To The Touch

Chapter 7

For the rest of the day Katie, Lee, and I just talked about whatever we could think of. I began to tune out of the conversation about an hour after I introduced the two of them. I felt so tired from reliving all of these old feelings. Dramatic, I know. I don't remember when, but at some point I made up a lame excuse to get out of the dorm. Lee and Kate seemed rather interested in their conversation, so I doubt they heard me leave.

Stepping out into the fresh air made me feel  bit better. I needed to pull myself together, Lee wasn't mine. I sighed and took a walk out into the quieter part of the campus. I let the sound of the hidden birds ease my thoughts as I stepped on the leaves that looked crunchiest. I stopped walking and stared quietly at the long sidewalk ahead of me while the occasional person walked by. I started back towards my dorm when I heard a woman yell. I shook myself out of the trance I was in and decided to investigate. 

As I neared the source of the yelling, I was suddenly pushed back as a girl ran passed me, crying. I watched her go and realized that it was the girl Aaron was seeing. I knew that if she was here, Aaron would be here too. I turned and looked the direction where she left from and I saw his head of hair disappear into a sea of people getting out of their classes. I thought about going after him, but decided against it. 

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I sighed as I unlocked the door to my dorm and was immediately greeted by a rather flustered and hurried Lee. I backed up as he was coming out of the room. It took him a moment to realize he was passing me. 

"O-oh sorry Tay. I just have to-" He began to stutter and started to leave. I turned back toward the door, but before I had the chance to open it, I felt Lee's warm hand pull my head toward him and leaving a kiss on my temple. I felt my heart race bit and turned to question him, but he had already turned the corner of the hall. I sighed and shook my head before entering my dorm. 

Kate was sitting on the edge of her bed, smirking in that mischievous way I knew too well. I immediately became suspicious and asked 

"So, what did you do to Lee while I was gone?" She looked my way as I took off my coat and threw it on my bed.

"Oh nothing too bad, just teased him for a bit. You should have seen him squirm, it was adorable." She said triumphantly. I rolled my eyes and took out my textbooks and sat down at our little table. 

"You're such a sadist Kate..." I replied softly, avoiding her gaze. She just laughed lightly and crawled into her bed.

"Is it really that surprising anymore Tay?" She asked from the pillow fort she slept in. I blankly stared at my textbook page, and began to regret the conversation I had started. Kate saw right through my facade and closed the book. 

"Alright Tay, cut the crap. What's been going on with you lately? Ever since these guys came back you've been a mindless zombie!" She asked, a worried tone wavering in her voice. I couldn't hold back the frustrated tears that started to fall off my cheeks, so I covered my face up with my sleeves. I heard Kate sigh softly and I felt her arms around me. 

"Really Tay, you let your feelings control you too much..." She whispered gently as I sobbed into my hands. I don't know how long we stayed like that for, but I remember feeling the warmth on my chest gently fade back into the cold rock I was familiar with. 

When I had finally come out of my depressed spell of emotions, I had realized I was laying in bed staring up at the ceiling. I rolled over and looked at my phone. The glaring bright light blinded me before I saw the time was 2:28 in the morning. I sighed and put my phone back down before rolling onto my back again. I looked back up to the ceiling and closed my eyes again before I drifted off to sleep.