Alive - Zalfie (BOOK 2)

28. University Halls

Chapter 28 - University Halls

"So where do we start?" Megan asked, looking up at the tall university buildings in front of us.

"I don't know," I admitted. There were so many doors, corridors and auditoria. I had no idea where to start looking for Helena. For all we knew she didn't even have to go to uni today.

"We should just go inside then, I guess," she shrugged. She took my arm and together we walked through the first door. We ended up in a long hallway. A lot of people were walking there, on their way to lectures. I took a deep breath. I would stay calm.

"I would suggest to split up, but I've never seen her," Megan said, frowning. "What does she study?"

"I don't know," I had to admit once again. How professional. "Medicine maybe? Thomas is a doctor."

"Okay, let's try to find doctor like people," she smiled at me hopeful. We started walking but as we moved further into the halls I started to feel more and more anxious. The people here were walking closer and closer to each other as the corridor was getting more narrow. Somebody bumped into my shoulder hard and I screamed out in pain.

"My bad," the young guy apologized and moved on without looking back. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The pain in my chest got worse so I decided to not breathe in that deeply anymore.

"Hey, he's wearing a lab coat," Megan pointed at the guy who had hurt me. "Let's follow him."

I nodded but I started to feel more panicky by each step I took. I wouldn't be able to do it.

"You follow him," I said. "I'm going to use the bathroom first." I freed myself from Megan's grasp on my arm and started walking back in the opposite direction. As I was going in the opposite direction than most of the crowd, I bumped into a lot of people which made me freak out even more.

Sweat was pearling on my forehead and my throat stung. I was relieved when I finally saw a bathroom sign. Without thinking I ran in and went straight for the sinks. It was a lot more quiet in here, thank god. I opened the tap of the sink and splashed some water in my face. It made me feel better immediately. I looked at myself in the mirror. The gash in my head was very visible. I tried to cover it up a little with some pieces of hair. While I was doing this I saw the reflection of a blonde girl in the mirror. Helena?

I spun around fast and stood face to face with Helena. She looked at me confused and opened her mouth a little.

"Thank god I found you," I sighed in relief. Two other girls, a blonde and a brunette soon stood on either side next to Helena.

"What are you doing here?" she spat and I felt a little hope drain away from my body.

"It's about Thomas," I started, but I could see her shooting me a warning look. She eyed her friends and I immediately understood. Her friends didn't know she was sleeping with her teacher.

"Can we talk somewhere in private?" I asked her but she shook her head.

"No thank you," she replied and started to make her way out of the room. I grabbed her arm quickly, ignoring the fling of pain that went through my chest.

"Hey!" she shouted out. Her two friends gave me nasty glares, which I tried very hard to ignore.

"Please," I begged her. "I know we aren't friends but that doesn't matter. Please if you change your mind..." I took out a piece of paper and biro, I always had in the pockets of my coat. I wrote down my address and telephone number and handed it to her.

She looked at it sceptically and put it in the pocket of her jeans. She turned to leave with her friends but before she walked out the door she turned her head towards me. She gave me a little nod with the head and disappeared. Did this mean that she would help?

Only seconds later Megan walked into the bathroom and gave me a worried look. "Are you alright?"

"I am," I said with a little smile. "She was in here."

"What did she say?" Megan asked curiously while we made our way back to the car.

"Her friends were with her so she pretended like she didn't know me. But I handed her my phone number and address. It's up to her now," I concluded. We got into the car and Megan drove me home after we had a quick meal. To Alfie. My stomach turned, thinking about him. I wasn't that angry anymore, but I was still very disappointed in him.

I said goodbye to Megan and entered the house. I was soon greeted by Alfie. He wanted to hug me but I pushed him away gently.

"I suppose you know," he said quietly.

"I do," I replied.

"Are you mad at me?" he asked.

"Not mad. Disappointed."

"That's even worse," he said making a sad face. "You know, I really was convinced he did it."

"But he didn't," I said. "I saw him today. Alfie, you made a big mistake."

"I'm sorry." I could see that he really meant it.

"You should apologize to him, not to me," I shrugged.

"There's a girl waiting for you in the living room," Alfie announced, avoiding the subject. I frowned, not remembering that I invited anyone. I opened the door to the living room and saw a young girl sitting in the sofa, Nala sleeping on her lap.

"I didn't expect you here so soon," I said.

Helena turned to look at me and gave me a weak smile. "I think you should hear my side of the story."