Warren
Words can't even explain how shitty I feel. Not only physically, but mentally. I was sitting at an empty table in the dining hall, rubbing my temples when I heard someone take the seat across from me. "Go away whoever you are." I managed to groan out. "Rude much?" I recognized the voice as Frankie's. "So, rough night?"
"Don't even get me started..." I opened my eyes and instantly squinted. "Where is everyone? All the guys?" Frankie took a sip from his orange juice and replied, "They were supposed to meet me down here. I'm guessing they got lost." He chuckled. "So, I heard some things..." As soon as he finished that sentence we were joined by John and Richard. "How hungover are you!?" Richard laughed taking a seat across from me. John smirked while taking a sip of his coffee. "Let's not talk about it." I got up from the table, suddenly annoyed. "Warren, don't go. They were just joking around..." John said, standing up to stop me.
"I'm just so tired of everyone judging and making fun of me! Even my own friends. Everyone else can party and have a great time, but the minute I do, it's like suddenly Hell froze over and suddenly it becomes the gossip of the week. I'm tired of being looked at as a joke, I'm a person, too. I'm not some fucking freak show. I'll talk to you guys later." I got up from the table and walked towards the exit of the dining hall. I wasn't looking where I was going and accidently bumped into someone's arm. "Oh, my bad. I wasn't paying any attention."
"It's fine, Elizabeth." We made eye contact. In his eyes was sadness, and as he opened his mouth to say something I quickly turned and made my way towards my dorm before he could stop me.
I stared at my laptop confused. That's odd, Professor Mulder is usually good about returning emails. The other day, I emailed Mulder about a paper due at the end of the semester, and he still hasn't gotten back to me. Class this week was canceled due to a doctor's appointment, but now I don't believe it. My gut has this feeling like something is wrong, but I tell myself it's due to the fact that I haven't eaten since yesterday and I'm still hungover.
I check my phone for the first time since last night and find 7 texts and 4 missed calls. All from Jill. Typical. I send her a text: have you heard from mulder? I got up and opened my mini-fridge, grabbed a water bottle, and sat back down to a new text message: no y? Opening my desk drawer, I took out my bottle of Ibuprofen and took two. I responded: k just wondering, haven't gotten any emails from him regarding my paper
Remembering the temperature outside, I put on a sweatshirt and decided to head over to his office, since the time now was considered part of his office hours. I also snagged my iPod, so I could have an actual reason to avoid people.
When I arrived at the building where his office was, I realized I never actually took advantage of his office hours like I always promised I would. I went inside the building and looked at the directory, which told me which floor he was on. Floor 2. Room 107. After running up a flight of stairs and taking a minute to catch my breath, I arrived at 107. It looked dark on the inside, I jiggled the knob and surprisingly it was open. He always said to trust no one, yet he was the one leaving his personal office door unlocked. I looked around to make sure no one was watching, and slipped inside, carefully shutting the door behind me nice and quiet. I looked around the room, in awe.
There was clutter everywhere, random books shoved in different places, and manila folders over flowing out of numerous cabinets strewn about the room. There was a coffee table which was also covered in miscellaneous junk. The desk held different books as well, and a coffee mug with the liquid still inside. I put my hands around it to try to feel for any warmth to figure out if it was fresh or not, but it was ice cold. Behind the desk on the wall was an old poster, one with a UFO flying over trees and in white bold print it stated I WANT TO BELIEVE. The poster, though old and with slightly torn edges, spoke to me. Like it held secrets. So many, so many that it would take years to uncover only half of them.
Turning back around, I noticed a manila folder left open on his desk, as though that was the last thing he looked at before leaving and never put it back. I examined the first paper I laid my eyes on. It was a case file for Mulder, Samantha T. There was a photo of a young girl inside. "I never knew he had a sister..." I mumbled to myself as I flipped through the many pages inside. I closed the folder and looked at the cover. "What are you doing in here? You can't be in here." A Professor who I've never seen before was standing in front of the desk, I never even heard him come in. His was an older gentleman, whose voice was very smooth. "I'm sorry, I was looking for Professor Mulder and the door was unlocked." I said, my voice shaking.
"What are you looking at?" He asked me.
"I'm really not sure, he has these folders everywhere..." I tossed the one in my hand back down onto the desk. He picked the Mulder, Samantha T folder back up. Examining the front cover, I noticed his demeanor change immediately. "I think you should leave, before anyone notices you're gone. Or worse, someone else finds you in here. Someone with actually authority on this campus." That feeling in my stomach came back again, and this time I knew it had nothing to do with my appetite. I quickly walked around the desk and darted out of the office, the man watching me the whole time. As I passed him, I noticed he faintly smelled of cigarettes.
