Affection | N.H

Chapter 2

("You act like it's you against the world. But in reality, it is actually you against yourself.")

Laura's face lights up with happiness as I give her the good news. "I am so proud of you, love." She sniffs against my top as I try my hardest not to cry.

It is Monday today. If I have to join by Wednesday, I will have to leave for Melbourne by tomorrow. Damn I don't have much time!

After my goodbyes with Laura and the others in the office, I start making my way towards the campus, to take my farewell from Kristen. I wasn't surprised at all when I found Kristen and Lachlan making out near her locker. To everyone around her, it is not a big deal. I clear my throat to get her attention.

"Look who is here!" Kristen pulls back, with rather annoyance. She leans back towards Lachlan while he stares at me awkwardly. Just because we never talked or I was too socially retarded to talk to anyone doesn't mean people will give me stares like this?

"I am in, I will leave tomorrow." I say quietly unsure of Kristen's reaction to the news.

"I knew you will make it. You've always been that smartass of the class." She rolls her eyes. "Anyways, good luck babe, I love you." Kristen pulls away from Lachlan and gives me a quick hug before walking off with her boyfriend.

I knew she wasn't going to react the way I expected her to. Kristen is the only person in the campus who I bother to talk to sometimes. She has her own group of friends and I don't fit there at all. Sometimes I feel like she is happier with her group of friends instead of me. Isn't that obvious? I am one individual and they are a group of people. Sometimes I wish Caitlin wasn't 4 years older than me. Sometimes I wish Amber didn't live two hours of drive away, in a different college.

I don't have a car yet, sadly. So I walk into the parking lot and pull out my small phone to call a taxi. Suddenly I spot Caitlin's BMW just some distance away beside one of the visitor cars.

I walk towards the car and sure enough Caitlin is sitting there, grinning at me."I thought you had work?" I ask her while putting on my seat belt.

"Well, if you checked your texts, you would know that the gym got locked down this morning. Therefore I don't have any work today." Caitlin groans in irritation as she starts the engine.

"I made it, I am in." I say breaking the silence of tension in the car.

"You didn't.." Caitlin gasps while stepping on the break very harshly.

"Caitlin we are still on the road, drive safely, Jesus." I let out a little laugh.

"But I will have to live on my own now.." She says staring out on the road.

"I will miss you." I say putting my hand on her arm, comfortingly.

"Shit Sherlock, I will miss you more." She smiles.
..
I booked my ticket online. Caitlin wanted to come along because she thought I cannot handle things but I said I was okay. She has been doing so much for me since the past 4 years. She deserves a break. "Wait, am I not underage to fly alone?" I gasp. How come this thought didn't cross my mind before!

"You have to show them your scholarship agreement and they will let you through." Caitlin says while chopping some carrots on the kitchen counter.

She offered to make food tonight. She knows how much I hate to be around lots of people and that's why she got rid of the idea to have a party. Dude, Kristen doesn't care, why will other people do?

"Try it." Caitlin proudly says placing a bowl of spaghetti in front of me. I stare at it while the nauseous feeling takes over my stomach already. Caitlin has been unaware of my eating habits and i think she is better off not knowing about it. I have to act normal so I take a mouthful and swallow it down somehow. "How is it?" Caitlin asks, resting her face on her palms.