Holding Hope

Chapter 8-Chris Tomlin, no not the musician.

        I woke up with a tear stained face, a damp pillow and constant tapping at my door. I rubbed my eyes and got out of bed.
"Hold up" i called out as I moved to the sink, ran water over my face and cleaned it with a paper towel. I opened the door to my Muslim course mate, Rasheeda. "Hey Sheeda, what's up?" I asked moving aside as she stepped into the room.
"Well I'm good but apparently you're not, considering you missed class."
"Oh yeah, I was so exhausted after training this morning that immediately I hit the sheets I was a goner" I lied. Truth is with everything that happened I had totally forgotten I had class.
We were in the last week of lectures for the semester. Exams started in a week's time. Vacation was fast approaching and so was sectionals.
"Did Mrs. Barnes ask of me?"
"You know she did"
Mrs. Barnes was my fave lecturer in the whole university and what was more? She taught my favourite Psychology core, Elements of Psychology. I was an Economics major and a Psychology minor.
"Well I won't be staying long, I've got group studies in about an hour's time." Rasheeda said looking at her watch. "Here's a compilation of topics treated this semester and the ones I've ticked are those the exam questions are likely to fall under."
I stared at the sheet she handed me. Seriously? Only two topics were not ticked off the list and that was obviously because we weren't able to cover them this semester. I rolled my eyes, teachers were so annoying even Mrs. Barnes. She handed me my notes she had borrowed some days back and a handout on one of the topics.
I thanked her as she made way out of my room.
As soon as I shut the door after her my phone begun ringing and I rushed to grab it from my table. Chris.
"Hey Chris, what's good?" I said excitedly to the person at the receiving end.
"Me" he replied curtly and I could picture him smirking
"So T, wanna meet and study for end of sem?" His husky voice laced with a slight Southern accent asked.
"I'd love to, I'll be in your room in 5." I said before hanging up.
Christopher Tomlin was my course mate and first male friend in the university. We also happened to be in the same hostel. He treated me like his kid sister and I treated him like my little brother. We were almost always arguing but we loved one another nonetheless.
I changed into a mid thigh floral print dress and a knitted sweater. I slipped on my Puma Fenty's, grabbed my phone and books off the study table and was out the room.
Chris was on the second floor whereas I was on the third floor. I descended the stairs and made way to room 205. I banged my fists against the door.
"Stop trying to break down the door, its open" he shouted from inside the room.
I turned the door knob and went in. Chris was lying on the couch watching a basketball game like he didn't have a care in the world.
"Idiot" I said smacking his head
"Ow" he glared at me as he shifted his weight and i plopped down beside him.
I took the remote controller off the table and turned the TV off.
"Hey, no fair, I was watching that" he said pouting
"Hey, we have exams" i retorted rolling my eyes.
"Fineee"
"Good, now get up and let's go."
"Sure, lemme just grab something first" he said standing up and moving to the kitchen.
He returned holding two banana shakes and a white paper bag with 'Burger King' across it.
"Have I told you how much I love you lately?" I asked grinning from ear to ear and my hands clasped together.
"Just shut up and let's go" he laughed
"Idiot" I said frowning
"I love you too" he chuckled as we left his room, food and books in hands.
"Are you just limping so I'd give you a piggy back ride or you're limping cos you have to?" Chris questioned as we made our way to the study room.
"I'm limping because I want a piggy back ride. Dimwit" I said rolling my eyes
"Seriously though, what's wrong? You okay?" He asked concerned
"I had a little accident at the *HC today but I'm fine"
"Are you sure T?" He asked with a look of doubt 
"I'm fine Christopher. Its nothing serious"
"Well if you say so" he shrugged not believing me but not pushing either.
The study room was a little crowded than usual, with exams fast approaching, people were making the most of the limited time left. Luckily our usual spot at the far end was not occupied.
We found our way to our seats, ate and studied in peace.

*The HC-Henry Couver Gymnastics Training Centre