Control

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Ella

As soon as I entered our room, Allison attacked, "what the hell happened to you?!"

"What do you mean?" I questioned.

"Why didn't you answer my text and why do you reek?" she exclaimed.

"Ugh, Allie, this has been the WORST day ever!" I proceeded to tell her what happened at the coffee shop, and before I could get into how incredibly late I was to every class because I was constantly lost, she interrupted me.

"Wait. He called you a b*tch? Twice?? And you just apologized and walked away? First of all, do NOT let anyone walk all over you like that again! Secondly, I hate to say it, but I bet if you actually dressed like yourself, you would not have been treated that way. I know that sounds shallow, but seriously, you're a babe, and if you ran into a guy, no matter who it was, looking like yourself, there is no way he would have yelled at you. Instead, it would have turned into some sort of meet-cute! I mean losing the colored-contacts is not enough of a step. I know you only ditched those because of the cost, Ella."

I rolled my eyes at her and then said, "And suppose I would have looked my normal self and hypothetically I started dating the douche?! I mean, the guy was terrifying, Al. I have never seen anything like it. And all over a spilt cup of joe! I just want to avoid him so he has no excuse to carry out his dramatic threat."

"Wow, I think that's the meanest thing I've ever heard you say about someone. College has changed you," she said with a giggle and a wink. "In all seriousness though," she continued, "I wish you would always have that gumption. You're too sweet and timid for your own good. I worry you're going to be taken advantage of. Also, I really want to find that guy and junk punch him!"

"Ali! Oh my gosh!" I giggled. She always cheers me up. While still wanting to shudder at the memory of a death glare and ominous threat, I felt calm for the first time since my encounter that morning. All I have to do is avoid him. It's a large campus, it should be easy enough, right?

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Three weeks in and things have gone much better than the first disastrous day. I found a part-time job at Jojo's, a quaint coffee shop near campus. Allison already has a boyfriend- no surprise there. But I wholeheartedly approve. His name is Jack and he is fun and seems to treat her well. They spend most of their time at his place instead of ours, which I'm grateful for as I want to concentrate on my studies, and Allie is more of a "wild spirit" who is constantly trying to drag me into some type of mayhem.

Case in point, Allison accosted me as soon as I got home, "Ella, my dear, sweet, best, best friend in the whole wide world! Please just hear me out. There is this amazing club that Jack knows about and we are going tonight. But he has this friend who has been kind of down lately, so...well... we were thinking that if you came along, maybe you could cheer him up. Plus you said you wanted to have more adventure once you came to college and basically you've only been working and studying and you really need a break and I promise it will be so fun and I won't leave you for a second! Please, please, please please..."

By this time, I was wondering how she had any breath left at all! I tried to concentrate with her bouncing up and down begging with her puppy-dog eyes. Damn her! She did have a point, though. I did want to live my life, and I've fallen into the same routine since coming here (no doubt frightened out of my resolve because of my first day here).

I shook my head and sighed before saying, "Alright, buuuut, you have to promise not to leave me alone with this guy!"

I covered my ears as she screamed, "YEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAA!!"

I can't believe I gave in so quickly! Not only that, but an hour later, I'm somehow dressed in a skin-tight black lace dress with three-quarter see-through sleeves that comes well above my knees. My natural hair is falling in loose waves down my back. I am without my glasses and have on make-up making my eyes pop. I'm trying hard to not have a panic attack and Allison assures me I won't feel self-conscious as soon as I'm covered in the darkness of the club and have 1 or 2 drinks in me.

"I will NOT be drinking, Allie! I am only seventeen!" I adamantly explain.

"Only for one more week."

I give her a knowing look. "The legal drinking age is 21, Allie. You shouldn't be drinking either. How can we even get in? If they have alcohol, don't we need to be 21 to enter?"

"Don't be mad..." she started guiltily.

"What did you do?" I asked in warning.

"Jack may or may not have gotten us fake ID's. He said he knows a guy..."

"You are really starting to talk me out of this, Allison."

"I know, I'm sorry. I promise you don't have to drink and if you have a terrible time I will never, ever, ever, ever even try to convince you to do this again."

I contemplated what she said, then considering I am dressed already, I decided I might as well go through with it. I nodded meekly and sighed, "let's just get this over with."

"That's the spirit!" Allison exclaimed.

Just then, we heard a knock at the door. "That must be the guys," said Allison.

"Wait! What is the guy's name?" I ask frantically.

"What? Jack! You've met him...ooooh. His friend's name is James," she quickly explains.

She then opened the door and was immediately swept up in a tight embrace by her one-and-only. I peeked around the embracing couple and observed James leaning against the doorframe with his hands in his pocket, observing the couple in annoyance. The same annoyed look I saw about three weeks ago. I gasped loudly drawing the attention of James. He glanced up at me and I saw his eyes widen in surprise with recognition.

This was going to be a long night.