LOSING IT ALL //HAYLEY PARKER

19

~LOSING IT ALL~

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19| DALE'S CONFRONTATION
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SITTING IN MCB 222 [General Microbiology II] lecture hall is like a fairytale in disguise for me.

After Jayden's threat yesterday night, which still makes me feel disillusioned and shaken. He had hurt me. The purple bruise marks marred on my arms underneath my Jean jacket is a clear indication of his physical assault on me. And somehow today, I feel solemnly relieved to be alone.

The worst case scenario about last night's incident is the fact that nobody had any clue about Jayden's sadistic action. Jennifer had cozily doused off on Camille's lap. Camille had been so engrossed with the movie on the television that she didn't even notice me stumble into the kitchen for a desperate glass of water.

It was so hurtful.

I had spent most of the chilly night soaking my pillow with tears. I didn't do anything wrong. I really didn't. Why didn't he believe me?

Fair enough, I do like Dale. He's a nice guy, very sagacious. He's handsome. He's funny, most times forthright. I enjoy talking to him. I do fantasize about him, which clearly isn't right. But I don't indulge in those fantasies.

But Jayden's claims. Why'd he think I have anything going on with Dale? What made him think that? Who made him think that? Jennifer? Newt?

A little furtively, I sink further into my individual fold-down wooden seat and try to focus my peripheral vision on the bespectacled professor standing in front of the room's projection screen on the large stage.

Viruses

For some weird reason, I'm conjuring a thesis on Dale being alike a virus. Penetrated into my life, and strangely enough ended up getting attached. Now, my every thought is about him. Where's he at? What's he doing? Does he like me? Are we even friends? He has successfully replicated, and undeniably encrypted his sinful being into my mind, and he was going soon. Leaving me dead. Cause a virus on exiting an infected host often kills the host.

A derisive scoff leaves my mouth at the slightest truth to the similarity between Dale and an actual virus.

Camille has sent me a text about us meeting at O'Doul's after classes. Jayden notified me about picking me up afterwards. The hell? Is that how bad he wants to prove a point? By threatening me into committing to him? I issue a depressing sigh and face-slam my phone against the desk.

Right after MCB 222 class, the urge to abscond to a rendezvous for a couple of days compels me to send a text to my aunt, Stacy. She's an English professor in the University, and also a part time writer for a publishing company called Kinbott Publishing.

Aunt Stacy gives me an immediate response.

Of course Pod, you can stay a few days.
But rules are rules. I'm sure you haven't forgotten 😜👌.

Irritatingly, I send her a thumbs up and shove my phone into the depths of my Tote bag. Aunt Stacy is a plan freak. Literally everything in her life is meticulously planned and executed. What she eats, what's she wears, how she spends her time. Where to go and where not to. How long to be on your phone or on the TV. Literally everything. And funny enough, she adheres to them all.

Outside the building, I contemplate whether to call an Uber or use the metro. However, it is all cut short by the sight of Dale on the walkway, making at me in a hasty and furious manner through the hives of students.

I bury my hands into my jacket pockets and try not to squirm against his unwavering gaze. His angular face is stoically set. Thick brows pinching with a frown, and supple lips tighten into a grim line.

My first thought is to retreat why I still can, but the other voice inside me keeps bombarding me with questions like, why should you run? Did you steal or kill anyone? Did you do anything to offend him?and all the answers I get is a NO!

So, I decide to pretend like I didn't actually see him approach while making a circuitous route down the stone steps.

Halfway down, Dale catches my arm to prevent my perfectly executed attempt to get away unnoticed. I make a false step, imperceptibly wincing at the pain his sudden grip on my arm sends down my spine, and if he hasn't been holding onto me, I would have fallen.

"We need to talk." He says, pulling me flush against himself to steady me.

My heart is jamming furiously against my chest, my traitorous body prickling with an excited thrill at the close proximity. The warmth and softness of his shirt, and the shift in body temperature causes me to shiver involuntarily.

My eyes are bulging as I stare up at him. "U-uh? Talk?" I ask weakly, feeling isolated in the teeming mass of people who surges around us. Planting my feet sturdily on the stone step, I breathlessly pull grudgingly away from him. "Why? About what?"

Dale's mahogany gaze is hard on my face. The tic in his jaw and the stiffness of his buff shoulders hints at an underlying fury beneath his calm demeanor.

"What'd he do to you?" Dale asks in an exaggerated calmness. My heart jumps into my throat. Does he know? Did Jayden tell him? Of course not. If he had, he wouldn't be asking me about it.

Schooling my face into a mask of genuine ignorance, I hike the strap of my tote bag over my shoulder. "What do you mean?"

Dale exhales heavily. His hard expression softening. "I know you don't want to talk about it. It so hard to restrain myself even thinking about it. But, you've got to talk to me about it." He says lucidly, his long fingers softly wrapping my arms. I wince subtly again. "Tell me, Hayley. What'd Jayden do to you yesterday night."

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