Catch Me

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Hanging by a Moment

       

       

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Hanging by a Moment

    Haleigh spent most of the following week focused on falling back into her school routine. She tried her best to keep her mind busy with homework and research papers, though found it difficult to do so most days. Her mind often wandered as she daydreamed about Zander.

    Haleigh and Zander had met with campus security the following morning. There had been an awkward tension between the two as they gave their statement of what had happened involving Justin, to the head security guard.

    The following day the whole campus buzzed with gossip as students talked about Justin. He had been put on academic probation, which meant that he was suspended from the football team, and assigned to online classes for the rest of the semester. Haleigh hoped this would teach this guy his lesson, but highly doubted it, and dreaded the day she would see him next.

    Haleigh and Zander had hugged awkwardly after their meeting with campus security before heading off in opposite directions, Haleigh to American Lit where she dreaded seeing Alyssa, and Zander to his shift at the Bagel Factory.

***

    It was Thursday, Haleigh lay on her stomach in her bed while she researched 'the history of ceramics throughout the western world' for her pottery class. She wrote notes in her spiral notebook, often gazing at her phone, secretly wishing Zander would text her. She had received a few texts from him throughout the week, wishing her a "good morning," and then a "goodnight, hope your day went well." She usually texted back with a "thank you" or a "you too."

    Haleigh sighed as she rolled over, examining her empty phone screen.

    "Stop moping." Sam muttered from her side of the room. She was currently searching for something to wear. She and Charles were going out to dinner and a movie for their one year anniversary. Sam had been excitedly talking about this date for the last five days now. Frankly, Haleigh was growing more and more irritated every time Sam brought it up.

    Haleigh sighed in response to her friend.

    "I don't know why you're still thinking about him, Haleigh." Sam rolled her eyes as she picked up a white lace top from a pile of clothes on the floor.

    "I can't help it." Haleigh admitted, she closed her laptop and spiral notebook and pushed them to the side of her bed as she sat up, leaning her back against the cool brick wall.

    "He's a douchebag, player who doesn't care about anyone but himself." Sam said as she slipped into the lace top and a pair of light blue jeans.

    "You don't even know him." Haleigh protested as she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her roommate.

    "Hey, don't give me that look." Sam rolled her eyes as she smeared a layer of lip gloss over her already plump lips. "I'm not the one who kissed another girl right in front of you because he wanted to piss you off." Sam had drawn her conclusions about Zander. She wasn't his biggest fan right now, and that had everything to do with the fact that he had hurt her friend.

    "I know, you're right." Haleigh sighed, uncrossing her arms. "I just can't stop thinking about him."

    "Well, think about him kissing Alyssa." Sam huffed as she made her way over to Haleigh's closet. She pulled out Haleigh's distressed leather jacket and held it up. "Can I borrow this?" She glanced at her roommate with a pleading look in her eyes. Sam had meant to buy a leather jacket of her own, she loved Haleigh's so much. But every time she found one it hadn't fit right, or didn't have enough 'personality.' Haleigh wasn't sure what that had meant. How could a jacket have personality? It was an article of clothing.     "Yeah." Haleigh agreed before she flipped her laptop back open and attempted to finish her pottery homework.