the fall | abel tesfaye

chapter nineteen - remembering

My legs can't get me away from the lecture theatre fast enough before Abel grabs hold of my wrist and jolts me back to his chest.

"Is that how you thank me for making you come baby?"

"Get away from me," I hiss, flinging my wrist from his strong grip and turning away from him.

"Wait up!"

He follows me all the way to my dorm room, insisting that we stop to talk, but I refuse. This boy has gone way too far. 

"Leave me alone, Abel," I say. "I don't want anything to do with you, I thought I made that clear."

Oh yeah, you made that real clear Arabella.

I shove the door to my room open and throw my bags onto my desk.

"Can we just stop all of this?" He asks, shutting the door gently. "I'm sorry for my behaviour the past couple of weeks okay, but you don't have to do this. You don't have to shut me out."

I groan and fall onto my tiny bed. Who knew that college would come with so many complications, and it's been barely a month.

"Abel," I say, "I just don't think we are right for each other, okay? Not like that."

He cocks his head to the side, challenging my statement. "How so? After what happened before, I kinda disagree." He flashes a toothy grin at me and I shudder.

"You're... Stubborn, mean and- "

He cuts me off by placing his finger against my lips. 

"I get the point," he whispers. "But you're wrong."

I shake my head, his soft fingertip still resting on my lips. His eyes are glowing, boring deep into mine. My stomach flutters at the memory of what he did only moments ago.

"Give me your phone," he asks, almost politely. I groan but pass it over anyway.

"No spam calling me at three in the morning," I warn. He rolls his eyes, punching his phone number into my contacts list before drafting a new text to himself.

"Hey Abel, it's Arabella and I think you're the hottest-"

"Do not send that!"

The sound of the text going through echoes and I snatch the phone back from his hands. "You're an idiot."

"An idiot you're so very into," he winks at me and with that, turns to leave the room. I huff and close my eyes as I lie against my very uncomfortable mattress.

-----

I wake up to the sound of the dorm room door slamming shut. "Go away Abel," I groan, still half asleep.

"Definitely not Abel."

The sound of Monique's voice rings through the room and I jolt up. She eyes me suspiciously but doesn't say a word. 

"Where have you been?" I ask.

"Out," she says shortly. "Maybe doing a little shopping. She throws her abundance of bags onto her bed and giggles. "Okay, maybe a bit more than a little."

I force a smile and nod at her, before rising from the bed. I can feel the tension between us; something isn't quite right.

"Is everything okay?"

She shrugs her shoulders and begins to unpack her shopping.

"I'm serious," I say. "Tell me what's going on."

She huffs and turns to face me, drawing her fists to her hips. "Remember that dinner you were supposed to come to?"

My stomach drops. Oh no, the dinner.

"Shit, Monique, I'm so sorry- "

She holds up her hand to stop me, and I cock my head at her. 

"Hayden dumped me that night."

I furrow my brows. "What? Why?"

She shakes her head and looks to the floor. "He got really mad at me when I said you weren't coming, that you'd probably forgotten about it. I was so confused why he reacted the way he did, but then I realised... It was you he's wanted all along. And I just feel so stupid, I- "

She bursts into tears and I run to her, pulling her in for an embrace.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," I tell her. "Don't worry about him, honestly. We knew he was an asshole to begin with."

Something is just not right about Hayden. Something definitely isn't right. 

"I know, I just feel so helpless. I'm so sorry for not listening to you sooner Ara. I promise from now on, I won't be so quick to jump to conclusions."

I nod my head and tell her it's okay. 

My phone buzzes from my desk and I look over to see who's calling. 

"Shit, it's work," I say, hurrying over to it. "Hello?"

"Arabella, it's Will. How are you doing?"

"I'm well, is everything okay?"

"We've had a few people call in sick, and I was wondering if you're available today to come help around the store? Nothing too taxing, we just have a few things to be labelled and put away in time for next week's recordings. We have some big artists coming in!"

I mouth I'm sorry to Monique before agreeing to come in and leaving with my stuff. She nods and shoos me away as I walk out the door and hurry for the next bus.

-----

"Ah Arabella, I'm so glad you could make it!" Will greets me as I enter the record studio. "Please, set yourself up in room 2B just over there. I have everything in there, ready to go. Don't get too overwhelmed though, help is on the way very soon!"

"Thank you sir," I say, making my way over to where he directed. I slowly open the door, revealing a room full of boxes, records, tapes and labelling devices scattered amongst the floor, tables and chairs. A piano is situated in the far right corner of the room, and I catch myself staring at it. I haven't played in years; I'd love to get back into it.

I walk over to it, stroking its grand keys. Pulling out the rectangular seat in front of it, I take a seat and admire its beauty. It looks to be almost fifty years old, with ageing wood and faded keys.

I let my fingers roam freely over the keys, playing songs that unlocked so many memories. I had completely lost myself in the sound of the music that I didn't even notice someone standing behind me. A large hand slides down my shoulder and rests on my upper arm, and I know exactly who it is. I could recognise that touch without ever having to open my eyes.

"You play so beautifully."