Dorm Room 210 [Rewrite]

Chapter 9

Nikki sends a text the next day asking to join her and Pricilla for lunch. When I arrive, I find them in the back of the cafeteria, Pricilla sobbing into Nikki's shoulder. 

"Jesse," is all Nikki says as I sit down with my lunch.

"Oh." I take a seat across from them. "What did he do?"

Nikki brushes strands of Pricilla's red hair away from her face, a tender expression adorning her features. "You wanna tell her, babe?"

The tear-streak red-haired shakes her head violently, another sob exploding. Checking briefly around the cafeteria, it appears no one else seems to be concerned about Prcilla's emotional state. University students are built differently it seems.

"Let's just say," Nikki continues, continuing to play with Pricilla's hair, "when they fight, it gets verbally aggressive."

Pricilla takes deep breaths, using napkins to wipe her face, and sits up straight in the booth. Heartbreak. That's the only name I can think of when she stares with an empty expression at her untouched lunch.

Nikki touches her cheek with the palm of her hand, concern tracing every corner of her face. "You shouldn't have to put up with him, you know. I know he's our friend, but he's a complete dick."

Pricilla sounds like she's on the verge of tears. "Nik..."

Twiddling my phone, I say quickly, "Is there anything you need from us?"

Pricilla pulls away and stares up at me as though she forgot I was here. In a moment that soon vanished, she clears her throat. "I think I have a headache."

 I've never known Pricilla could be anything less than bubbly and ecstatic, but her tone is cold and detached. Nikki doesn't notice, or if she has, doesn't comment on it. "You going back to the room? We'll come with you." 

"No thanks. I just want to be alone."

Pricilla leaves seconds after her announcement, taking her half-eaten sandwich with her. I don't say anything but eye Nikki the entire time, wondering when she'll give us the signal to go after her, but her eyes don't stop following after Pricilla.

She slouches in her seat and a worry sinks into her face, removing that strong persona I've come to recognise as her. "I hate when she does that. She acts like she can handle anything thrown her way but it just makes that wall of hers stay up."

"No one should be alone when they're hurting," I say.

"Not everyone likes to depend on people with their emotions." A bite hangs on to each word she says. I try not to take it personally. "Her and Jesse have been like this since they met. She's used to it, and she prefers it that way. I've tried having her open up to me, but all I get is a rough view of the situation and then be left guessing after. Jesse ignores me. I've learned to live with it." A dry chuckle. "Makes great writing material."

My phone sits in between my thighs when I suggest, "I think we should follow her, just so she knows we're here if she needs us."

"You're a good person." Nikki sits up straight. "Just...leave it for now, okay? I'm telling you if we push it, she'll snap, and it'll get ugly."

What's the point in being friends if I can't be there when my friend is at her lowest? I want to argue with Nikki until she agrees with my idea, but the tedious, submissive part of me understands that she knows Pricilla better than I do.

Still, my gut rages to do something.

"Sorry for calling you out here." Nikki sounds sincere with her words. "I thought everything was fine until the last few minutes. It surprised me. Cil isn't great at handling emotions, and I knew she would leave the moment there was company. And I didn't want to be rude to you."