Need Somebody

Chapter 6

The weekend flies by way too quickly for my liking and before I know it it's Monday morning once again. The day I've been dreading all weekend ever since Friday night. My first week of college was not what I had been expecting it to be my whole life. Ever since I was a kid I had expected to make tons of friends my first week of school, join a club of some sort, go to parties. Instead it was a week of nervousness, anger, confusion, and there was a tiny slot of happiness for a quick second, only for it to be replaced by one of the other emotions. I can only hope this won't last the rest of the school year.

I stayed in my dorm all weekend wanting to avoid any accidental run ins. Occasionally I'd get up to use the bathroom and shower, even then I'd wait until the hall was clear. For food I ordered Chinese from the only Chinese place that does delivery. I binge watched the first two seasons of New Girl and the first season of Gilmore Girls. Chloe came in and out, of course, but always texting to check up on me. She's a very sweet girl and part of me wishes she were here more to hang out with me. I've been alone before though, nothings changed.

I woke up in my bed on Saturday with red puffy eyes from crying myself to sleep the previous night. That cold winter night and Friday night kept replaying in my head, except by Saturday morning I had no more tears left to shed. I grew angry, almost breaking the small lamp on my table but decided neither one of them deserved the satisfaction of getting to me. Still, for my own sanity I knew I couldn't face him quite yet.

On Sunday I had to type out my essay onto my laptop to print and turn in tomorrow. Doing this only brought back the tears I thought were gone. Writing this monster of an event was gut wrenching enough and I thought that was the difficult part, but I was wrong. Reading it was vile. I felt myself about to vomit but forced myself not to. After this paper I'll never have to relive that night ever again and for that I am thankful. For the rest of that day I stayed in my dorm eating left over Chinese food and watching Netflix.

Now we're here, 6:00 a.m. Monday morning. I look over and see Chloe still sleeping in her bed and debate on waking her up. I decide against it knowing the endless amount of questions I'll be asked if I do. I grab my towel and toiletries along with black skinny jeans and a plain white short sleeve t shirt and tank top and make my way to the showers. It's no surprise when I get to the shower and only see two other girls in there, making it very easy and quick to get mine done with.

By the time I get back to my room it's only 6:30, giving me about an hour to do nothing except try to calm my nerves. When I open the door I find Chloe laying on her bed scrolling through her phone.

"Hey, did I wake you?" I ask her but not caring too much if I did. She puts her phone down and turns to her side facing me.

"No I just woke up. So hermit crab, how was your weekend?" She smiles while stretching her arms and standing up. I'm not quite sure how to answer this question considering she knew I was here all weekend. I end up telling her it was fine and ask her about her weekend while walking to my bed to make it.

"It was fun! Aaron had a party at his place on Friday and it was epic! Mason showed up actually." as soon as she mentions his name I snap my head back and look at her with confusion.

"What?" I ask her, not sure if I heard correctly.

"Yeah it was super weird, he was sweaty and dressed in work out clothes. He didn't do much, just had a few drinks and sat on the couch like the loner he is." Chloe laughs while walking to her closet and rummaging through her clothes. I grow defensive over her last comment and instantly feel the need to stand up for him, but I'm not quite sure why.

"Shut up he's not a loner-," I say earning a shocked look from her, "he's just...a loner you're right, I was just joking." I lie hoping she believes me. I need to get out of here and fast, I don't need her asking me anymore questions. I put a pair of black sandals and grab my belongings and head towards the door.

"I have to go to the library and print out something, I'll see you later?" I ask, knowing what the answer may be. I don't wait for a response and close the door behind me.

...

By the time I leave the library it's 7:45 and I have fifteen minutes to get to my class across campus. The amount the students that do their assignments last minute is astonishing and I promise myself I will never wait to print out something the same day it's due.

When I walk outside the weather is perfect. The sun is out and the sky is a perfect shade of blue. There's a slight breeze but not enough to make anyones hair tangled. That's the worst. I keep my head down while walking across campus only looking up every once in a while to make sure I'm heading the right way.

I get to class five minutes early and the seat next to mine is empty and immediately do a victory dance in my head. Maybe he won't show up or he'll change seats. I walk to my chair and sit down waiting for the professor to begin class. Just as I'm about to smile in relief of his absence, I see a body to my left. Please, for my own sanity, don't let it be Mason. I look up and to my left and yet again, am filled with annoyance.

"Excuse me miss" he slightly whispers. I comply and move my legs knowing he won't go away. He would purposely stand there the entire lecture if I don't let him sit here. He takes the seat next to me and continues looking straight ahead. At least he's on time today. For a moment I think about changing seats while I can, but I remember I'm not giving him the satisfactory of knowing he had gotten to me. I copy his moves and look straight ahead with my eyes locked on the whiteboard and my lips pressed in a hard line. As if she were answering my silent prayers, Professor Banks begins our lecture and he doesn't say a word to me the entire time.

...

The rest of the day drags. In fact I almost fell asleep in Biology and I wasn't even sorry. Next to math, science is my least favorite subject. Turning in my English paper before was nerve wracking and took all the energy out of me. I considered taking a fail and not turning it in at all but knew what the end result would be. I also remembered our essays are confidential and my professor wouldn't be allowed to share it with anyone.

When Biology finishes I walk out the class and outside to head to the cafeteria for lunch. As soon as I think the coast in clear I hear Mason shout my name. My head starts to turn around but my mind changes plans and keeps walking instead.

"Cheyanne!" He calls again causing everyone around us to stare. Why must he draw attention to me? I turn around to keep him from calling me again and see him jogging up to me.

"Hey" he sighs, running his hands through his slightly wavy hair, and looks at me. I give him a 'what do you want' look and he must be reading me very clearly because he opens his mouth and says,

"Uh do you want to go get lunch?" He catches me off guard by asking. I take a step back and look at him with the confusion I often find myself doing with him.

"What?"

"I asked-," he begins but I cut him off.

"No I heard you. But the answers no. What part of 'don't come near me' don't you understand?" I ask, repeating the words I had harshly given him Friday night. The way I had broken down once again Friday repeat in my mind and I force myself to shove it as far back in my brain that I could.

His eyes are searching mine before he shocks me by saying, "I know I just thought maybe you didn't mean it." Immediately my mind reminisces on old friends repeating those same exact words to me before I would tell them to get lost once more. I never thought they'd listen, but they did. Before I knew it they were gone.

"Are you hungry?" He asks, interrupting my thoughts. I shake my head no but my stomach answers for me.

"Come on, just let me get you something to eat. If you still want me gone after this then I'll listen. It's just food, you can't deny food." He smiles perfectly. I open my mouth to say deny his request once more but my feet have a mind of their own and before I know it we're in his car headed to a pizza parlor.