Fools

Part 23

1 week and a half back into university ; cate's p.o.v

It's club week here on campus, they have all these booths up & flyers everywhere. I know if Joe was here he'd definitely tell me to try something out, especially as a way to make new friends. Sydney and I are still the same since our last talk, we hangout once in a while but for the most part we do our own thing. She's still super into partying and is gone almost ever night, she's been inviting me to them though but I know I'm not ready for that yet, so here I am.

"Hi, I'm Martin, would you like to join the mathletes? We study hard everyday so others don't have to!" I took the flyer he was holding out anyways but, boringgg, next.
I ended up taking 3 more flyers, one from an art club that I might take consideration in actually, another from a volunteering club, and one for a writing group which could be fun. I stopped at this one table that had a sign full of different song choices listed "We find new music through each other and share a connection through our favorite artists, bands, songs, and everything in between!" kind of cheesy, but I love music, this could be it. I picked up a flyer and began reading.
"Hey, are you interested in joining our music club?" This girl turned around, she had long brunette hair that was half up, half down, she had beautiful hazel eyes and freckles that matched perfectly with her cheeks and nose. She wore a tame impala t-shirt with blue jeans and jewelry on everywhere that it complemented her.
"Hi, um I'm Cate, I really like your shirt." We smiled at each other.
"Oh thank you! Do you like tame impala?" She asked.
"I do actually, their music makes me feel like I'm on something when I know I'm sober." I replied, we both laughed.
"Yes! Me too! That's what I love about them. Music is my everything, I couldn't live without listening to my favorite songs everyday on repeat." She flashed a faint smile, I smiled back. "Sorry, um" She facepalmed. "I'm Lilah, I don't think I mentioned my name before."
"Nice to meet you," I smiled. "Um so yeah I'm interested in the group actually." Her face lit up.
"Great! Okay! Just sign here." She slipped me a paper and it had already had about 10 signatures? There's going to be enough people to make friends with, the trying is what's going to be the actual thing. "Hey also, could I maybe get your number? We should hangout sometime you know, outside of the group." She asked, I started feeling kind of nervous but like butterflies nervous, wow haha, new feeling but I'm living for it.
"Yeah, okay that'd be nice." I smiled as she handed me her phone to put my number in.
"Alright cool, I'll text you. See you." She said as I handed her phone back, I waved goodbye and started walking away.

I went back around to check out more of the clubs and actually put my name down for the writing and art clubs, they could be fun and I should try to get myself out there more. At least now I have some good news for Joe. After I finished putting my name down, I started heading back to my dorm. I was looking down on my phone just about to text Joe when I bumped into someone. That someone, being Scott. Okay, Okay, don't panic Cate.

"Hey uh, sorry Cate. I should've moved out of your way." He began. I haven't seen him since the night of, I don't know what was said between him and Sydney or if he even knew I left the campus because of him. Like I really want to know anyways though.
"Um, yeah, it's okay. I'm just going to go now." I said and went to walk beside him when he grabbed my arm.
"Cate I-" I cut him off.
"Scott, let go. Let go off my arm!" I said angrily and pulled my arm away, he did actually let go though.
"Sorry Cate, just we never got to talk about that night. Sydney told me, she thinks I raped you?" He said quietly, I had the most dumbest look on my face, is he serious right now?
"Scott what the fuck, she thinks? You did rape me." I told him, I could tell he was starting to get angry but was trying to hold in at the sametime.
"Cate I would have never. I was too drunk that night to even comprehend my thoughts, I know that's not an excuse but please, I'm sorry." I rolled my eyes, this conversation is not happening right now dude ugh.
"Scott, it's whatever. You're going to think what you want to think but I have no reason to lie, especially about that. Just you go with your life and I'll go with mine, just please leave me alone." I told him and I walked off, tears starting forming in my eyes and once again there goes my heart. I was so not ready to talk to him yet, or even at fucking all. I can't do this.

I finally got to the dorm and rushed through the door, sat right on my bed and sobbed. Seriously what is going on with my life, why did this have to happen to me dude? It feels like my heart breaks and then falls straight to my stomach where I'm just going to throw it up again and again. Fuck. I covered my face with my pillow and just sobbed and sobbed. I can't keep holding this in anymore, I fucking hate it. I wish we never got in the car with him, I wish I never asked to go to that party, fuck I hate everything. I must've cried myself to sleep, I just woke up and it's now dark outside. I sighed and forced myself to sit up.

