WINNING HIS HEART AGAIN

Chapter 5: Unexpected Meet Up

Avery POV.

"Girl, what happened to you last night?" Sofia asked, her voice thick with a lingering hangover. She slid into the seat beside me, a rare sight, considering her usual tardiness, especially after a night of revelry.

I rolled my eyes, my annoyance tinged with a hint of relief at seeing her.  "I should be the one asking you that after you ditched me," I retorted, my voice laced with a touch of sarcasm.

"Oh, come on," she said, her words laced with a double meaning that I chose to ignore.  She didn't know about my mental health struggles, and I had no intention of letting her in on the secret.  My carefully crafted image, the image of the confident, glamorous campus beauty, would crumble if people knew the truth.  The thought of being known as the girl who was terrified of physical intimacy sent a shiver of fear down my spine.

"Earth to Avery!" Sofia snapped her fingers in front of my face, her voice laced with exasperation.  "You're spacing out again! Did something wonderful happen last night, hmm?"  She asked, her eyes sparkling with an eagerness that I couldn't bring myself to share.

I rolled my eyes, my voice flat and emotionless. "Don't expect too much," I said, pulling my earbuds back into place, desperate for a moment of peace and quiet.  I needed to calm down, to regain my composure.  The panic attack I had experienced the night before was still lingering, a dark cloud hanging over my mind.

 
_
TIME SKIP.

Two months had flown by, a blur of classes, assignments, and the constant pressure to maintain my facade.  Midterm exams were upon us, a looming deadline that had cast a shadow over the past few weeks.

I sighed in relief as I handed my exam paper to Ms. Salve, my professor.  "Wow, Ms. Cameron, as expected," she said, a smile playing on her lips as she glanced at my paper.

I returned her smile, feeling a surge of satisfaction.  "Can I go out now?" I asked, eager to escape the confines of the classroom.

"Yeah, sure, sure, go ahead," she said, waving me away with a dismissive gesture.

I chuckled lightly, my mind already focused on the cafeteria and the prospect of a much-needed lunch.

 

___
As I settled into my usual spot in the cafeteria, I dug into my food, relishing the quiet solitude.  But my moment of peace was shattered by a sudden, unexpected intrusion.  A pair of arms snaked around my neck, their touch sending a jolt of panic through my body.  I reacted instinctively, shoving the arms away, my heart pounding in my chest.  I stood up abruptly, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps.

I turned to face my attacker, my eyes widening in surprise as I met Darren's gaze.  Relief washed over me, replacing the fear that had gripped me just moments before.

"Damn it! How many times do I have to tell you not to put your arms around me when I'm not aware?" I said, my voice laced with annoyance.  Darren chuckled, his good humor undeterred by my outburst.

"It's not funny," I said, my voice rising in frustration.

"Okay, okay, sorry.  Why so high blood?" he said, his tone playful.  I rolled my eyes, my annoyance simmering beneath the surface.

"I'm just here to know if you're fine.  I didn't know what happened to you last night.  I was so caught up with my teammates, I couldn't..."

"Wait a second," I interrupted, my voice laced with disbelief.  "You didn't see me the whole night?"

"Yeah, why?" he asked, his expression innocent.

I shrugged, my mind racing.  "Nothing," I said, turning away to collect my empty tray.  My thoughts were consumed by a nagging question.  If it wasn't Darren who had helped me the night before, then who was it?  I remembered someone punching the guy who had tried to harass me, and then rushing to my side, his voice a soothing balm to my panicked state.  He had tried to calm me down, his words a blur of concern and reassurance.  And then, everything went black.

"Who is he?" I thought, my mind replaying the scene.  "Did he..."

Suddenly, I felt a sharp collision, my body bumping into someone else's.  The tray in my hand slipped, the contents spilling over the person's uniform.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry! I'm sorry," I stammered, reaching out to wipe the sauce from his shirt.  But it was no use.  The stain was spreading, becoming more prominent with each passing second.

"Err... let me just compensate for it.  How much..." I started, my voice trailing off as I searched for my purse.  But my words were cut short as I looked up and met his gaze.  My jaw dropped in disbelief.  How was this even possible?

"A-Ash?" I uttered his name, my voice barely a whisper.

He smirked, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of amusement and something else, something I couldn't quite decipher.  He bent down, his face inches from mine.

"Hi, Ms. Campus Beauty," he said, his voice a low, husky murmur.

I stood frozen, my mind reeling.  My world had just been turned upside down, and I had no idea what to do next.