Never Let Me Go

Doin' Time

The date for the donor event was fast approaching. 

Hamilton had been screeching every five minutes about what he needed to wear and I was about to go absolutely insane with all the prep work Auden had me doing. 

After the incident in my room about a week ago, the man had completely shut me out. 

He sent me regular emails and lists worth of projects and research I had to do in order to present our research to the donors, however in person he wouldn't even look at me. 

He also refused to work with me in the library as he claimed to be helping other students. 

I check on him once in the library. 

Samantha, this girl on our research expedition looked like she was hanging off of his every word. 

Every time she saw me around, her face would scrunch up at whatever rags I was wearing that day. 

To be fair, I didn't dress like an Instagram model every day, but that wasn't an invite for all of the rich, spoiled girls here to judge my individuality. 

I know Auden noticed this too. he watched as girls made jokes at my expense in poor taste. 

The only people that really seemed to care were Soren and Hamilton. 

Hammy would carve out some evil comment to snap at them whenever they decided to hound either of us. 

Soren would call them out for acting like children. 

I swear my eyes turned into big pulsing hearts whenever I saw that man. 

He salvaged me. Nothing enough to raise any suspicion but I felt special with him. 

My little crush was almost as immature and childish as those girls' comments were. 

However, at this point, I pushed all thoughts aside as I finished the last of my work for the night. 

The coffee machine in my room had been severely abused thanks to Auden. 

My dislike for him was incomprehensible, however, I knew that all this work would pay off so I surpassed my passions for now. 

Hamilton leaned over my shoulder for the zillionth time as I was signing off my computer. 

I seriously don't know how this man got any work done, as he spent every waking minute with me. 

Not that I minded. 

"Are you finally fucking done baby Brie?!" he asked sounding stressed. 

I turned to him, barely lucid in my chair. 

"Yes, need bed now" I mumbled under my breath.

My body was starting to decay due to the lack of sleep. 

"Aubriella Clark! the ball is tomorrow and I still haven't picked a damn thing to wear!" he screeched. 

I grimaced at the sound of his high-pitched yelp in my declining state. 

"You're gonna wear the chestnut plaid with the burnt orange tie ham" I moaned.

Hamilton groaned wiping his crazed face. 

"How the hell can you dress yourself like that every day, but figure out the perfect combination that I've been searching for all day." 

Hamilton gestured to the old oversized Zeppelin t-shirt and basketball shorts I was wearing, 

"ok diva, time to go to bed." I grumbled losing my patience. 

he jumped at me as I was dragging my dead limbs to the bed. 

"wait! wait wait wait....." he rambled on. 

I deadpanned the crazed man. 

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe it! I've been so worried about what I'm wearing that I never found something for you- oh god no. Brie cheese baby, we have so much work to do!" 

He grabbed my arm to pull me away and I holted in my place.

"I have something to wear, now will you please let me rest" I protested. 

Hamilton snickered annoyingly. 

"Oh gods what did you pick out for yourself, a paper bag?" 

I inhaled deeply and let out a huge dramatic breath. 

"No" I answered. 

"Well then where is it? Let me see" he said crossing his arms tightly.

My eyes were rolling back into my head as I trudged over to my wardrobe and threw open the doors. 

Grabbing the zip-up garment bag, I pulled it off the hook and threw the bag at him. 

He caught it curiously and shook his head. 

"Who would've thought-" 

my body jolted at the sound of ham's unrelenting screech. 

"Aubriella" he gasped. 

I stepped over to Hamilton, slightly more sober than moments ago. 

"It was my mother's" I mumbled. 

Hamilton pulled the beautiful dress out of the garment bag. 

It started with a blush-coloured bodice adorned with shiny little crystals shaped around the strapless heart-shaped neckline. 

A sheer matching train gracefully strung down from the bodice in a way that would define all of my womanly curves in the most delicious way. 

I had never worn the dress, but it had always been my dream when my mother first had it made. 

My mother consulted the top seamstresses en Paris, to craft this dress for one of her anthropology events. 

She had just made a breakthrough in ancient elephant culture in the south of the Sahara when she had this dress made. 

It was her biggest accomplishment and she wanted everything to be perfect when she presented her findings to the world. 

She died before she ever could. 

Before the illness took over, she gave me the dress and told me that it should live on through me. 

I thought this might be the best way to honour it. 

Hamilton carefully zipped up the dress into its bag. 

"She will have looked as beautiful in it as you shall tomorrow" he whispered, pulling me into his armpit. 

I hugged his slim waist. 

"Hamy I appreciate the sentiment, but I won't be this pretty tomorrow if I don't get some sleep soon" I said softly. 

Hamilton chuckled. 

"Ok baby Brie, go to sleep. I'll be here for you first thing in the morning." he squeezed my arm. 

"Goodnight ham" I grumbled, face planting on my white sheets. 

"Night" he grumbled childishly at my nickname for him. 

My limbs felt like they were melting into the bed as I drifted off.

Auden in all his gloriousness invaded my dreams for the millionth time this week. 

I didn't even want to think about the nasty things my mind was going to make up about the next time I closed my eyes.