Chemistry (Otis Milburn)

30

I had barely slept at all last night. The idea that someone I did not know knew where I lived and was watching me terrified me. Nick was taking me to school that morning, and I almost told him I wasn't going to go, but I had to. I had to tell Otis what was going on. Besides, it was daytime during school hours. It was highly unlikely that this person was to follow me around school.

I glanced at myself as I walked past the mirror and took a step back. Man, I looked terrible.

My hair was tangled, I had dark circles and my eyes looked sunken in.

It made me think I had been looking like this lately, but it took this morning to realize that I looked like a walking corpse. I quickly dug through my vanity drawer and applied concealer around my eyes. "Much Better." I grabbed my bag, slapped on a sweater, and walked downstairs.

Nick was waiting outside and smiled as he saw me walking towards his car. He rolled down his window and yelled out

"Did you eat?"

"No I-"

"Yeah, that's what I thought." He glared at me. As I turned around to go walk back inside, he called out again.

"Come back, we're going to get breakfast."

We drove to a nearby café that was rather close to my school, but I had never been there before. It had a very modern vibe to it- the walls and tables were bright white, and the hanging lights and chairs were a faded grey. I ordered the avocado on toast with basil with a matcha latte.

"How are you?" Nick asked me.

"I'm, fine I guess. Yourself?"

He raised his eyebrow.

"You guess? What is that supposed to mean?"

"I don't know, I'm just stressed that's all." I didn't want to tell him what happened last night just yet.

"I forgot to mention. Camille is your best friend right?"

"I think so, why?" I chuckled.

"Well, this morning I stopped by Amy's office and I saw her leaving the building before I went in. Do they know each other?"

"That's very strange. Camille knows of her, but they've never worked together. She doesn't represent Camille. I would certainly know."

Our food arrived at the table, and I could feel the last bit of my appetite disappearing. What was Camille doing at Amy's office?

"Well, maybe I was mistaken! It could have been someone else who looked like Camille." Nick tried to fix it, giving a nervous laugh.

"No, you saw what you saw." Why would she be in Amy's office? And not tell me?

After breakfast, Nick dropped me off at school just in time for my first class. Otis had beat me to class per usual.

"What happened last night? You said you had to tell me something and you disappeared."

"I know. I'll explain everything during lunch. I want to believe it's safer for the both of us at school." I whispered.

"Safer? What do you mean? Vivienne are you sure you're okay? This isn't like you."

"Lunch, Otis."

I speed walked to the portables right when the bell had rung for lunch. I waited inside and looked out the window, waiting for Otis. As soon as he stepped by the door, I grabbed his hand and pulled him inside.

"Okay, that was unnecessary." He groaned, holding his wrist.

"Sorry. Okay, listen. I know lately I've been acting strange, but there's a reason for all of it-me getting picked up, dropped off, distance, but it's not what you think. Far from, actually."

"Why can't you just tell me? Why does it have to be this dramatic?" He said impatiently.

"Because it's not-safe."

"Why do you keep mentioning safety, Vivienne? Do you have a stalker or something? Do you need help?"

"It's not that. It's-" I turned to the window and saw the back of a girl's head. From her long, blonde locks, I knew exactly who it was- Camille. To test it, I called her phone. As it was ringing, the girl turned and looked down to what had to be her phone.

It was her.