Celebrity

Alarm Bells

Thomas POV
      The light rays from the sun sneak through my curtains. I try to open my eyes, but the small ray of light has proven too blinding. I finally manage to get off the bed, and into the shower. It's been two days since I last heard from Ava after our confrontation. I wouldn't say it's a bad thing but it is worth noting. Because I think it's now time to focus on my studies.
     I can't say that I haven't missed her cause it's freaking Ava Wilder, and she is my friend, even though we've had our differences. It's unbelievable to say someone of that stature is my friend, but I feel I need to focus on myself.
      There has been one lingering danger about these last few days, is the stunt I pulled on the tests. So far I've been in the clear, but it's filling me with too much anxiety.
        I quickly change into some fresh clean clothes, and grab my bag that's on the couch. I have Max waiting at the gate he doesn't know of me cheating yet, but I have been planning on telling him. I just don't know when.
         I see him leaning on to a car. Which I assume is an Uber. When I get closer to him he puts on this big smile which confuses me.
        "Happy birthday!"he exclaims at me "Birthday?"he senses my confusion "isn't today your birthday." I think for a moment trying to recall the days, that have gone by. "What's the day today?" I ask him.
          "10th June." he replies, it  hits me like a brick. How could I have forgotten about my own birthday. I must have been caught up with everything that has happened in my life for, that it completely slipped my mind. "Wait- you forgot your own birthday." Max laughs
"Let's just go," we enter the car and head for campus.
       We reach campus, and head towards class. When we walk through the hallway, till I saw Emilia. I haven't spoken with her in a while and I just want to make up with her. I tell Max that he can go on without me. I walk up to her slowly, she's with her friends in a circle, but I feel this is my chance to get her cornered.
       "Emilia...can I speak with you?"she looks at her friends before she agrees and we go outside. "Speak," she says as soon as we get outside. I take a deep breath "I know that we didn't end on great terms last time we spoke, but I want to be friends with you." Emilia takes a second to think about it "look- that day, and that night it was a one day thing," she puts her hand on my shoulder. "We're cool." I'm a bit a bit surprised by this. "Really?"
"Sure I'm over it,"she says whilst smiling. This was easier than expected "so friends?" I ask
         "Yeah friends."she reaches her hand for a handshake, and I take it. I'm so glad I have this resolved with her, she seems relatively pleased so she's probably not pretending. I tell her I need to get to class, and I'll see her later.
        When I get to class I find everyone already seated, so I take my seat quickly. The lecturer eyes me closely which tenses me up. He begins by giving a speech about, how good our grades are from the last test. Just the mention of the last test gives me chill's. He proceeds to hand out all the papers when he gets to my desk, he puts the paper down on the desk slowly, whilst he stares me right in the eyes. When I get a look ate paper I see, I've scored a eighty-one.
          The class goes smoothly, and it seems like it will be another day without any worries. After the class is over I head for the door, until the lecturer calls me back. I walk up to him "Mr Phiri, you did quite well in the test," he says.
          "Thank you," I reply.       "You did very well for someone who missed a lot of class," he says. I can feel my heart beat faster "you know had to work very hard"
"Sure."I say trying not to sound scared. He stares me down until he says "okay, you can go."

***

       The taste of lemonade fills my mouth. Nothing beats it after a long day. It feels sort of good to have a somewhat regular day. That being said, I'm sat at the coffee shop that me and Ava first met in the hopes of meeting her. It doesn't seem to happen, but it's okay I need to focus.
       I decide to go back home, I take a cab to get back home. There's a weird feeling when I reach my front door. There's an ominous feeling I can't seem to shake. I open the door, which isn't locked. That makes it even more weird. I turn on the light.
      "Surprise! Happy birthday" I see Max, and a bunch of other people I don't know jump out of nowhere. Cheers followed by loud hip hop  music. Max walks up to me "what's up bro, I'm throwing you a surprise party." I look around and everyone having great time, and I don't really want stop the party "when did you set this up?" I ask practically shouting "well I got your keys from your pocket at school before we split, and I snuck in here to set it up."I can tell his had a few drinks. "Remember the last time I was at a party?" I ask him
"I remember, but this time it will be different you just won't drink."
      I finally agree to this party. After I dance a little, I watch people have drinking competitions. I also have to keep Max from throwing up on my floor.
        After a while the lights suddenly go off, and Max walks in with a birthday cake. Everyone begins to sing the birthday song. I blow out the candles, which is followed by cheers. We share the cake, and eat it.

***

     The following morning, I wake up with so many people on my bed. I get out of my room, and in the living room it's filled with plastic cups, and it's a bit sticky. I look for Max but it seems his already gone.
       I manage to get all the people  out of my apartment. It takes about twenty minutes for me to get ready to go to school.
       I walk into the building headed for class. Last night was the first time I ever had a birthday party, and I didn't even get to thank Max. I haven't seen him since last night when I helped him to the toilet.
        Before I walk into the classroom, I'm stopped by the lecturer. He tells me that I need to go to the dean's office.
     I head over to the dean's office, I can feel my legs getting weaker. What does he want from me- well asides from the obvious lingering shadow over my head.
        I knock on the door, and I hear a voice on the other side. I take it as a greenlight to come in. I walk in slowly "Mr Phiri I've been expecting you, sit down." I take a seat at his desk. His a middle aged looking man who always wears casual outfits for someone in his field. "You scored, an eighty-one in your last test," he continues "even though you missed a large amount of your lectures." I don't respond to anything his said. He gets up and walks around the room. "Footage from your classroom that day shows you, using a phone."
     My heart beats faster and faster. I could feel my breath get away from me ."your punishment will be given to you later tomorrow-you can leave now." I slowly make my way out of the office. I can't shake the feeling that my life is over - and no one can save me.