I felt my phone buzz.
From: Unknown number;
'hey! this is lilah from earlier, this is my number :p'

C; 'oh hey(: how are you?'
L; 'i'm good you?'
C; 'i guess i'm alright haha, um so are you busy?'
L; 'i'm not actually, would you like to hangout?'
C; 'yes please lol, i need an outing.'
L; 'okay! come meet me(: i'm in the east building, dorm 235'

I locked my phone and went to get changed, I put on a grey pullover-sweater, black sweatpants and fixed my makeup. I look so terrible ugh, my mascara was running completely & my hair looks like it hasn't been brushed in days. I took off all the mascara then threw my hair up into a semi-messy bun. I guess I'm ready? I grabbed a cardigan to put on over my sweater and went into my side table draw to grab a splif. Now I'm ready. I laughed to myself.

I began walking towards her building, I'm glad I grabbed the cardigan, it got so cold out here so fast. It's quiet and it feels like I'm the only one in the world right this moment. I felt my phone buzz again.

From; my cup of joe <3
'hey sweet face. how was your day today?'
I don't think I've ever smiled so hard, I miss Joe so so much.

C; 'hi love, it was okay. i'm actually on my way to hangout with a friend'
J; 'a friend huh? i'm assuming it's someone new as you would've said sydney right?'
C; 'haha yes baby, i met her today when i was signing up for clubs, her name's lilah'
J; 'aw love, i am so proud of you. here i'll let you have some fun, talk later? i love you'
C; 'okay, i love you'

I reached Lilah's dorm room, I felt so nervous to knock but finally did. I heard Lilah say 'come in!' and as I walked in, there was fairy lights everywhere, posters of artists & drawings all on the walls with tapestry's and her setup consisted of her double bed & a tv and computer area. She really went all out for her dorm, it's adorable. Lilah looked up and smiled at me from her bed, she patted on the spot next to her.

"Hey, I'm glad you came, I was just finishing up a movie." She said, I smiled back at her. On the way over to the bed I gazed around at her pictures of her friends and family, I took a closer look at her drawings too. Man she's really good.
"I love your room, it's wicked cool." Her face lit up.
"Thank you!"
"Do you have a roommate or is this all to yourself?" She pushed her laptop over to the front of the bed and layed back onto the bed.
"Yup, all mine. I love it so much. I didn't know what to do with the other bed as you can see," She laughed "So I put them together and made one giant one."
"Beautiful." I said and we both laughed, I sat down next to her on the bed. I looked down at her as she was looking up at me, smiling. I just met Lilah but I feel like I know her more than I do, I've never felt this way towards a girl before, let alone while I'm dating someone. But there's a mystery, something about her that I can't quite put my finger on, she's beautiful. I wonder what this means.
"So, anyways. I want to know more about you," She sat up. "Tell me about yourself Cate."
"Well, my name's Cate Lee, but it's short for Catherine, this is my junior year of Uni, I'm 22, I have a older brother named Caspar who I live with when I'm not here, we're twins actually. I like to paint, listen to music & I read a lot of poetry." I told her, she smiled through the whole thing like she couldn't be more interested to know me. I cleared my throat. "Um, so what about you Lilah?"
"I'm Lilah Adams, that's short for Lilah," I laughed. "I'm a junior also, I'm 23, almost 24 in about 4 months ish, I have 1 older sister named Jaylie and a younger brother named Derick. I still live with my parents & brother when we're on holiday, and as you know I love listening to music, finding new shows/movies and I draw a lot in my freetime." She told me, I feel like I could hear her talk for hours, it's so refreshing having a conversation with someone new.
"What's your middle name?" I asked her.
"Renee, so it'd be Lilah Renee Adams. You?"
"Aurora, Catherine Aurora Lee." She did a pouty face.
"Aw, that's so bloody adorable, I love it. So not to be like weird or anything, but are you in a relationship at all or are we riding solo around here?" She laughed.
"Yeah, so I'm actually dating my brother's bestfriend, his name is Joe."
"Ahh okay, the brother's bestfriend huh? That's always trouble isn't it?" She smirked, I smiled and looked away.
"I guess you could say that."