Behind Familiar Faces

Chapter Seven

When I awoke the next morning I was alone in my bed. The sheets next to me were wrinkled and there was a faint remanence of Harrison's cologne. My head was aching and I rubbed my temples gently before slipping from beneath my covers and stretching as my feet hit the floor. I hadn't even taken three steps before my phone rang from its place on the windowsill where it sat to charge. Caller ID showed my best friend Veronica calling. I answered and greeted her.

"Hey! how are you?" She asked.

"oh i'm good"

"It doesn't sound that way honey" She replied.

"what does that mean?" I asked.

"you known I can read you like a book" She said pointedly.

I sighed. It was true.

"I just had a bad night, that's all." I mindlessly played with the charger cord.

Veronica was silent on the other end.

"look I don't have much time before class and frankly it's going to take a while for me to look presentable" I spoke again.

"you'll call me soon?" She finally replied.

"absolutely. I love you, you know?" I said.

"I know you do. oh and stop smoking those fucking cigarettes okay?"

I laughed.

I dressed in acid wash jeans and a big tan hoodie. My tangled hair would take too long to look nice so I pulled it into a loose bun on the back of my head. I finished up the rest of my routine as quickly as possible and rushed out the door.

As I walked to class in the gentle breeze that tickled my hair, my mind wandered. Without a distraction it was hard not to think about what went on last night. It was hard to understand.

I put my headphones in and listened to the rolling stones until I finally made it to class.

The day seemed to go on for ages and I breathed a sigh of relief when my last class finally ended. Digging my phone out from my backpack as I packed up, I frowned when I saw no messages from Harrison. I had assumed to hear from him but nothing yet.

I made it to my dorm and up the stairs to my floor. As I turned down the hallway I noticed a man standing near my door. I slowed down a bit and squinted, trying to see if it was a neighbor.

After a few steps I recognized him even from the back.

"Harrison?" I asked.

"Harp" he said turning around.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I met up with him in front of my door.

"Oh what I can't visit you?"

I rolled my eyes as I unlocked the door. Letting both of us in and locking it after.

"Surprised to see you here" I mumbled.

"What does that mean?"

"You disappeared and then I didn't hear from you. I don't know, I guess it doesn't matter"

"I don't know what you want me to say"

I shrugged off my backpack and set it beside my desk. Harrison hopped up on my bed and sat with his feet dangling off.

"nothing I guess" I said.

"Harper" was all he said.

I leaned up against my desk and crossed my arms.
"I wish I wasn't the only one who was freaking out about this!"

"What do you mean?" he said.

"You know, Harrison" my voice was serious.

He sighed and gave me a look.

"Don't tell me you don't believe me" I was shocked.

He was silent. He broke our eye contact and looked down to the floor.

"you've got to be kidding me" I said shaking my head.

"I didn't see what you saw okay?" He finally spoke.

"that matters? you know damn well I would believe you" I said.

He hopped off the bed and came towards me.

"Harper I believe you okay? I just...I don't know what to do..or say"

He sounded genuine. I knew he was trying to understand but was in an awkward situation.

"can we go to your place instead?" I asked.

"what why? we just got here." he asked.

"we can't smoke in here" I said, picking my backpack up again and putting it on.

I didn't wait for him to say anything I just opened the door and stepped into the hall. He sighed and I saw a little smile on his face before I turned around. He stood there for a moment just staring at me before walking over to join me and closing my door behind him.

"you are a pain in my ass girl" he mumbled.

"Is that so?" I asked smiling.

"you bet"

We both started to feel better once we got to Harrison's. I did homework on my laptop as Harrison played video games. I was sprawled out on his bed with coffee and books. He sat at his desk next to me, occasionally yelling or whooping at his game. We passed a blunt back and forth.

Harrison pushed back from his desk and removed his headset.

"What are you working on now?" He asked while cocking his head to the side.

"it's for English. I have a midterm paper" I said.

"sounds like no fun to me but hey, I'm not the nerd" He replies.

He grinned as he walked out of the room. I shook my head and took a drag.

"call me a nerd all you want but I have a 3.9!" I shouted after him.

He came back into the room with a bag of barbecue chips. His mouth was full and his fingers were coated in chip dust.

" Darlin' I have an idea" he said, sitting on the edge of his bed.

I drank down some hot coffee then replaced the mug where it had been.

"I think we should go back" He said.

"What?" I asked. my brows furrowed.

"We need to go back to the science building" He said.

I sat there silently.

"We can find out more, I know we can" He spoke.

"Why do I feel like this is a bad idea" I half stated half asked.

He chuckled.

"Midnight?" he asked.

"Fine"

I hope you all are enjoying the story! get ready for the next chapter to be a great one (; Please leave your thoughts or reviews in the comments.