Guilty

Zane

I sigh, dragging a hand down my face.

I meant it when I said I was through talking to her. But that doesn't mean I don't notice her, that I'm not hyper aware of her presence.

I noticed her the minute she walked into the library, the way she changed after she got off her phone call.

She was so obviously out of it I had to go and help her out, especially when that asshole was getting rude to her for wanting to crack open a fucking window.

I continue walking forwards when I hear a loud thump come from her room. I pause...that sounded like a body hitting the floor.

Did she drop her bag?

Circling back I gently knock on her door, "Juliette are you good?"

No response.

My heart begins to beat a little faster as a thousand thoughts rush through my head. I've the inside of her dorm only a few seconds ago, even if she walked over to the furtherest wall she'd still be able to hear me.

"Juliette?" I call out louder, knocking again.

The silence is so loud.

What could have happened? Did she pass out and hit her head? Maybe fall over and she's in pain?

"JULIETTE?" I yell loudly banging on the door like a crazy person.

People probably think I'm here to murder her. I can't bring myself to give a shit about any of that.

I start banging on the door loudly, "JULIETTE ARE YOU OKAY?"

Nothing.

I want to kick in the door but I don't know how far away she is from it, it might fall open and land on her. Maybe swing open and smack into her head.

Where is everyone? Has no one heard me yelling like a madman?

I have to kick the door in, it's my best shot. I'll have to grab the door before it can fall or swing open too quickly.

I take a step back, take a deep breath and kick as hard as I can on the door. It swings open and I reach forward and grab it before it smacks into Juliette's head.

She's lying on the floor, head turned away from me. I check her pulse, she's alive with a steady heartbeat.

"Juliette?" I say, bending down to tap her cheek.

She doesn't stir, her eyelids don't even flutter.

"Juliette?" I ask one more time before deciding to reach for my phone and dial an ambulance for her.

Before I press the call button her small hand grabs mine, faintly.

"My.." She croaks before trailing off. "Asthma pump," she says weakly pointing to her bed.

"In your bedside table?" I ask softly.

She nods, the action looks painful for her. I get up quickly and open her drawer. I had no idea she had asthma.

I find her pump among the hair ties, snacks and pens scattered in her drawer. I walk over and hold it to her face as she takes deep pumps.

She coughs and I notice the colour returning to her face again. Her cheeks went flush.

"Thank you," she says quietly to me. Sitting up slowly as I keep my hands on her arms.

"I don't understand.." I admit to her. I had no idea she struggled with this kind of stuff.

"I have asthma. It hasn't been an issue for me in years but I thought I'd bring a pump to college just in case."

"Why is it an issue now?" I press.

She shrugs, looking at me, "Sometimes anxiety makes it worse."

"I broke your door down," I admit.

"It's fine," she reassures me as we both glance behind us at the shattered wood.

"Listen, Zane, I'm sorry about what I said to you last week. I didn't mean it. I just wanted to get at you but I don't for one second think that you're a greedy, useless lawyer. I think you're a great lawyer, or at least you will be," She says all the words falling out like vomit.

I could be biased, due to the feelings I harbour for her but I swear she's telling me the truth. She can barely stand up without losing all the colour in her face I don't imagine she has the energy to lie.

"Yeah, it's whatever. We're good," I say avoiding her eyes.

It isn't whatever at all but, we are good. I think I'll always forgive Juliette no matter what she does. She's just too damn beautiful to stay angry at.

"I'll go ask someone to fix your door," I tell her as I get up and head towards the exit.

She stands up, and sits on her bed, taking a deep breath. I smile at her briefly before walking down the hallway quickly.

At the end of the hallway I see one of my friends Jackson, he looks up at me and smiles. "Hey bro, I saw you come down here. Come on let's go."

I snicker, I have no idea how he got onto campus. Jackson is older than me by a couple of years but we get along great. We work together.