What If Our Life Threads Bind?

Chapter 13.

"I have to talk to him about this." I told Spencer.

"Talk to whom about what?" She wrinkled her nose and I gave her a 'weren't-you-listening' look and she rolled her eyes. "What does he has to do with this? This is up to you Martha."

"Well, the thing is...I am confused. I don't know what to do. That teacher doesn't know how to teach nor does he know how to talk to students." I looked around searching for Austin.

Our lecture with Mr. Brady had not been great today or should I say, had never been great ever. He humiliates students as if he was Hitler and we were all Jewish. The faculty had to be changed, whether anybody likes it or not. "But you aren't the class representative-" Spencer's voice trailed off as I kept walking. Austin might have a solution to this or maybe his friend, Robbie.

It was a grey afternoon, one that threatens to rain any minute with calm winds and good romantic mood; a weather so pleasant that it puts one in a mood to read a romantic young adult novella; one that makes you wish you had a boyfriend. A part of me wasn't doing this for only the sake of faculty but because I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to see him. Only a fool wouldn't wish to talk to their eye candy in a weather like this.

"Hey, Austin." I said and he turned.

"Hey curly head.." He smiled as I twisted a few strands of my curly hair with my fingers, my face evidently coloring. "What's up?"

"I actually needed your help." I said and he nodded. "Mr. Brady is not behaving himself. He doesn't teach well..doesn't treat well. What can I say....I was just wondering if you could help in the change of faculty." He looked at me with a serious expression and for a minute I thought he wasn't even listening so I repeated my last line one more time until my speech was nothing but blabber. "So any help?" I pressed him and he smiled then nodded.

"I'll talk to Robbie and he could talk to the Dean about the faculty change. We'll see. You don't worry about it. Anyone else troubling you?" He asks in a serious tone and I felt a warm feeling in my heart. I shook my head 'no' and then he continued speaking, "Cause if anyone is troubling you, I'll just be a call away to knock some sense in them."

It took me a minute to understand that he is not in a very good mood. I gave him a polite smile and was stepping away from him when he called out, "Martha!"

"Austin." I stopped and smiled at him. He scratched the back of his neck before speaking.

"It is Robbie's birthday today. We're having a party. Will you come?" He said and I hesitated. Pete and Margo's words ringing in my ears like an alarm.

"I don't think so. I have a class-"

"Can't you skip? I promise, it'll be fun! And, don't worry about the classes. I'll help you get the notes and everything from your batch. I'll even drop you back home, if you want. You should come, Martha. Trust me."

I was about to answer when Spencer and Margo said 'excuse me' from my behalf and dragged me away from him. "What are you guys doing?" I asked, annoyance etched in my voice.

"Don't go. They're not the right people." Margo spoke up.

"Explain." I said crossing my hands.

"They bully people. They're players. They're not the right people you should be around with." Spencer said and I already felt like punching a wall.

"And what makes you say that? Because that guy, Samuel said that? Of course, he'll say that. He in the opposition to win elections." I tried not to sound pissed off.

"You're not understanding. They're not the kind of people you should mess around. If you do, they'll ruin you." Margo said and I huffed.

"Fine. I'll see. I'll not say yes to him." Yet.

As I start to walk away, I could feel Austin's eyes on me and I pretended that I didn't see him. I felt like punching myself and my friends for behaving rudely with Austin but I couldn't help but stay afloat.

***

I looked at my reflection on the mirror when a few girls walked inside the girl's restroom. "Its gonna be amazing. I can't wait to see how Robbie would react when he sees my present....."

"I know....I was so waiting for it.."

"Excuse me, who are you guys talking about?" I butted in their talk and they gave me a weird look.

"You don't know Robbie Reynolds? Sweetie, you're new here?" I nodded. "He's the sweetest and most approachable guy you'll find in this uni." They said and a bud of hope bloomed inside. I smiled. "He is?"

***

I took an early slip from college that day and excused myself with a 'not-well' look. I was anyway tired of my perfect attendance. I followed the directions the two girls in the washroom gave me for the party venue. It led me to an open garden party which was a banquet hall a few years ago. The garden was not very far from uni but just a few blocks away.

The moment I stepped in I saw Austin and Robbie. I recognized Robbie from the posters I had seen outside the uni and even outside the entrance of this garden. The two were running behind someone and then climbed on him.

The third guy was unrecognizable. Austin and Robbie climbed on top of him and pushed him to the ground. I took an assumption that Robbie, Austin and the other guy were cake fighting.

Entering in, I was about to approach Austin when I saw that there was no cake in either of their hands. With another push by Robbie, the third guy's face came into my vision, his nose a bloody mess. I gasped.

Robbie punched him multiple times on the nose while Austin kicked the guy with his foot. With heart beat racing to the point that I could feel it jumping to my mouth, my steps backed away and I was already exiting the garden before even knowing it.