Haunted - A modern Astarion AU

Chapter Four

Only two weeks were left until I had to present my work about Jane Austen to the Committee and I was going insane. Not because I didn't feel confident about my work. I had already put a lot of work into the presentation, I just still wasn't done yet and the fear of losing the chance of getting the teaching position, killed me.

Astarion and I have gone back to bickering and hating each other, the day after he walked me home. After our encounter with Ryan, he had walked me home in silence and the only thing he said to me, was to not go outside again alone at that time of night. The moment that had happened, I was grateful for him but now I wanted to kill him again. Him and Dekarios. Because every time, I tried to study at the library during the day or wanted to get another Professors help, they always were there first. Nathalie told me to ignore them and just bring the material back to my apartment or to go there at night, but it annoyed me that I had to work like this. It annoyed me that apparently Astarion could do anything he wanted because he was a man. Because he was attractive and could charm any Professor.

Trying not to pity myself too much, I make myself comfortable on my couch and I click on the files folder, to continue working on my presentation. Instead of being able to do that, I just stared at the file for what felt like hours, because there was nothing to be seen. All three documents I had saved on there had been deleted and all I could feel were hot, angry tears streaming down my face because there was only one person who could've done that. One person that knew the stupid password, I had been using for ten years. I tried to think of when he could've done that in the past twelve hours and only one thing came to mind. We had both been watching a class discussing Hamlet and that was when he must've somehow gotten to my laptop. Not being able to think clear, I did what I had always done best with Astarion, which was confronting him.

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I didn't even have to go looking for him, because I knew Astarion would be at his apartment, which he shared with two of his new friends. The anger that was bubbling inside of me, made me forget to put on anything warm and I just stalked to his apartment in a thing sweater and jeans. Some people were watching me, but I didn't care about that. Didn't even register that because all I could think of were a thousand ways to kill Astarion. Once I arrived at his apartment, I banged my fist against the door and at that point I also didn't care what his roommates would think of me. They already hated me because of the stuff Astarion had told them about me. My hands were shaking from anger, while I banged one fist against the door again but then it finally opened, and I wasn't met with Astarion. I wasn't even met with his stupid roommates but with Marie. I tried to tell myself that she wasn't at fault for this, but I knew that if she said one wrong word, I would start screaming at her.

The blond female just looked at me with disdain, but I only saw red. "Where is he?", the words came out as a growl and I did sound as angry as I felt but Marie only crossed her arms in front of her chest, looking me up and down. "You are not wanted here, so you better leave.", she simply told me, and I was ready to chew her out but then I saw another door opening and Astarion walked out with only a towel around his hips. His hair was still wet and slicked back and if I hadn't been so angry, I would've enjoyed looking at him more, but I couldn't control myself. "You fucking piece of shit", were the first words that left my mouth and I stormed over to him. My voice was already loud but all I could see was Astarion raising an eyebrow at me. "You finally figured it out. Yeah, I am a piece of shit but what is it this time?", he asked me, not sounding as if any of this meant anything to him and I absolutely lost it. "Do you think this is funny? What have I ever done to you to deserve this? I can take the fights. I can take us hating each other but why? Why would you delete everything I've worked so hard for? I deserve a chance to get this job and you... You've ruined everything!". The words came out like a waterfall, and I couldn't stop the tears again. I was just so hurt my everything he had ever said or done but this... this was too much. My voice broke at the last few words, and I couldn't stop looking at Astarion through tear-filled eyes. He on the other hand just looked even more confused and to my surprise, he tried to get closer to me. To put a hand on my shoulder but I backed away and shook my head at him. "Don't fucking touch me and don't you ever try to talk to me again.", I finally hissed at him, and I felt my throat tightening even more. He hadn't seen me cry like this in years, and for a second it seemed like Astarion wanted to reach out to me again but then I heard Marie laughing and that broke me. "Evelyn, stay. Let's talk about this, please.". His voice sounded so sincere, and it felt like as if he feared me leaving but I couldn't take this anymore. I had had enough of this bullshit and all I wanted was to be alone again. "Once all of this is over, I never want to see you again.".