The Difference

Chapter 3.

I want to hang up but I am paralyzed by fear. How did he get this number? I was assured that he couldn't get this number.

"How did you--?"

He cut me off. "I'll always find you Cassandra. Don't you remember?"

I cringed at my birth name on his lips. I could almost smell the whiskey through the phone. "What do you want Bill? Haven't you done enough?" I was on the verge of tears but I couldn't show him that he was getting to me in any way.

"It'll never be enough." He chuckled and it made me shiver. "Tell me where you are and we can work this out. Just you and me."

"Go to hell asshole." I hung up the phone and let the tears flow.

How could he do this to me? I thought this was over. I thought I could finally move on. I was stupid to think I'd be free of him. I will never be free of him.

I began to hyperventilate. This cannot be happening.

"Piper?" I couldn't answer her. "Piper are you okay?" Leah came closer and held my shoulders. "Piper? Piper look at me!" Her loud voice snapped me out of my trance.

I broke free of her grip and sprinted out of the dorm. I could her calling after me but I chose to ignore her. I ran as far as my legs could run and then collapsed onto the grass.

The first time was hard enough and I don't know if I could go through that again. I barely made it the last time.

I was told I would be safe here. 'America is a great place to move to' they told me. 'An American number is much safer' they said. How could they have been so wrong?

"Are you okay?"

I flinched at the voice but when I turned around his face softened when he saw the state I was in.

"Oh god." He said more to himself than me. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

I stood up and backed away before he could touch me. "I'm fine."

"You don't look fine." I wasn't sure what to say. I wasn't even sure who this person was. "Leah's roommate, right?" I stayed silent. "I'm Harry." He waited for my reply that didn't come. "The one who pulled Leah off--"

"I know who you are." I replied bluntly.

"Oh, okay." He seemed slightly off put by my coldness but I didn't want his sympathy.

Looking closer at him I could see he had his eyebrow pierced and the edge of a tattoo was showing on his right arm where his t-shirt finished.

"Did you want to talk about it?"

"No." I snapped. "I mean, no thank you." He nodded his head and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I'm just going to go for a walk."

"Did you want any company?" He offered.

"I think I'll just go alone."

"Okay." He smiled. "I'll tell Leah."

"That'd be great, thanks." I weakly smiled back.

I wiped under my eyes and headed to the closet place I knew which was the coffee shop. I lined up and placed the same order as yesterday. I went to grab money from my back pocket when I realized I hadn't brought any. Just as I was about to cancel my order a familiar voice from behind me said he would pay and before I could argue he had already handed over the money.

"Be ready shortly Miss." The worker left and I was about to tell Jace off but he was already sitting back down.

"Why would you do that? I could've paid."

"And how would you have done that without a wallet?" He questioned.

I had to think if something. I couldn't let him be right.

"I could've washed dishes until my debt was paid off." I settled on.

"It was five dollars. Don't worry about it."

"I can look after myself you know." I crossed my arms over my chest.

"I'm sure you can." He chuckled and showed that smug smile of his.

"I'll be paying you back." I assured him.

"You don't have to do that--"

"I'll be paying you back." My tone was more harsh letting him know that I meant what I said.

"Whatever you want."

"Why are you always in here anyway? Do you live here or something?"

"I could ask you the same thing Piper."

"What? Why?"

"Well every time I've been in here so have you." Jace explained. "So do you live here?"

"Of course not. You know I live on campus."

"That's right. You're crazy fighter chick." He laughed and again I wanted to slap him.

"Excuse me?" I said between gritted teeth.

"Hey don't shoot the messenger." He put his hands up in defense. "That's just what they're calling you."

"Who's 'they'?"

"Everyone on campus." What? "How have you not heard it yet? I'm surprised I'm the one telling you." I just stared at him. "Did you really not know?" I shook my head. "Sucks to be you."

I lost it with that comment. How dare he make fun of me. He doesn't know what went on in that room. No one really does except for Leah, Harry and myself. Not some weird guy who hangs around in a coffee shop all day.

My name was called but before I got my order I grabbed the glass of water that was on his table and threw it in his face.

I didn't bother looking back at his reaction when I walked out of the shop. I had never done anything like that in my life and it felt great. I made a mental note to myself to do that to people more often.

I tasted my drink and this time it was made correctly. I made my way back to campus and when I opened the door to my dorm Leah immediately stood up and engulfed me in a hug.

"Are you okay? Harry told me you were crying. Who was that phone call from? Where have you been?"

"Slow down Leah." I said while pulling away. "I went to get a coffee, see?" I showed her my drink and she sighed in relief.

"You scared the shit out of me." She hit both of my shoulders and I yelped.

"What the hell?! Stop hitting me."

"Sorry. Just don't do that to me again, okay?

"Stop hitting me and I won't."

"Deal." She hugged me once more before returning to her seat on her bed.

"Since when are you two friends?" Harry questioned. He seemed very confused. "Earlier today I was pulling you off her and now you're all buddy buddy. What happened here?"

"We came to an understanding." Leah answered.

"You? Understanding? That's a first." Leah hit him playfully and I laughed to myself quietly.

What happened today with Bill could not get out. I needed to keep him a secret for as long as possible. It was the only way my friends would be safe, that I would be safe.