MY BEST ADDICTION

Chapter 18

The beginning of a semester is always a hustle and this one was no exception. I had to move around campus to get things in order for my semester and I always returned back to my room very tired.
“Any luck?”, Ezra, my roommate asked. She knew how tiring it was for me as we were all in our final year but I had it worse because most of the offices weren’t opened until school was in session.
“No. I’m seriously tired and I wish I could sleep all day till school was in, but then it would be more stressful to get things done then”, I said falling down on my bed. I heard a ping from my phone indicating a new message. It was a message informing the final year students to get some documents signed from the organizations we had our internships. Feeling conflicted, I decided to push it to a later date since we had enough time to get those documents.
“Did you also see the message?”, I asked closing my eyes.
“Yeah”, she said and I drifted off to sleep.
School started much to my chagrin and excitement and I managed to get my things sorted out before it became a problem for me. In as much as I was excited to be in school, I dreaded the day I had to go back to the company for my documents. It was during one of those days that I remembered I had Marcus’ number and I need not go directly to the office. I was still in touch with him after all. I called his number but he didn’t answer at first so I called him back later and he answered after awhile.
“Hello Marcus”, I said but got no response from the other end.
“Hey are you there? I need a favour from you”, I said when he didn’t answer me. I was wondering if something was wrong but before I could say anything he answered back.
“Sorry Penny, I had something in my mouth. What is it that you need?”, he asked hesitantly and I felt something was wrong.
“Are you okay Marcus?”, I asked worried.
“Yeah now what is it that you wanted?”
“Um I know I’m bothering you but do you think you can get my documents signed for me? I’ll meet you up to take it later, it’s for school”, I explained as best as I could since he didn’t know I had issues with Seth and that was why I couldn’t go to the office myself.
“Um Penny I don’t think that can be arranged. I have a business trip coming up and I don’t know when I would be back so unless you come to the office yourself. I’m sorry, I really wish I could help you but I can’t”
“Oh don’t worry and um Marcus how is….”, I started to say but ended before I could finish my sentence.
“Thank you and goodnight”, I said and hang up.
I went through the rest of the night in a blur and didn’t even realize when night fell.
It’s been a month since school started and I have had to balance both my studies with the project work we were assigned and it was taking a toll on me. I had to even look for time for the part time job I had started doing since I didn't have the Nest to rely on anymore.
I went to the library after lectures to get more information on the project assigned us and met Bryan, my project partner already there waiting for me.
“Sorry I’m late, I had to stay back for a meeting”, I said sitting beside him.
“No problem, I got here not long ago”, he smiled and I felt guiltier than I was earlier. We took turns looking for books to help with our work and managed to get some work done but we still had a long way to go.
“Do you have anything doing this Friday?”, he asked when we were packing our things after completing our work for the day.
“This Friday? Yeah, why? Do we have to meet for the work?”, I asked confused. We never had to do the work on Fridays since none of us had lectures on that day, so he asking that made me confused.
“It’s not that. Well there is this movie coming out on Friday and I want to know if you would want to go watch it with me, but if you have anything planned out then it’s okay”. I felt bad because I couldn’t go with him because he has been nothing but a good friend to me throughout the time I had known him.
“I’m sorry, not that I don’t want to go with you but I have to go for my documents from the company this Friday”, I explained.
“Oh yeah I forgot about that. Do you want me to go with you then?”, he asked and I sighed. See what I was talking about? He was always trying to be a good friend but I couldn’t do this to him, he has already done enough for me.
“I’m okay, you can go do your thing. We can go watch another movie later okay”, I reassured him seeing the disappointed look on his face.
He agreed and we left the library to go home. I didn’t understand this one thing about him, he always wanted to walk me back to my room no matter the time and how many times I told him no, so I allowed him and got used to him walking me to my room every time he had the chance.  
“Goodnight Bryan. Talk to you later”
“Goodnight Penny”, he said and left as I entered my room.
“Was that Bryan again?”, Ezra asked when I entered the room,
“Yeah, you know how he is”, I said putting my things down by my bed. I got water from the fridge to drink.
“Penny don’t you think it’s weird how he always walks you home and leaves only after you get inside, and not to talk about those days he’s been so good to you?”, she asked confusing me.
“Yeah I admit that it was weird at first but after a while I got used to it and it has become our thing”, I explained.
“Don't you think he likes you?”, she asked causing me to choke on my water. I coughed for a while trying to get the water out of my system.
“Don’t be ridiculous, how can you think of that? We are just friends and there is no way that can ever happen”, I said after I calmed down.
“Well don’t say I didn’t warn you. I don’t want you getting hurt and losing such a good friend”, she said worried. It made me miss Haven because she always worried for me just as Ezra was doing. I decided to go see her when I went back home during the weekend to clear things between us.
“I'll keep that in mind”, I smiled at her and got ready for bed.
I spent my week going for lectures and working on my project with Bryan and before I knew it Friday was upon me.
“Are you sure you’re going to be fine?”, he asked for the hundredth time and I was already tired of assuring him. I remembered what Ezra said and wanted to confirm with him but declined on doing so thinking maybe I was over-thinking the whole thing. I assured him again and went to my room. Ezra gave me a knowing look when I entered and I knew she heard everything that was said.
“I’m fine”, I assured her.

“Do I look okay?”, I asked Ezra when I finished dressing to leave. For some reason I felt self-conscious when I was getting ready for the day.
“Yeah and why do you ask? Are you going on a date?”, she teased.
“No I’m going to the company I interned at and I want to be sure I’m dressed well”, I said still not sure of myself.
“Are you sure? With the way you’re acting someone might think you are dressing for someone there”, she said and I got tongue tied.
“I have to leave”, I said hurriedly before she caught on and started questioning me.
“Hey is that it?”, she asked but I closed the door before she could ask again.
I ordered for a ride to the company hoping the ride would take long and was disappointed when it ended faster than I was ready for.
‘Maybe I wouldn’t meet him’, I thought assuring myself when I alighted from the cab. I straightened my clothes and walked into the building. Even after staying here for three months I still didn’t get used to how majestic the building looked and was still in awe of it.
“Penny what a surprise. I thought we wouldn’t be seeing you here again after your internship”, Amber said surprised to see me there, even I was surprised I was there.
“Yeah even I didn’t know I was going to come back here at least not this early”, I said but before anyone could say anything the telephone on her desk rang and she answered it looking at me weirdly, confusing me.
“The boss would like to see you in his office”, she said when she put the receiver down.
“The boss?”, I asked confused because no one was addressed that way in the company.
“Mr. Simmons”, she clarified.
‘Shit’, I thought and looked at her worried. She nodded motioning me to leave to him and I knew something was amiss with her behaviour. I thought the chances of seeing each other was slim but I didn’t expect him to call me directly to his office when I came. After all our last time of meeting didn’t end well and I didn’t think he would ever want to see me again after what happened.