One Way Ticket | a love story

Chapter Twenty

There were quite a few papers on the table, each file consisting of a plan for a different meal. The dinner one was the most complicated one. The waiters had to put lamps right in the middle, the salt and pepper had their special place along with the tablecloths that were supposed to be put the same exact way on each table along with the setup of everything in the restaurant. I sighed out and moved on to lunch, scratching my nose and humming a melody while reading. Lunch was mostly up to the waiters, and the bar worked the same way all the time. I have already gotten used to the job even if I worked for only two hours.

The lunch shift soon started and I continued working, not bothered by anything and it was all over soon. A couple of cocktails came in and I made a few coffees before the need for a break kicked in. But before I could go on a break, lunch ended so I gladly left the restaurant to the room. After a long shower, I left no warm water and went to bed, desperate for a good nap. My alarm didn't ring so I felt somebody shaking my shoulder and as I woke up and looked at them, Sam placed a kiss on my forehead.

- Get ready, class is starting soon. - they whispered and I slowly got up and went to my bag, grabbed some random clothes to wear along with my bag which had my laptop and notebook inside.

We went out of the hotel and the cold breeze brought me back to real life. To the life where I was supposed to go study and ask my mysterious girl out, the life of a nerd, bookworm and an introvert that spent his days in the library, working and going around the city. I was that guy days ago but now I was never going to return to that life. But my life now feels much better and I enjoy it much more.

I don't have to think about my problems, just about the happening moment and nothing else matters. Sam was talking about something and soon noticed my distracted and tired state. Their arm wrapped around my shoulder as we walked into campus. I saw Mona in the distance but didn't even try to get her attention. Looks like everyone has evening classes tonight. This one was two hours and we were getting out at nine pm.

Mona was standing with Layla and her. With my library girl and they were laughing. Layla was the first one to notice us and tapped Mona on her shoulder. I had my phone in hand and looked through the emails I didn't reply to when the group walked up to us and made us stop walking.

- So this is your new boyfriend? - Mona raised a brow.

- What was your name again? Sam? - Layla chuckled and I flashed her a glare. - You think you're such a bad boy, huh? You used all of us for your own pleasure and you dare look at me like that? - Layla looked at me.

I usually don't hit women but at that moment my emotions were way ahead of me and my hand made contact with her cheek without hesitation. Her eyes immediately filled with tears and she was about to slap me but Sam pushed her away from me. The third one, my muse and my love was staring at me with a raised brow and chuckled.

- You hit women, hm? Where has all your respect gone? - She stared up at me.

- Odette, let's go. I think my mouth is bleeding... - Layla said spitting out blood.

- Oh fuck no. Take a sip of water or something. - She pushed me back by my chest. - How dare you? How dare you hit Layla?! Who gave you the permission to do such thing?! - Three pushes later I slapped her too.

These girls were just testing my damn patience and wasting my time this whole time. None of them actually cared about me. I don't know why, and I don't want to know anything at this point. Of course, it's wrong to hit women, but this type of woman deserved nothing.

- YOU expect my RESPECT and PATIENCE after going around, making me fall in love with you, all for a game?! You dated my best friend and faked pregnancy with me and fucked up my friendship?! And you pretended to be my friend, someone who is supposed to be honest with me?! Now I am supposed to have respect towards you, worship you and listen to everything you say just because you are a woman? Shut up. Just shut your damn mouths for once.

I walked away from Sam, wishing I had never even gone to this college. Nor moved to London. Or gotten born at this point. The feelings vanished and I felt the reality sink in. I was alone now. I lost all of my friends, the people I loved and cherished, just in under two weeks. All because of their stupid little plan that only I, the target, fell for.

Class started and I was there, but in the corner of the room, barely listening. Instead on my computer was my word story which I still decided to finish so I just continued writing it, not caring. I made them have a happy ending and sent it in for a checkup. The book is crap, I am aware of that. Maybe the editor can help me out a little, reshape it and make it put down better.

A message arrived on my phone. My eyes landed on the name of the sender: John. Of course, I slapped his girlfriend, of course he is texting me now. The message said: "Come outside and I'll be nice to you.". Looks like another friendship was about to go out. They were all done except for Sam's and mine. So I got up and went outside.

John was standing outside, smoking a cigarette and came to me, throwing his fist into my cheek which instantly made the corner of my lips bleed. I looked at him and walked away, containing myself.

- Stop right there, I'm not fucking done with you. - He yelled after me but I didn't stop walking.

- Noah!! - he kept yelling and my anger was building up. I could not hurt a friend. Not him. He grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back, hitting me over and over again.

- Fight back!! - He kept shouting but I didn't move. - Just hit me! Hit me!!

His screams echoed my empty mind as I just zoned out, unaware of my surroundings. My face was numb after the first few punches and I didn't feel the rest of it. Voices in the distance jerked me awake slightly and John was pulled off of me.

- John, jesus christ! What are you doing!? - Layla shouted and pulled him away from me, then I noticed her head hovering into my view, but I could barely breathe, let alone see.

- Noah?! - Sam came in next and their sigh of frustration and a few not understandable words were all I heard before everything turned black.