Songless Bird

Chapter 3

The first week has gone well, I attended each of my classes at least once, and after the first incident, I remembered to show my ID to each of my teachers.

I would stay up late almost every night talking to Mason. I loved learning about him, and it was really amazing to know how he grew up. As my friendship with Mason grew, so did my friendships with Reagan and Axel. We went out to breakfast together almost every morning, occasionally joined by our other dorm mates.

Now, Friday night, Effie is trying to convince me to attend a party with her and the other girls.

"Come on, Willow, you need to socialize more."

I grab the white board I use around the dorm building. 'How am I supposed to do that?' I write.

"Addi and I can introduce you to some people, let them know about your disability, it won't be that bad. Having friends is a necessity at college."

'I have friends.'

"I know Willow, but wouldn't you like to make more? Come on, it'll be fun!"

"Give her a break Effie, she doesn't have to go if she doesn't want to." Addi states from the couch.

I hear a door close, and look over to see Reagan, who signed to me - 'You really should go. I'll go with you.'

I can't help but smile. 'Fine, I'll go.' I write on the board. Effie clapped her hands.

"Yay! Alright girl, lets go find something for you to wear!"

---

An hour later, I was surrounded by over a hundred intoxicated college students, and I wasn't enjoying it at all.

Effie had basically forced me to take a couple of shots, and I'm lightheaded now, nothing is really comprehendible. Reagan and Abbi disappeared, and I don't see anyone else I know.

I wander through the mass of bodies, hoping to find an exit, but to no avail. Due to my tipsy confusion, I end up running into something - or someone. They grabbed my forearms to hold me steady.

"You alright?" A low voice asks. "Willow? Are you okay?"

I look up to see Elias, unable to keep from giggling at how fuzzy his face looks. I nod in response to his question.

"Did you come here with girls from our floor?" I nod. "Did they ditch you." I shrug, but nod again. "I think I should take you back." I shrug a second time. "How much have you had to drink?"

I hold up two fingers. "Shots or glasses?" I hold up one finger. "Well, now we know you can't hold your alcohol." He mutters, taking my wrist and dragging me through the crowd. His legs are longer than mine, and he therefore walks a lot faster, causing me to stumble and Elias' grip to slip.

I land on the floor, wincing when I was kicked by some random partygoer. I stand up, brushing myself off, and look around for Elias. Spotting his shaggy bronze hair, I make my way over to him, where he was leaning against a wall, and tug on his shirt.

But the person who looked down at me wasn't Elias.

He cocked his eyebrow, staring at me with a confused, and slightly annoyed, expression that looked a bit too familiar...

Or it did...

Until I passed out.

---

"...iss...vens...Ravens...Miss Ravens!"

I open my eyes, wincing as my vision is flooded with light. Blinking a few times I look up at the face of my Literature Professor.

I immediately start to inwardly panic. Holy crap. What happened? I wracked my brain, trying to remember... Elias... I lost him... I found him but... Not Elias... passed out... Oh snap.

I blush as soon as I realize what I'd done.

"Miss Ravens?"

My attention snaps back to Professor Spencer, and I sit up.

"Are you alright?" I nod in response, but my head still feels slightly fuzzy. "Do you need help getting back on campus?" I think about it for a moment, nervously biting my lip. I shake my head, but he doesn't seem to buy it.

"You're a terrible liar." I frown, glaring at him like a child. He stands, as he had been kneeling beside the bench I was laying on, and holds out his hand, offering to help me up.

I take it, almost falling, but he steadies me. "Alright, you think you can stay here for five minutes while I go get my car?" He asks, sounding annoyed. I nod in response, sitting back on the bench. Professor Spencer walks away, and I begin to nod off, exaughsted.

"Willow! There you are!" I look up moments (but they feel like hours) later, to see Reagan running towards me. I stand, almost falling over for the trillionth time tonight. "God, we were looking all over for you. Elias said he was going to bring you home, but then he lost you. Effie realized she ditched you, as had Abbi and I-"

'Stop rambling.' I sign sloppily.

Reagan laughs. "Okay, okay, lets get back to the dorms then. The girls and I are leaving." He holds out his hand and I take it, letting him lead me away.

We meet the girls at Effie's car.

"Ohthankgodyoufoundher. Wherehaveyoubeenwumman? Wewereworriedsick!" Abbi ranted on and on, and surprisingly, there's no alcohol on her breath. Effie on the other hand, is completely drunk.

"Ooooh gurl, yu dun sumthin to yur haya (hair)?" I shake my head. "Dun lie ta meh gurl, I figuah dese tings out mmkay." She drawls as she falls into the passenger seat.

"Well get in girly, you too not-so-girly." Abbi states as she opens the driver's door.

"After you lass." Reagan grins, opening the backseat door behind Effie. I giggle, climbing in. Moments later, after the boy slides into the seat beside me, Abbi starts the car and hits the road, bringing us back to the campus.

---

I wake up with a splitting headache, and slowly get dressed in some comfy, baggy clothes. I make my way into the common room, setting up the coffee maker for Effie. Lou, Ronan, and Elisa were already up, watching Saturday morning cartoons. I snag a bottle of water from the fridge, and grab the bottle of Tylenol out of the medical cabinet above the sink. Swallowing a couple, I put a couple more on a tray, along with a glass of water and return to my room to put the tray on Effie's nightstand.

After doing so, I make my way to Reagan's room, knocking on the door.

"Yeah?"

I crack the door open, seeing Reagan curled up on his bed, watching YouTube on his phone. He looks up at me as I enter, and grins. "How's the hangover?"

I grimace, but don't reply. Instead, I ask, 'Why aren't you hungover?'

"I'm Irish, I can handle my alcohol." He laughs, sitting up and patting the spot on the bed beside him. I sit down, and he wraps the blanket around me before unpausing the video.

After wasting almost two hours watching YouTube with Reagan, I receive a text from Mason, asking me if I wanted to meet him at the gardens at 1:30.

I quickly sign to Reagan, letting him know that I was leaving to go hang out with a friend.

"Have fun." He called out just as I closed the door.

I slip on a pair of my Toms before leaving the floor, and the dorm building.

As I'm making my way to the gardens, I can't help but feel like somebody's watching me. I glance around, noticing a bronze-haired man in sunglasses looking at me from a distance.

And then I realized I forgot about something - or someone - last night, and along with that realization came the thought that they weren't very happy about it.