Fighting the Distance ~ {n.h.}

Chapter 7: Public

Brooke's POV

Where the hell is he going?, I think to myself as I weave in and out of the crowded sidewalk. I've been following behind Chad for a good ten minutes now, completely clueless as to where he's going, and why. I'm pretty sure he has class right now...what could be so important for him to skip class?

Chad seems to be in quite a hurry and I'm beginning to lose sight of him, so I pick up the pace until I reach an intersection before stopping in my tracks. I can see Chad press the walk button on the light post as he takes out his phone, tapping his foot impatiently. I decrease my speed and keep my distance, fearing he might spot me.

As I approach the end of the sidewalk where Chad is standing, he puts his phone back into his pocket and turns in my direction. I immediately jump behind a bush in front of the university's music building. Closing my eyes, I pray he didn't see me.

I wait a few seconds before peering out from behind the large shrub to see Chad's back facing me, his fingers tapping away on his iPhone. Sighing in relief, I take a few steps towards Chad, making sure not to get as close as I previously was. I look up to the traffic signal to see it's finally turning yellow, and shortly after, the walk signal illuminates. Chad slides his phone into his back pocket and crosses the street towards the center of town. I hurry after him, barely crossing the intersection before the light turns green again.

After trailing behind him for another five minutes, Chad begins to slow his pace. I run quietly to an empty building, hiding behind one of the posts to keep me out of sight. I peer out from behind the post to see Chad standing still in front of a building with a sign that reads 'Leiman and Associates.'

What the hell is that?

I revert my gaze back to Chad who now has his phone out. He presses it against his ear and begins speaking, his tone sounding rather angry, butI'm too far away to pick out what he's saying. Before I know it, he's opening the building's front door. I wait until the large door closes before approaching the building. There's large windows on either side, so I keep my distance.

Might as well google this place to figure out what it is, I think to myself. So I pull out my phone, open up Safari and type 'Leiman and Associates' into the search bar.

It's a law firm? What the hell...

Peeking out from the corner of the building through one of the windows, I found the lobby empty. Chad must've gone inside to meet with someone...with a lawyer?

Curiosity getting the best of me, I approach the wooden front door, red paint peeling off in the corners. But once I step inside, the lobby is quite extravagant; the walls are a neutral cream color, with crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

I slowly approach the front desk, trying to gather my thoughts. What's my excuse for being here?

"Good morning," a beautiful blonde, probably in her mid 20s, greets me from behind the large wooden desk. "Do you have an appointment?"

"Uh...no," I stumble. "I'm actually just looking...for the bathroom," I smile, satisfied with my lie.

The woman's face turns to one of surprise. "Oh, down the hall to the left," she informs me before returning to her computer.

"Thanks," I murmur, walking away briskly.

I venture down the long corridor and take in my surroundings. The walls are covered in different framed magazine covers, each with some type of scandalous story plastered on the front. One catches my eye: it's Star! magazine, and there's an image of One Direction with the title, Louis caught holding hands with a mysterious blonde-is he cheating on Eleanor? I quickly come to the realization that this place isn't a law firm; Chad isn't here to see a lawyer-he's here for some kind of scandal. But a scandal about who?