Up in Flames (Flames #1)

Three

Anything I'm Not by Lenka

By the time Friday comes, I'm used to rolling over and slamming off my alarm in one smooth motion. As I stretch my arms above my head and wake myself up, I pride myself on not having woken up my grumpy neighbour, who I've affectionately named Greg. I can hear Greg snoring throughout my morning routine and soon enough I'm out the door and on my way to campus, leaving Greg and his heavy breathing behind. 

I leave for campus with plenty of time to spare, knowing I won't see Tali today. Friday's I only have one class - Art History - whereas Tali's timetable is blissfully free, leaving her with a three day weekend. Navigating the campus alone feels more daunting than it did the first day - the lack of Tali by my side a noticeable absence. 

I hesitate before pulling out my phone, staring at the two numbers programmed in it. Considering it's 9am on a morning where Tali has no classes I'm sure she wont be awake, but maybe Akio...

Me: Hey, any chance you know where the law building is? Got an Art History class there this am.

Before I can think anything through, I send the message. As it makes the whooshing sound letting me know my message has been sent, my heart stops for a moment. I reread my message over and over again, the words flashing behind my closed eyelids. Oh shit, did I give him my number?

Me: It's Lyla, by the way.

I put my phone quickly in my pocket, aiming to scrub this memory from my mind. I turn in circles, eyeing every building I can see and looking for the elusive law building. All my other classes had been in the social sciences building - easily located in the centre of campus. I hadn't thought finding a single building would be this hard...A buzz in my pocket pulls me from my intense scrutinisation.

Akio: Ah, the law building. That's a tricky one - it's hidden behind the Social Sciences building. Just keep following the path round into the bushes and you'll find the entrance!

I sigh in relief, not bothering to reply as I rush to follow the path that looks like it leads nowhere. I'm already late, and I can feel the anxiety rushing through my body in waves of adrenalin the later it becomes. I reach into my bag as I walk up the steps, grabbing my notebook so I can slide into my seat easier. As I push through the door, I run straight up the stairs and into a completely full classroom. The teacher turns to look at me, her expression impatient and obviously waiting for an excuse.

"I'm sorry, uh, Miss - I couldn't find the building." I stammer hopelessly, my face getting hotter and hotter with each second that her gaze lingers on mine.

"Make sure not to be late again. Please take a seat," she gestures up to the mostly full theatre and I slide into the closest seat I can next to a girl who barely gives me a glance out of the corner of her eye before returning her attention to the computer in front of her where she begins rapidly typing. I can't imagine what, because the teacher hasn't even begun to cover any content, and is still addressing standard university policy for submissions of assessments - snore, as if I haven't heard an hour of this in every other class I attended this week.

The two hours that the class runs for seems to drag by as slowly as possible, and as soon as the bell goes to signal the end of class I am up out of my seat and out the door. I've barely cleared the building before I have to step off to the side to retrieve the buzzing phone from my pocket. I stare at it in confusion as a name continues flashing on my screen: Akio. 

I stare at my phone for so long that it rings out before I answer it. I quickly fumble to call him back, holding my breath as I listen to the dial tone emanating from the speakers.

"Hello, Lyla?" His voice, even through my speakers, makes me want to sit down and let a huge grin overtake my face. Instead, I rejoin the sea of students on the path and begin to make my way back home.