The Jacket Snatcher

Chapter 65- Touch Me, And I Kill You

Still fighting off the frigid January air, I sit down in the back row of the lecture hall with my jacket and beanie still on. It's Wednesday, which means that I only have tomorrow's classes and then one measly little class on Friday, and that's weight training in the morning. So after that's over, I have free Fridays this semester. Not a bad way to start off my college career. In fact, my classes seem pretty interesting and everything has gotten off to a good start.

"Morning, Stephanie."

Except for that.

I turn my head to face my greeter. After giving him an annoyed look, I give Rachel a weak smile.

"Hey, Rachel."

"So you're still ignoring me, Stephie? I thought we'd be past this by now," Jake says, taking the seat beside Rachel. My classes are fine, though one classmate in particular is hella annoying.

Rolling my eyes, I turn my attention to the front of the room where our political science professor is starting his lecture on the foundational principles of the U.S. government. Immediately, I zone out and open up the web browser on my laptop. I am careful to take the notes whenever he switches slides; but otherwise, my mind is surfing social media.

I am just scrolling through my news feed when a particular article catches my attention.

"5SOS Lead Man and Girlfriend Call It Quits?"

I am pretty sure the article is going to be about me since, to the media, Luke and I never had a public break-up, so we must still be together and I don't think any of the other guys have girlfriends at this point. I know I shouldn't click the link, but somehow, my mouse ends up over the words and it's open on my screen before I know it.

My eyes scan the article and freeze on the "photo evidence" of Luke "moving on." It's a picture of a group of people, Luke being one of them, smiling for a camera in what appears to be a club or bar in Australia. I start to roll my eyes at the so-called "evidence," but then I notice one of the girls in the picture. It's Allie.

Some kind of gasp must escape my mouth because both Rachel and Jake look over at me. Rachel even leans over to see my screen, but I can't look away to even see her reaction. My eyes are glued to the picture.

Sure, Luke and I are not back together or anything, but we did get to talk a lot over the holidays since he was mostly in one place, and it was a lot easier to find compatible times. So I would be lying if I said that I didn't hope that we would end up back in a relationship again. I have no right to feel this aching in my chest since I'm the reason we're not together, but it doesn't stop the dull throb below my ribcage at seeing him hanging out with his ex-girlfriend.

Knowing that I am about to enter a dangerous downward spiral if I continue to look at this stuff, I close my web browser and pull up my notes again. I proceed to type every single word that comes out of my professor's mouth in an attempt to empty my mind of all the painful and worrisome thoughts that currently swirl around inside.

I can feel Rachel, and probably Jake, staring at me from time to time, but I do my best to hide my reaction.

Back at the apartment, I plop down onto the couch and start in on whatever homework I can find, still trying to keep my mind occupied and away from thoughts of Luke. A few minutes later, I hear the door open and groan when I see that it's Rachel and Jake.

After pseudo making up with Rachel, I started running out of ways to convince her that, while we could be friends again, I couldn't be around Jake. Finally, after she accused me of still having feelings for him, I recanted and allowed him to come over again. I still hate myself for giving in, but I couldn't stand the thought of her thinking I disapproved of seeing him because I was still into him. In fact, that thought alone is enough to make me want to vomit.