Love Like Winter ❄️ Xavier Thorpe

Chapter 17: Parents Weekend

Soundtrack:

"Church" by Chase Atlantic
"My Mother Wants Me Dead" by carolesdaughter
"Kick Me" by Sleeping with Sirens
"Daddy Issues" by The Neighbourhood
"When You Say My Name" by Chandler Leighton

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, Xavier and I wake up to the sun shining in through the window and a faint vibrating sound coming from somewhere in the room. Xavier softly groans and rubs his eyes.

"What is that?"

I feel around the bed for either of our phones and can't find either of them. "Fuck, it's one of our phones."

I jump out of bed and run into the bathroom, nearly slipping and busting my ass, and find my phone vibrating on the floor under my clothes. Xavier's is on the sink, also vibrating. I pick mine up and answer the call from Wednesday.

"I'm so sorry, I left my phone in the bathroom last night."

"I just wanted to let you know that your parents are here, Enid has been trying to keep them occupied as best as she can. Carina is with me and my parents." Wednesday says, and I can hear the roar of people talking in the background.

"I'll be there in like five minutes, thank you, Wednesday!" I hang up the phone and find Xavier standing in the bathroom doorway still sleepy.

I toss him his phone and say, "My parents are here apparently, and Wednesday's. We have to go, like now, before they start trying to find me."

Xavier stifles a laugh about the thought of my mom finding me up here with him, but I glare at him. "She would literally like call the police. She's insane."

His eyebrows raise but he still thinks it's funny. "Alright, alright, Princess. Calm down. You need clothes first."

I look down and realize I'm still wearing the towel Xavier wrapped me in last night after we showered together. "Umm ..."

He goes to his closet and tosses me one of his gray t shirts and a pair of black skinny jeans. "They might be a little long, but they'll definitely fit you."

I go back into the bathroom to grab my underwear from last night and Xavier jokes about finding my underwear in his bed the next day after we stayed in his room for the first time. I knew he was trying to lighten the mood and keep me from sinking mentally, but all I can think about is the fact that my mother is somewhere on campus waiting to berate and belittle me.

Xavier and I get dressed and he sits down on the bed. I can't stop pacing and trying to control the anxiety demon inside of my mind. He gently takes my arm and brings me in front of him, meeting my eyes. I'm literally shaking from nerves.

"Anna, Princess, Baby, please ... please trust me when I tell you that today is going to go fine. Wednesday has a plan." He holds me by my waist and I let out a shaky breath.

I fall against him, wrapping my arms around his neck. "I'm trying to keep it together, Xavier, I really am."

"I know you are. I've got you, I promise," he says softly into my ear. "I'll be by your side this entire day, don't worry."

I nod against him. "I guess let's go down there."

He takes my hand and I follow him out of his room and down to the quad where there is triple the amount of people as normal because so many people's parents came to see them. The amount of people normally would've made my anxiety that much worse, but I'm pretty sure it had peaked and couldn't go any higher.

I find Wednesday and Carina before anyone else. "Anna!" She runs to me and hugs me tightly, washing away some of my anxiety.

She is thirteen, so nearly four years younger than me, but we really were always so close. "Hey, Carina. How are you?"