugh.  My head swung around and there he was, leaning casually against a wall.  His head was hanging low, only his eyes lifted to my shocked glance.  He shook his head gently in that bemused sort of way. 

“Now that’s a guy who deserves to look as bad as you currently do.”

“What?”

“Well, let’s face it Fran, if I didn’t know better I would say you look like you engaged in some serious horizontal entertainment last night.”

“What?”

She leaned in and whispered, “Sex, you know.”

My face scrunched up in frustration, I shook my head trying to make sense of the conversation, “What are you talking about Elise?”

“Well simply this, how come you look like you have gone through a whole box of them while Nobody, and... yes look, Jessica looks like they had a full ten hours beauty sleep?” She nodded towards Jessica who was standing with the other girls looking as pristine as ever.

“But?  Jessica and... him, they...?” I stuttered on the words as I felt a strong burning sensation in my eyes.

“Yeah, we took him out to dinner last night.  He has a really weird diet and eats like a horse.  He still insists that we call him Nobody.  Jessica’s threatening to break into the records room to find his file.  He went home with her.”  She stopped and turned to me, I couldn’t move and my face clearly showed my horror. “Yeah I know,” she continued with a shrug at my expression, “He was by rights mine but you know it’s Jessica.  She’s so pretty and funny.  I can’t really compete with her...  Fran are you OK?”