Moment: Lost in the Past

Chapter 4

Izzy’s POV

 

I wake up and find myself alone in my dorm room. The last thing I remember, Luke was here. Then it came to me that he transferred to another room last night. Now that’s my typical man. When he finds that a girl is boring, searches for another who’s fun enough to be with.

Very eagerly, I start my day and prepare myself. So far, it’s good. I still haven’t encounter Mr. Fluke surprisingly even when I took my bath. I blow dry my hip-length hair and put it up in a ponytail. My auburn waves are getting longer and for sure it would burden me during my internship. I should be getting a haircut this afternoon. So is Mr. Fluke but the last thing I need is a run-in with Mr. Perversive Arrogant Bastard.

I throw in on some plain white t-shirt and black acid-washed ripped skinnies. I pair it with my black Van’s and that sling bag I carry with me all the time. I am putting my glasses on when I hear my door open revealing Irene and Mike smiling. I took a glance at the room across the hall as it opens spitting the even more ruffle haired Fluke and a girl wearing only panties and tank-top who closes the door for him. So that’s Liana, huh? I hate her.

“Going somewhere, Izzy?” Michael asks.

“Uhm, yeah. I need to get the things I need for my subjects.” Fluke doesn’t get in our room but is barricading the door.

“How are you feeling, Irene?”

“I’m good, Izzy. Thanks for asking. I’m sorry I left you here to sleep all alone.”

“What? It’s nothing. I totally understand. Besides, I don’t mind sleeping alone.” I plastered the most concern smile I have trying so hard to convince them.

“Good to know. You should probably get going. Be careful though. The campus is already swarming with people.”

“I will. Thanks. Oh and Mikey, take care of Irene, a’right?” He winks at me and I went out pushing past Fluke.

“Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed today.”

“Get over yourself, Fluke. And stop following me.”

“Woah. Relax, Princess. I didn’t sleep with anyone, okay?” But his expression somehow tells me that he’s regret saying those words.

“Oh, what do I care?”

“Why do you sound so jealous?”

“No, I am not. I just don’t want to hear you explain something.”

“I wasn’t planning on it.”

“Good. Now leave me alone!” Even I was surprised by my own behavior. Why am I acting like such a jealous girlfriend? It’s not like-

“I won’t. At least not yet. Just hear me out, okay?... Nothing happened.”

I huff out in exasperation. “I don’t care, Fluke. I don’t care where you go. Where you sleep. What you do. ‘Who’ you do. Like I said last night, just because we had a little heart-to-heart talk doesn’t mean we’re already friends.”

“But, why, Belle? Why can’t we be friends?”

“Because you remind me of someone I really want to forget. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to run some errands.”

I get in my car slamming my car door and drive away. I don’t get why my blood boiled from the moment I saw him get out of that room, with that little slutty-dressed-for-Sunday girl. Why was he even there in the first place? Didn’t he say that he already has full access of our room and he can stay whenever he wants to? Why didn’t he sleep in that same room with me? Why did he choose to be with other girls? Could it be possible that I like him? No. no, I can’t. The last time I fell in love with someone, I was only betrayed and it caused me the life of someone I really love and really loves me.  My thoughts are all over the place that I almost didn’t notice the guy crossing the streets and bumped into him.

“Shit.” I get out and helped the man. “I am so sorry. Oh my God. I almost ran into you. Are you okay? Can I take you to the hospital?” I am starting to panic. The last thing I want right now is a criminal case on my record.

“I’m fine, Miss. It was my fault. I didn’t notice you coming.” He says patting away the dirt off of his hoodie. When he stands up, that’s when I start to notice his fairly dark hair and dark eyes. He’s got the body and stance of an obvious athlete. But he’s no taller than Fluke, my subconscious added. He’s good-looking but nowhere near Luke. Why am I even comparing him to that Perv?  Somehow, there’s something familiar about him at my thought of Fluke.

“I’m Cory, by the way. Cory Hampton.” His first name rings a bell in my head but I could barely recognize it.

“You’re that girl together with Hemmings last night, aren’t you?” Oh, right. Now I remember. He is Mr. Pissing Contest with Fluke guy.

“I’m guessing you don’t remember me? I was at the diner last night. I-“

“No. I mean, yes I remember you. Cory isn’t it?”

“Yes. What’s your name?” He extends his hand for a hand-shake.

“I’m Izzy.” I winced when he gives my hand a tight squeeze and smiles. I pull my hand right away.

“Are you two together? Luke and you?”

“What? No. Goodness. Not at all.”

“Will it be bad then if I ask you out?” He’s very straight-forward. No time for bullshit. Just like me. My cheeks betray me and my last thought.

“Yes. Because I don’t go out. At least not with a guy I almost killed and met for the first time.” I adjust my glasses.

“Ouch.” He holds his chest pretending to be hurt.

“I should probably get going. I see that you’re okay, and you don’t need to be taken to the hospital. Nice to meet you.”

“Oh no. I promise you, the pleasure is all mine.” He smiles and waves as I drive away. Weird. Does he usually ask the stranger-who-almost-send-him-to-the hospital out? He was pretty cute, but… Meh. Focus Isabelle. Focus.

No shit. I forgot to eat breakfast. That Fluke has kept me occupied all morning. So before I proceed to chemical store hunting, I decide on grabbing a bite first. I type McDonald’s on the GPS and it appears to be just around the corner so I head there. I push the door of the fast food open and ready to order when a guy with dark hair wearing black fedora settling low enough to cover his forehead stands behind me. After the cashier repeats my bill twice, I pick my wallet from my bag and pay her.

“Hey, Miss. You dropped something.” The man behind me spoke and handed me a piece of paper. Oh my gosh. It wasn’t just a paper. It was my list.

“Oh, geez. Thanks. I wouldn’t have gone anywhere without it.” I take the list from him. He smiles so widely that both of his dimples are visible. “Uhm, excuse me. Do you know any stores that sell any laboratory apparatuses around here?” I might as well try and push my luck. Besides, I am not yet familiar around so I could use a little help.

“Yeah, I know one. I am actually headed there. It’s called Pascal Lab. They sell anything and everything you need.” He answers.

“Pascal Lab.” I try the words on my lips and also to make sure I remember it. “Cool, thanks.” I smile at the stranger.

“No problem, Miss.”

After my satisfying meal, I head to the store Mr. Dark Locks told me about. He wasn’t kidding when he said everything I need. I am entertained immediately since there were only few customers.

By the time I am finished, I have every fragile apparatus I need in my car and a making my way back to the dorms. I need to settle these things first before I start breaking them when I haven’t even used them. I also had a little exchange of smiles with that guy from McDonald’s who’s also getting some of his own apparatuses.

I arrive at my dorm room and nobody was there. After putting everything away, I head back to the mall again and continue my voyage.