Alone Awaken

Chapter 12: Colton

I was frozen when Remi was yelling. I was shocked how loud this little thing got. In that moment, I thought it was the sexiest thing, how she wouldn't back down to Tori. She didn't need my help. She is an independent woman that doesn't need anyone. But it only makes me want her more.

The front door slams and I snap back to reality. I need to go after her. I move my legs forward but a cold hand grabs me.

"Colton stop! Do NOT go after her!" Tori drunkenly yells at me. Does she really expect me to listen to her?

"Tori, let go, you're drunk and being stupid." I say calmly, so she doesn't overreact. Her eyes widen in my response. Shit. She's going to overreact.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY?!" she swings her arms around like a crazed monkey. "You've known this girl, for what, an hour and you're going to ruin everything we have, for her?!" Her eyes start to water. What is she talking about? what we have?

"What are you talking about?! I asked you so many times to be with me. You decided that I wasn't good enough. That the countless guys you've fucked, were more important than me!" My voice is getting louder without me realizing. I never was heart broken by Tori. But it still stung seeing her at parties making out with randoms.

Tori doesn't say anything. I am just about to leave, when she grabs my t-shit and slams her lips on mine. She's desperately trying to shove her tongue down my throat and the taste of cigarettes and liquor make me push her away.

"What are you doing?!" I yell at her.

I back away with my arms out, making sure she doesn't jump me again.

"If you leave Colton, I'm not helping you with your performance!" She threatens me with a bony finger. Uh, ok.

"If this is how you're going to act, then fine, I don't need you." I pause for a second. "You know what? I'm happy I gave up chasing you. Remi's right, you only care about yourself." I shake my head and start picking up my pace to find Remi.

I pull the overly-painted door open and rush onto the porch. I look down at my car and Remi's not there. A few of my soccer mates are pulling the last keg out of my trunk.

I look up and start scanning the crowd. I've found her before, I can find her again.

The crowd has doubled since we got here. It's going to take forever to find her. If anything, she's already half way to campus by now. I reach in my pocket to get my keys and suddenly, I see her.

Remi is at the end of the drive-way, being pulled by the arm by a guy with a drink. She is trying to pull away, telling him to let go. My heart starts racing. Who the fuck is touching her!? I start sprinting without thinking. I grab his shoulder and spin him around and connect my right knuckles to his jaw-line. Oh fuck.. Josh.

Josh heaved over in pain, dropping his drink and grabbing his face. He looks up at me with rage in his eyes.

"WHAT THE FUCK BRO?!" He screams in pain and clasps his jaw again.

I look up at Remi and her mouth is wide open. She looks into my eyes. I can't tell if she's frightened, or thankful for what I did to Josh.

"Are you alright?" I ask her.

A blow hits me in my stomach and I'm forced to the ground. Josh is on top of me and pulls his elbow back to hit me. I instinctively block each hit with my arms. I grab his last swing in my palm and pull him to the ground. I shoot up off the ground and back away. I can't risk getting injured and neither can Josh. He doesn't need his jaw to play soccer.

The crowd notices the fight that just started and everyone's watching us. Half of them cheering, half of them yelling for us to stop. I see my house mates running towards us and I put my hands up in surrender. They don't go after me, but instead, they hold Josh back. They know that whatever happened, Josh deserved it. They see what I see, when I look at Josh. A piece of shit that degrades women. But I was the only one to finally do something about it. Even though it took me 4 years to do it. It took him grabbing Remi for me to finally do something.

"Get-off me!" I hear Josh yelling, as they pull him back towards the house.

I turn around hoping Remi is still here. She is. She hasn't said anything yet. I look into her eyes. They're glossy. I take a step towards her and she doesn't move. I reach slowly for her hand and I take it into mine. She's still holding my gaze.

"Let me take you to your room." I state. It's not a question, I'm not letting her go in this state. I need to make sure she gets back, safely.

She nods. And I bring her to my side, still holding her hand. I wrap my arm around her waist and feel how small she really is. We walk together up the drive-way and I open the passenger side door. I let go of her waist and let her sit down. I shut the door and jog to the driver side. I start the engine and beep twice to warn people behind me to get out of the way. I reverse my car into the street and head back towards campus.

Hollow by Tori Kelly is playing through the radio. I always thought her legato in this song was enticing. The last time we were in this car, we were laughing and singing. Now, it's shifted and I don't think music will help right now.

I reach for the volume button to turn it off, but Remi grabs my hand to stop me.

"Don't, just.. leave it on." She stares at the radio and doesn't look at me. She needs music to play. I don't know why, but I'll do what she wants. She hasn't let my hand go, so I move it to her lap.

She's holding my hand. She places her right hand on top of mine and keeps her left clasped into my palm. She keeps her eyes focused on my hand. I don't say anything. I just let the music play like she wanted. I drive as slow as I can back to campus. I'm not sure what to say. I don't want to make her uncomfortable or push her away.

I turn into the back entrance and drive towards the Main Center. I pull into a side parking spot and turn the engine off with my left hand. I don't want to let her hand go.

The car is silent now. The silence acts as pressure weighing down on me. I can feel her thinking the same thing. Waiting for someone to break the silence.

"Can I walk you to your dorm?" I say softly.

She looks up at me. "Yeah, I'd like that." She leans down to pick up her keys from the car floor. She lets go of my hand and lets herself out.

I rush opening my door and make my way to her. I lock my car and put my hand out for her to grab it. She holds my hand instinctively, as if we've been doing it for years. We step over the curb on to the side walk and I let her lead.

Campus has quiet down since this afternoon. Cars are all gone and the sun is beginning to set. This day has been bombarded with thoughts, emotions and encounters. People have shown their true colors and it's opened my eyes. Remi has completely turned my life upside down, and I'm not mad at it, not one bit.