17 Dreams

Chapter 5: A Chance

Take chances, make mistakes. That's how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave - Mary Tyler Moore

I woke up feeling good for once. I had no nightmares, no one died, Claire is back, what's there to be upset about? I got to class to find that Professor Stone was still here. He had one of those things for a broken nose. I saw him giving me a death glare. I didn't know if it was because I kicked him in the nards, or if he was worried I told someone. I only told Jake, and I doubt Jake would tell someone without my knowledge. I took my seat and I soon felt the chills I get when I have a sense that something will go horribly wrong.

"And that will be the end of today's class. Dismissed."

I was grabbing my things when Stone stopped me.

"South, please stay."

I felt the chills running like crazy. I gulped and sat down.

"Y-yes, Sir?"

He got close to my face and it made me terrified.

"I need to know that you won't say a word about what happened."

"I-I didn't t-tell anyone."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"And you're not lying to me?"

"No."

He started to move some of my hair behind my ear, and then with great force, he grabbed my neck. I whimpered and he soon moved in closer to my ear.

"I don't like liars, especially if it's you."

"I didn't lie! I didn't tell anyone, I swear!"

"Then why the fuck did I hear Claire Bridges and a boy named Jake were talking about you?"

My heart started to beat faster, he knows I told someone.

"I didn't tell anyone, only Jake."

Stone started to squeeze my neck tighter, closing my airways. He's slowly killing me, and he knows it.

"I'm gonna give you a free pass, but don't think that you're free from me. We have 4 years of this."

He let go of my neck and I started coughing and gasping for air.

"Now get the fuck out of my class."

I started to grab my stuff and quickly walked out of the room. I quietly walked back to my dorm room when I bumped into Gary.

"Hey, South."

"Uh, hi, Gary."

"What happened to your neck?"

He casually asks as he points to my neck.

"I...a branch smacked me in the neck. Look, I can't stay. I gotta get..."

"I was wondering if you wanted to hang out with my friends and I. We're going out for drinks later tonight, and I was wondering if you wanted to join."

"Really? And you're not trying to get any information out of me?"

"I realized now that I came off as creepy. So, as a way to apologize for my creepiness, I'm inviting you out for drinks tonight."

"Um, I...I don't know. I'm not really the party type."

"It's not a party, just a few people hanging out."

"I'm not old enough to go into a bar, though."

"Oh, I didn't realize. I thought you were older."