Save Me From Myself

New Friend

Operation Ryalnd was going great. So far it's been a week since my door was attacked by him. Sloan has kept to her word and helped me avoid him at every turn. But I must say he is persistent.

We can't even eat at the cafeteria anymore because he found us there one night and proceeded to chase us until we hid in the girls showers. We had to stay there for 30 min until his next class started and he was forced to leave.

Since then either Sloan will go out to get us food or we'll order takeout.

But every night at 8 on the dot, Ryland will come to the door and ask for me. And every night at 8, I'll hide behind the door, out of sight, as Sloan sends him away.

It's 7:58 now, I take my place behind the door. 7:59, Sloan stands ready to open it. 8:00 Ryland knocks.

"Dani isn't here Ryland." She says softly.

"Could you just tell her something for me?" He asks quietly. His voice is so depressed. It hardly sounds like him.

"Sure, anything."

"Just tell her that I miss her. That I just want to know why she left and then I'll never bother her again if that's what she really wants. Could you tell her that?" His voice is small, broken.

My heart aches hearing him speak. Hearing how much pain and confusion he's in. It breaks because I know I'm the one causing it.

"I'll tell her." She smiles softly and then shuts the door.

We stand in silence for a few minutes to make sure he's gone. Then she turns to me "I think you should talk to him, at least tell him why you're doing this. I think he'll understand."

"I can't. He'll get over it. He's hurting right now but eventually he'll realize it better without me." I shake my head walking back to my bed.

"I know that's how you feel but what about him? Or Finn? Or Gage? Did you ever ask them how they felt?" I look up at her. Surprised.

"At the very least tell them face to face that you don't want to be friends anymore. I think they deserve that much, don't you?" She rests her hand on my shoulder, squeezing it comfortingly.

"I'll think about it." I must admit she has a point. They do deserve an explanation.

"Thats all I can ask for. So Adley will be here in a minute." She claps her hands together excitedly.

"Who's Adley?"

"Oh, I met her in one of my evening classes. She's really fun. We're supposed to work on a project together. I hope it's alright we do it here." She says bashfully

"Yeah that's fine. I'll be work on my essay anyways." I say while sitting down at my desk.

30 minutes later the homework lays forgotten on the desks. Adley is telling us a story about her trip to Australia and how she got throw out of an Australian zoo."

"How was I supposed to know you couldn't pet the Koala. There were no signs that said not to!" She exclaimed.

Me and Sloan were laughing so hard, clutching at our stomachs.

"You know I think we should do something tonight" Adley says confidently

"Yeah and what's that" I question

"We should go to a party. There's one being thrown tonight. It'll be so fun!" She clapps her hands excitedly.

"I'm game for that" Sloan surprisingly agrees

"I don't know.. Parties aren't really my thing.." I shake my head turning the offer down.

"Oh come on Dani you've been in the slumps since I got here" Adley points out. She noticed?

"You noticed?" Sloan voices my thoughts out loud.

"Of course I did. I'm great at reading people and you missy need some fun. To forget whatever's troubling you."

"I still don't know guys. I'm not much of a drinker, so what would I do?" I look between the two of them.

"Hang out with us still. Just because you don't drink doesn't mean you can't still have a good time." Adley politely says, Sloan nodding her agreement.

"Alright. One party won't hurt. But um I have nothing to wear." I gesture to my tank top and sweats.

"Girl I've got you. Give me 20 min. I'll be back with some choices." And then she's off running back to her dorm.

"Are you sure about this?" I look to Sloan. She comes over, places her hands on my shoulders and looks me in the eye.

"You've been so sad and depressed since I met you. I wanna see you for once enjoy yourself." She smiles and reassures "if at any time you want to leave just let me know, we'll figure something out."

"Ok." I nod. Satisfied with the conversation.

20 minutes later Adley returns with a huge pile of clothes and a makeup case. The sight of her is honestly kind of funny. A tiny blonde girl attempting to balance everything in her arms.

"Hurry grabs stuff, my arms are gonna fall off!" She whines.

We rush over and grab stacks of clothes off the pile. "Thank you. I honestly thought i was a gonner." She says while catching her breathe.

We lay out the clothes all over the beds and floor. Adley stands in the middle with her finger on her chin and chewing he bottom lip, deep in thought.

"Sloan grab the black off the shoulder top and light blue skinnies." Sloan does as instructed. "Now the grey cardigan."

"Dani grab the white lace cami and dark wash jeans." I follow her instructions. "Also grab the leather jacket.

"Now go out on your outfits and show me my good work." She shoves us to the two closets.

When I walk out I can't stop tugging at the tight fabric of the cami trying to get it to go up higher. Adley knocks my hand away.

"What are you doing. It's supposed to be that low, to accentuate these" She says while gesturing to my boobs. "If you've got 'em flaunt 'em"

"I don't know about this. You don't think I look weird?" I shyly ask.

"What!? Absolutely not! I think you look stunning." She smiles

Sloan walks out in her outfit and she looks amazing. It's sexy but sweet. It's exactly her. Maybe Adley does know what she's doing.