Labyrinth

Chapter 12

They weren't kidding when they said they woke up early.

They dropped me off at my place so that I could get changed for the day, not wanting to go to my classes in their lounge wear or the same clothes from yesterday. My outfit for today is some ripped, light wash trousers and a cream jumper that hangs off of my shoulders. It didn't take me too long and I insisted that I would walk to the campus wanting to fill my time up with something. Now, I'm sat in the university library waiting half an hour until my next lecture.

When reading through my e-mails, I notice one from Lois, the cafe owner. She offered me the job. Today is going to be a good day. 

Wanting to share this news with someone, I head to the person who I know is free, professor Hewitt.

I navigate my way through the cold university corridors until I reach his building and find his room.

Bursting through the doors, with a bit too much excitement, I head straight towards his desk, where he is hunched over some work - with more surrounding him.

"Miss Albright?" Obviously he's confused. You just barged into his room before his class. Meeting my excited expression. His eyes hold a curious glint. 

"Tho- Professor! You'll never believe this." I stand in front of his desk, a huge grin across my face.

"What is it?" He stands, making his way around to hold onto my hands.

"I got the job." My feet won't stay still. Bouncing from the floor.

"Congratulations, Chloe." My professor pulls me into him, dropping my hands, "What job?"

"Just this boring job I applied for." I step back, realising how silly it is to get excited over something as small as this, "Sorry — You've got a class soon, right?"

"I'm proud of you, Chloe." We pull apart, his musky scent becoming slightly fainter, "In around five minutes." He turns his left wrist to look at his watch.

Five minutes? How could I have been so stupid? This is his job.

"Five minutes? Why didn't you say something? Someone could have walked in-" My rambling is cut short by a firm set of lips on my own.

"You're so cute." He mutters, "Go on. I'll see you later." He winks.

Luckily I left when I did, as I left I heard the chatter of students walking up the hall then entering the class.

Once taking a note of the time, I head to my class, Professor Caine's. Feeling prepared for his class, after going through the reading three times already, I enter to see I'm the first one.

"Morning, Professor." I greet. His face matches my own: chirpy and ready for the day ahead.

"Good morning, Miss Albright." Our conversation is once again cut short by some students. I take my stuff out of my bag and organise what I need.

The hall slowly fills up and my professor begins his class, "I hope you are all prepared for today."

Nathaniel begins his lecture on liability. First, however, we discuss the reading which was set. It was definitely a challenging read.

Soon, however, we start to make notes. I just know that my hand will ache after this. I really need to get used to writing so fast.

A beeping disrupts my busy hand from scribbling notes. Not many people have my number so whoever it is, it must be important. Deciding I'll talk to a classmate about the notes at a later time, I pull my phone out of my pocket. My heart drops.

J: Hey! The campus here looks amazing

She couldn't have waited ten minutes for my class to finish? — Wait. My mind swirls. What does she want? Does she know anything? How did you find out I was here? Forcing myself to pack all of my stuff up, not caring whether my shaking hands crease anything, I try to exit as quickly as possible. I need to find her. I ignore the looks from my classmates and try to push Nathaniel's pause in his speech to the side. I can explain it to him later. I need to deal with this right now. 

Before I can continue on my search, I send her a response:

Me: Where are you?

I will look down all the corridors if I have to. I take a hurried pace, my determined feet taking me somewhere. 

They lead me into one of the people I least need to bump into right now. Thomas. "Miss Albright? Is everything alright? I thought you had a class." His hands on my shoulders stop me from taking any further steps.

"I need to go." My voice is breathy. I'm sure my eyes are frantic. "I-I'll talk to you later." Without waiting for a response I shrug his hands off of me and run from him. The look on his face breaks my heart, but I can't do anything right now.

Once I'm out of sight, I see that there's a bench nearby that can I rest my rigid body on. This cannot be happening. This must be a horrible dream.

It's not until fifteen, tedious minutes that she tells me where she is;

J: You know I've always been interested in psychology. Plus, the teacher is hot!

Psychology? Which classes are — My psychology class is on now. My professor is hot. He'll know somethings up. Well - more than before.

I scurry to the hall and message her:

Me: Come outside.

J: I'm learning :(

Me: Jessica. I want to talk

Not one minute later she strides out. I grasp her arm in a tight grip as I drag her away. "My place is only a short walk. We can talk there."

"Get off of me. You know how that always turns out." She snarls, violently taking her arm out of my grip. Ah, just like the old times.

"I'm sorry." I meekly apologise. 

It's a long walk, filled with a tense silence. Me, slightly ahead with my head down. Her, with her head held high and a satisfied grin plastered on her face.

"Here." I retrieve my keys from my bag and attempt to unlock my door but my hands are anything but stable. 

"We don't have all day." She huffs.

"I-I'm sorry." I am finally able to push the door open, taking a second to look around the hallway outside before shutting the door.

"What are you doing here, Jess?" She's making herself at home, inspecting my flat with her nose scrunched and chin up.

"Am I not allowed to visit my twin sister?"